GLC63s, GLC63, GLC43 AMG SUV and Coupe (X253, C253) 2015 - Present

Cleaning exterior window trim

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Aug 9, 2024 | 08:12 AM
  #1  
MarcoM3's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
GLC 43 AMG Coupe
Cleaning exterior window trim

Hello!
Greetings from sunny, humid and hot Florida.
Has anyone figured out a good way to polish the black trim around the windows? My wife’ GLC43 Coupe appears to have hard water spots that don’t seem to come out.
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Marco

Last edited by MarcoM3; Aug 9, 2024 at 09:24 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2024 | 11:32 AM
  #2  
hyde000's Avatar
Junior Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
GLC63
Originally Posted by MarcoM3
Hello!
Greetings from sunny, humid and hot Florida.
Has anyone figured out a good way to polish the black trim around the windows? My wife’ GLC43 Coupe appears to have hard water spots that don’t seem to come out.
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Marco
Good morning,

I used this recently with success. You can pickup at a local Advanced, Autozone, Amazon, etc

Depending how bad it is, you may need to buff and reapply.




Reply
Old Aug 9, 2024 | 12:20 PM
  #3  
OldManAndHisCar's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 1,277
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
What water? Rain water, city water, reclaimed water....seriously, it changes things. For instance, if you are The Villages and have reclaimed water spots, tends to be acidic and it will etch your surfaces.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2024 | 01:10 PM
  #4  
MarcoM3's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
GLC 43 AMG Coupe
Originally Posted by hyde000
Good morning,

I used this recently with success. You can pickup at a local Advanced, Autozone, Amazon, etc

Depending how bad it is, you may need to buff and reapply.


Thanks! I just picked up a bottle from Autozone and will definitely give it a try. I may even test it on the running boards.
Will report back soon!

Marco
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2024 | 06:43 PM
  #5  
MarcoM3's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
GLC 43 AMG Coupe
Well, I tried the White Diamond polisher and it unfortunately did not make any difference at all.
maybe they are not water spots but rather some type of oxidation in the black finish. I am attaching a photo to see if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks,

e!

Marco
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2024 | 08:20 PM
  #6  
OldManAndHisCar's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 1,277
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
Again, what kind of water cause the spots if you know? If it is reclaimed water frequently vinegar will take off the edge of what is left from the calcified water spot.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2024 | 08:17 AM
  #7  
MarcoM3's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
GLC 43 AMG Coupe
Originally Posted by OldManAndHisCar
Again, what kind of water cause the spots if you know? If it is reclaimed water frequently vinegar will take off the edge of what is left from the calcified water spot.
I would assume it is rain water that dries out in the sun. We get rains almost daily here, followed by sunshine.

Marco
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2024 | 08:45 AM
  #8  
OldManAndHisCar's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 1,277
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
I am in FL as well ;-)

That said, if it is city/reclaimed water it can etch that finish. That being the case, you can try to break down the edges (you see the ring of left over hard material) with an acid such as vinegar. I keep white vinegar in the garage (seriously, I do). One thing that has worked for me is to soak a small bit of a rag, set it on the water spots trying to not get it to eat off wax/paint.

I have seen a number of cars where people try to polish it off, they end up taking off that black finish and making it look far worse.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2024 | 03:40 PM
  #9  
MarcoM3's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
GLC 43 AMG Coupe
Originally Posted by OldManAndHisCar
I am in FL as well ;-)

That said, if it is city/reclaimed water it can etch that finish. That being the case, you can try to break down the edges (you see the ring of left over hard material) with an acid such as vinegar. I keep white vinegar in the garage (seriously, I do). One thing that has worked for me is to soak a small bit of a rag, set it on the water spots trying to not get it to eat off wax/paint.

I have seen a number of cars where people try to polish it off, they end up taking off that black finish and making it look far worse.
Thank you!
Yes, living in Florida has its advantages and disadvantages for sure. One on them is keeping cars clean.
I tried your white vinegar suggestion and it did not seem to make a difference. I am running out of options but my last attempt will be with some TR3 Glaze. This stuff is discontinued but you can still find it on EBay, and I used to use it on my 1974 BMW 2002 back in college. It would make the dullest, most oxidized paint and trim shine.
I will report back soon!

Marco
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2024 | 04:20 PM
  #10  
bobbobbins's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
C43
Originally Posted by MarcoM3
Thank you!
Yes, living in Florida has its advantages and disadvantages for sure. One on them is keeping cars clean.
I tried your white vinegar suggestion and it did not seem to make a difference. I am running out of options but my last attempt will be with some TR3 Glaze. This stuff is discontinued but you can still find it on EBay, and I used to use it on my 1974 BMW 2002 back in college. It would make the dullest, most oxidized paint and trim shine.
I will report back soon!

Marco
Any luck with this? I have exact same problem with my night package window trim looking bad and oxidized.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2024 | 05:41 PM
  #11  
MarcoM3's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
GLC 43 AMG Coupe
Originally Posted by bobbobbins
Any luck with this? I have exact same problem with my night package window trim looking bad and oxidized.
No luck with any of it. I have the black trim, though. Not the chrome finish.
I am still on the hunt for a solution, short if replacing the trim or wrapping it as someone suggested.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2024 | 06:17 PM
  #12  
bobbobbins's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
C43
Yes mine is black too with the night package. Really annoying it looks dark purple and bronze now!
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2025 | 01:38 PM
  #13  
hyde000's Avatar
Junior Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
GLC63
For information purposes I purchased my car from Florida with heavy spots most likely from rain and sun and it took multiple applications with the white diamond but it did eventually come off. Just take your time.

I'll try to find pics of before and after but my oxidation was so bad it was multi colored purple and greens on the Night Package finish.

Every so often I have to redo this treatment in between rains to kill the oxidation process before it starts

Last edited by hyde000; Jul 16, 2025 at 01:40 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2025 | 05:28 PM
  #14  
ChiCubs's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 222
Likes: 39
GLC43 SUV
I use Ammo nyc product. Flux for the metal trim.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2025 | 10:23 PM
  #15  
nolanxf's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
'19 GLC43 | '20 E63s
my oxidation was so bad it was multi colored purple and greens on the Night Package finish.


I’m having the same problem, I’ll give this a try. Thanks!
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2025 | 07:03 AM
  #16  
ChiCubs's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 222
Likes: 39
GLC43 SUV
The plastic trim above the windshield and in both sides of the sunroof got ‘sunburned’ and my SA replaced all under warranty. Not sure if that’s an option..
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2025 | 08:51 PM
  #17  
nolanxf's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
'19 GLC43 | '20 E63s
Originally Posted by ChiCubs
The plastic trim above the windshield and in both sides of the sunroof got ‘sunburned’ and my SA replaced all under warranty. Not sure if that’s an option..
Same here, looks like a whiteish hazing, if only I was still under warranty haha
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2025 | 12:19 PM
  #18  
Baltistyle's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 1,184
From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
Mix up some barkeepers friend and use very light pressure. The goal is to get the deposit but not go through any coatings. If you are unfamiliar with the product, look it up as it's been around forever. It is a very light acid polish with a ton of uses, and very cheap. Also great for exhausts etc. Once clean, coat the trim with ceramic coating.

Last edited by Baltistyle; Sep 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:00 PM.