Polishing metal trims and cleaning 2nd hand mud flaps

[BadBong]

Hey guys,

Just got my self a set of door trims (or whatever they're called... those 2 plates that people always step on when they get in and out of the car and has either 'mx5' or 'Roadster' on it).

It's in quite good condition but obviously there are scartches - so what's the best way to clean them?

Also got myself some OEM rear mud flaps (yes MXHVEN... i'm going to take those 4WD look-a-likes off =).

Need to give them a good clean before getting it painted to match the MX5's Brilliant Black colour. What's the best way to clean these? (other than plain water)

[sliq]

metal polish will bling up those scuff plates.. i used silvo on mine.. worked a treat.

[Garry]

metal polish will bling up those scuff plates

Try to use a metal polish that's not to abbrasive. I think Silvo is a relatively mild abrasive. I used Autosolve on my first set and they never came up as shiney again. I've just been using auto paint polish on my current set so far. They have stayed shiney but they still have fine scratches that wont polish out.

If you have a chrome fuel lid dont use anything more aggressive on it than auto paint polish, but preferably only use wax. I destroyed my first one using metal polish on it. The chrome layer is extremely thin and easy to polish through.

[BadBong]

"auto paint polish".... is auto-paint a brand?

i.e. I assume it's something that i can just source from somewhere like Supercheap Auto?

What about the... mud flaps?

[JBT]

"Auto" as in automotive or car.

[bensale]

I bought a scratched up set of sill plates for $40. I then polished them up using 'Autosol', elbow grease and then some car polish and wax. Having got them looking perfect I decided that having roadster scuff plates on my mx-5 wasn't right so I sold them on ebay for $160 to a person who was very happy with their purchase.

Autosol is good stuff!

[BadBong]

I bought a scratched up set of sill plates for $40. I then polished them up using 'Autosol', elbow grease and then some car polish and wax. Having got them looking perfect I decided that having roadster scuff plates on my mx-5 wasn't right so I sold them on ebay for $160 to a person who was very happy with their purchase.

Autosol is good stuff!

excuse my n00b-ness... but what is elbow grease?...

[bensale]

I bought a scratched up set of sill plates for $40. I then polished them up using 'Autosol', elbow grease and then some car polish and wax. Having got them looking perfect I decided that having roadster scuff plates on my mx-5 wasn't right so I sold them on ebay for $160 to a person who was very happy with their purchase.

Autosol is good stuff!

excuse my n00b-ness... but what is elbow grease?...

Umm... polishing, putting a bit of hard work in.

[sliq]

but what is elbow grease?...

[BadBong]

Look mate... it was getting late.

[Mr Morlock]

I think Garry might be right- that a very light polish is the right approach. I suspect that the trims may actually be anodised and that is why they do not take kindly to polishing. If they were polished aluminium you would expect them to react well to a product like autosol. Silvo, can be used on your silver plated knives , forks, plates and candelebra's and works well. best advice on most polishing exercises is to start at the least abrasive end of the spectrum rather than scratching or dulling the surface and not being able to recover.

[BadBong]

Just tried the Autosol today... it's now bright and shining but it didn't remove much of the scartches... but that's alright.

They've been installed today and they're looking great (probably the only thing i know how to install by myself... )

Thanks for everyone's advice.

[ak_perth]

My hand pump has never let me down...