Celicasaur

So I asked the guy at the bodyshop to chop off my exhaust tips so I can send them to get re-chromed...

He said he couldn't because supposedly the exhaust acts as a ground to the car and he'd have to disconnect the battery and chop the tips, then attach a wire to the chassis from the exhaust before re-connecting the exhaust again.

That sounds like a loaf of bull***** to me and it doesn't even make sense on so many levels that i don't want to explain......but....i figured i should ask you guys here.

I'm safe to just chop the tips off, right? There won't be an EML on the instrument panel after? I know it doesn't make sense, but he scared me 5%

PeterUbers

Never heard of such a thing

Why wouldn't the rest of the exhaust system be grounding the electrical and why would just the tips matter... If he's correct

Davidkuo0330

Sorry, but I think your body shop is trying to take you to the cleaner.

It's a simple saw and weld procedure, but you might need to get a little extension.

Good luck.

Celicasaur

Thanks guys. Yeah it did seem like some major BS was going on. i'll chop it off myself with a hacksaw and take it to get re-chromed.

VinceAMG

@Celicasaur - did you get your tips re-chromed after all? And was it a simple cut, re-chrome, then re-weld?

BlownS4

ROFLMAO wow that guy was completely full of shiet. Sorry I just read this.

Celicasaur

No I didn't get them re-chromed. I took the tips to a couple of places and they kept telling me that the tips were too far gone and the amount that they'd charge would make it worthwhile just buying a new set of tips from Mercedes.

SO...out came the hammer and I did a DIY polish job on it. Of course, seeing as it was me doing it, naturally I cut corners by not bothing on the areas that wouldn't be seen, ie hidden away under the bumper. The visible parts came out nicely though and so now when I wash my car and glaze over the exhaust tips, they look pretty. I'd still prefer that oem/mint chrome finish some day...but I'm not that ballin' to do that just yet

Here are some pics I took of the transformation....I won't annotate a great deal, but you can work out the evolution by the pics. Basically...clean...rub....smooth...polish...pray. ..

Ok, before












During












After








Comparing the freshly done pair to the other side for contrast...




Aaaaaaand both done...











Here's a pretty poor pic of them fitted....but fitted nevertheless




Hope that helps

2012 merc amg

Be careful welding them back on, I heard this can create a nuclear explosion Unreal, sounds like the kind of run around I get with so many things, sometimes the only way to do things is to do it yourself I guess, good job, they turned out well.

cadeca

They came out great! What did you use to polish the tips? I'm still using Simichrome for polishing, but interested in what else is available. I've had this tube for over 20 years.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

spraying simple green or purple power on the tips during a weekly car wash helps keep them clean

otakki

Whoa, that looks good. So you didn't have to re-chrome it? Polishing is all that's needed?

PeterUbers

Nice work

I use #0000 steel wool and chrome polish and they stay super clean and like new

EddieK

I use the same #0000 steel wool that Peter uses with P21S polishing soap...makes them like new.

CliffJumper

Looks great!

Georgee6086

Looks great! Did you use sandpaper to smooth it out before you polished it? Are these tips chrome plated from the factory or polished alumium?

VinceAMG

@Celicasaur great job polishing them up! They look as close to new as you can get without actual re-chroming. I am interested - did you re-weld for fitment or use an exhaust clamp for future removal / cleaning ease
( i.e.: https://m.summitracing.com/search/ne...ll-flange-kits)

Celicasaur

Sorry for the delay guys - I tend to live in the W204 AMG forum nowadays

I didn't re-chrome them, but honestly re-chroming would have been miles better tbh. I made the best of a bad situation. The original factory finish is chrome.

I have a friend whom uses wire wool on his exhaust tips on his Audi TTRS. Personally, I wouldn't...I'd use any brand of good chrome polish and regularly give them some tlc while the tips are in good/new condition. I think that wirewool is too harsh and will eventually score the finish.

My tips were mostly pitted (badly) on the inside edges and so yes I had to sand them down completely to a bare/flat aluminium surface and then polish it back up with compounds and witchcraft.

I had them re-welded back on...tbh I seem to be ok just giving them a quick hand polish every month or so and they still appear in good enough condition. If they screw up again in the future, i'll probably buy a nice new set of chrome tips.

I also wanted the tips to poke out by 1cm from their resting place, but thankfully the shop didn't do that.... I didn't know this but when you beat on the car and drive it hard, the heat makes the tips poke out by 1cm or so anyway....it looks great tbh when on the road (or when you just park up after a hard drive) but it's also a pity that they shrivel up and sit just under the diffuser when cold and parked up...hmmm....maybe I'll get them extended by 1am anyway and then live with the 2cm total extension when the car is being driven hard. Food for thought.