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Was shim shaming my C63 and decided to buckle down and take a dremmel felt end to my exhaust ends because no matter what I used and how much I rubbed, there was some black exhaust caked on the inner lip areas. The felt tip worked great with light pressure and a chrome polishing agent.
I noticed that the inner lip of the chrome tip was oxidizing and the chrome was being broken down... Am I seeing this right? The over all chrome is fine but the chrome at the inner edge is looking shoddy. And mind you I don'd go to town cleaning them all the time its like my 4th time wiping them down.
I have a 1976 car with chrome bits that look flawless...Is this normal or do I have to polish harder or use something else?
I am using blue magic and it is awesome stuff.
Anybody else notice this? Should I claim a warranty thing? What do they do, unweld them, dip them and weld them back?
2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
Hey Zeph, the tips are good quality polished stainless steel and are not chromed soft steel. They should not corrode or tarnish. The inside is regular exhaust stainless steel and a lesser grade. It might be possible for it to degrade a bit. Not exactly sure what part you are referring to as the inner lip. Can you post a pic to clarify?
I use P21s polishing soap on my chrome tips. Works fine for me.
Even on my previous sedan (2nd owner) I managed to restore the tips during the first wash as they were showing sign of black oxidation.
Thanks guys. I polished it up pretty good but it seems like I get a very black caked on carbon build up on the lower lip of all 4 exhaust tips frequently. Ill post a pic ASAP...
I don't think they are very durable. Mine were starting to look like the chrome was flaking off, actually showing some yellow underneath. I just hit mine with a coat of plastidip, and haven't looked back since!
Meh....I mean I am corrected that they are not Chrome but SS. At the inside lip juncture you will get some permanent oxidation. Tried my best without scratching it or being too rough.
2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
I polished the tips on my 2012 C63 yesterday and it has the same issue as Zephyr's. It looks to me that if you don't wash them a lot the acids in the exhaust gas sit on the lower lip and etch the surface of the tips. I might try to polish mine with a small buffing wheel and some polish but it looks like it will take some effort.
I have to say exhaust tips are one of those items that I wipe off and clean every time I wash the vehicle, I had a vehicle with SS tips and noticed this discolouration when I only cleaned them periodically. Now I just do it every time and no build up or staining.
The inner lip part on Mort's exhaust looks exactly like mine. It's rough and etched. I tried polishing it down but it seems the metal is rough. At the juncture it seems that the metal has different properties with the exhaust reaction.
I would be interested in how this worked out.
I am a second owner of my 63 and the tips look like hell.
I was told at the dealership that the corrosion coverage doesn't cover tips "most likely" so im looking for alternate solutions while my service guy looks into it.
yikes! Once again, I got sick of mine. Originally I did plastidip, but after about 10 months they started to turn this grayish black color, so i took that off, and hit them with a nice coat of hi-temp matte black engine enamel. Now they look great, and much better than before even with plastidip.
I guess I'm just somewhat lazy with my car in general, matte wrap, no chrome bits... but then again, I travel every week Sunday to Friday, so I don't want to take over my Saturdays with detailing the car when it's the only day I really get to drive it and enjoy it!
I would be interested in how this worked out.
I am a second owner of my 63 and the tips look like hell.
I was told at the dealership that the corrosion coverage doesn't cover tips "most likely" so im looking for alternate solutions while my service guy looks into it.
Pic posted for better information.
All 4 look about like this...
That's the mistake a lot of people make, they use a steel wool pad or even a scotch pad to them. This is not the right thing to do. It will leave scratches and grooves, wearing off the finish and collecting carbon and stain in it.
At this point the best thing is to do is take a dremmel with a felt round tip and polishing compound and take your time to shine it. It will take some time. Be patient and mask of your CF or plastic difussor as polishing compounds for chrome/steel have ammonia in them and it will "burn" into plastic...
Yes they are in tough shape but they don't look like a lost cause at all. Like ZephyrAMG said, it will just take some time. Looks like a fun project though .
02-23-2015, 12:15 PM
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