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I have a 2021 E350. I made the mistake last night of using one of those brushless/touchless car washes (they utilize only moving jet spray nozzle’s). Well, as someone stated here before (and I unfortunately had not read it before last night), the chemicals and soil remover they use in these types of washes will stain your anodized aluminum trim INSTANTLY. You’ll see white spots IMMEDIATELY as you dry your car and you cannot wipe it off. It’s TERRIBLE. I was so mad. So I put a 1/4 cup of vinegar with 5 cups water in a bowl and dipped a clean micro fiber into the solution and wiped the trim down and then dried it immediately. After doing this twice I saw some measure of results and then rinsed with a hose. I then drove to a soft brush car wash and rewashed the car and experienced no new stains, but I still saw some white spotting last night when I parked my car. This morning I will look at the trim again in the daylight. I have researched and some people say that a small NYLON sponge with the nylon scrub side on it and dish liquid and water (which is actually not good for paint job) can clean the trim (by the way Mercedes, this trim scratches easily versus regular bright chrome like what is on the trunk trim) with gentle with the grain scrubbing. Otherwise I read the dealer can possibly get the trim replaced under warranty. Wish me luck.
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Welcome sorry to hear what happened. picture would have been good. Good luck. Had a car on vacation in Florida. They used the runoff in the facility to water the grass. Car was to close to the grass. the pond had chemicals from the lawn. had spots all over the blue car. Worked for days trying to remove the spots. Finally just traded the car in at night.
I used touchless carwash all the time and never had an issue with the trims. Might want to try a stainless steel polish to start and work your way up, but I would not use a scouring pad, maybe some soft scrub.
In the past have had this issue, not so much on the E400 wagon but on the 2008 CLK Cabriolet and the ML350. Found 2 products that worked to get the brushed trim clean, 1st - Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser and polish and 2nd - Finish First Car Polish. Have used Finish First ever since the old Liquid Gold Polish shut down.
07-11-2022, 11:01 AM
