I cleaned my car on Saturday and noticed that the chrome on the lower part of the exhaust tips was completely marked. Normally I can clean it with wire wool but this time the chrome had changed color. I have never had this problem before on previous MINI's. Anyone else encountered this?

 

Yeah the tips are definitely cheap. These new direct injected engines blacken the exhaust quickly so I make sure to polish them up every time I wash the car. The lower part of mine is still showing signs of corrosion though which I noticed last week after polishing.

Try some Mothers metal polish and it'll clean yours up a bit better than that.

 

The stock tip on my wife Clubman looks the say have clean carefully each time I was it.

Tom

 

I would think this is a warranty issue then?

 

Warranty issue? I doubt it. And even if it was, you're going to get a new set of tips that will tarnish just like your photo.

 

Wire tool? I wouldn't wire tool chrome. You will scratch the nickel off and cause further damage. Use Never-dule or that type of chrome polish.

 

You guys are crazy. I don't care. This in no way is expected or acceptable in a new car. My chrome tips on my last mini did not do this. That's like saying.. " Sorry that your paint faded in the first year. That however is the way the car comes".
I say give me a new exhaust..every time this happens and if they can't stop it after 10 exhausts....compensate me do I can take it to my local chrome guy and get it done properly!

 

Let us know how it works out for you.

 

It can't hurt to ask your dealer about fixing it under warranty.

 

It's like saying, "my paint job is messed up. I wash it regularly with rocks. I don't understand why it could do this". Dude, don't put a wire tool to chrome! They don't mix.

 

damcajun. I don't think that's true. I have used dish cleaning (soap) pads for years on the chrome on my bikes and cars and chrome taps at home. Those black marks are really hard to remove...and besides the marks on the chrome are from where the black marks were and were caused by them and not the removal process.

 

Cleaning pads that are soft steele wool are fine. I use such things on chrome too, but not a wire brush.

 

Sorry I thought I had said wire wool. Either way it is a defective product.

 

I thought you got your dealer to buy back your troublesome car and ordered a JCW. If so who cares, it's their car really soon!

 

TBN. Correct. Building this month. My fights are always about priciple and for the collective good....well not always. But if complain and they have to replace it that will mean they may make a better choice of materials. Anyway I might sell the car privately and that would make the deal sweeter! :-)

 

A buyback of a car with issued implies above market price...better than private sale to compensate one for a car with quality issues....a sale back to the dealer at anything less is just a trade, regardless of how good of a deal...
Yeah...
Chrome isn't what it used to be...
A few years ago we started having issues with the chrome on the air stair doors on $ 4,000,000 airplanes that were being imported from Europe.... reply we got back was new environmental rules had resulted in a "process change"...some chrome was even peeling...some looked like your picture in higher contact areas....
Several replacements later, the manufacture of the plane sent leather covers for the rails, and changed the design....to an epoxy paint with the covers...
And that was on a low use, corporate aircraft in the first few months of handling...
So I would treat chrome with more care than past years...

 

My understanding is that the process off electroplating chrome onto metal had not changed. Sometimes they use other metals but my exhaust is chrome. maybe it was not plated long enough...or maybe the goo from the exhaust is super corrosive. Either way this problem would have shown up on the test vehicles....or maybe I just got a bad exhaust....like my gearbox, rear shocks etc....
I'm getting a new one.
As far as my trading in on the jcw.. That is my choice mini are giving me money towards the new car as compensation for a super bad experience. If I private sale the car I will improve my margins! :-)

 

Mine do this and I've always cleaned them with a rag and some polish. Thankfully it's at the lower seam and not all that visible 5 feet away.

 

So you did. Belay all my previous posts

 

Just to put a happy note on this. Took it to my MA and they took a look and said they had not seen that before. They are contacting MINI and will likely replace the 1 year old exhaust pipe!

 

My MCS does the same exact thing....good to know, thanks.

 

I haven't experienced anything that some chrome polish and extra fine grade steel wool didn't fix. My understanding is the all new direct-injection engines produce lots of carbon deposits, which is why prior MINIs didn't do this.

 

Think someone has already suggested this, but I just cleaned mine and they look great. Just use steel wool and a little effort will look like NEW!

 

Cleaning the ones on the R58 JCW can take a little time as the tips are sharp. Ouch. But soap and metal polish, Eastwood kit it you want to get serious.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...68__ES2763127/







Dont die grind it . Just the buff wheel and a little paste.