Brushed Aluminum Trim Care?

[HEY32G]

Any trick to keeping the aluminum trim clean and protected. I've seen some older Z4's with aluminum and it looks pretty dirty and worn out.

[E86Z]

I just use all purpose cleaner from meguairs to clean the dirt, I'm sure any interior cleaner will do the same with a light brush or a microfiber towel.

[jdoublehcubed]

1. Stare at aluminum trim, wishing it was not aluminum.
2. Wipe down with interior detailer. Clean, but still f**king aluminum.
3. Repeat.
....
100. Buy leather or wood trim.

[GuidoK]

100. fake wood trim.....

[Huz-Z]

Also, warm water and a clean microfibre cloth, brushing lightly in the direction of the grain on the trim.

Its been a source of great angst among Z4 owners who were not the initial buyers of these cars. Seems the first owners kept the cars in good shape - except for the aluminum trim, which they apparently took great joy in beating the snot out of with keys, coins and the seatbelt buckle.

[Vanne]

Huz man you make me laugh ;-)

Ive seen some beautiful piano black gloss diy aswell..

[jdoublehcubed]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Huz man you make me laugh ;-)

Ive seen some beautiful piano black gloss diy aswell..

Piano Black is a BMW Individual option. Looks amazing.

[TommyA]

Always preferred the wood look myself. Work around aluminum all day, just like to get away from it on the drive home.

[StickMon]

I've always preferred woody things over tinny things.

[yousefnjr]

Probably not the best solution, but I usually end up using 303 aerospace protectant, because that's what I use on nearly everything else interior-wise. I spray a clean rag with it and wipe everything down. Just did it yesterday after a wash; metal is very clean with a smooth, non-greasy finish. I bet just using a damp rag (water only) would probably have the same effect.

[WAMz4]

You'll be amazed!
Clean heavy dirt like smudges around the radio and sport button with a Pink Pearl eraser just like the one your kids use in school.
Just erase the smudges like you were taking an algebra exam and vacuum up the rubber crumbs, your aluminum trim will look BRAND NEW!
My brushed dash is 9 years old and as bright as day one.

If all your trim is dirty, buy more erasers.
I just thought I'd try it one day after trying every wet cleaner in the cleaning aisle. Now I keep one in the glove box to spot clean as i notice the dirt.

[Westersund]

Not that I have the aluminium panels in my car but my fridge is brushed aluminium and it was a pain to keep free from smudges, until I started using window cleaner (which contains alcohol). Leaves zero stains. I wipe it with a microfibre cloth used for windows.

[Squddie]

Get CF sticker material to go over it

[funkle]

Has anyone tried Stainless Steel Magic?

[NickyC]

Carbon vinyl wrap, it transformed my interior.

[funkle]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Carbon vinyl wrap, it transformed my interior.

Pics?

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by funkle

Pics?

Sure, check out this thread. My pics start in post #9. I'm going to wrap the interior more once my car gets a bit more wild on the outside. I'm definitely going to do the interior pillars.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...ighlight=vinyl

[funkle]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Sure, check out this thread. My pics start in post #9. I'm going to wrap the interior more once my car gets a bit more wild on the outside. I'm definitely going to do the interior pillars.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...ighlight=vinyl

That really does look terrific. Funny I loved the Aluminum trim in my e46, and thought I'd love it in the MC, but turns out I don't. I think the Z4 dashboard shape is more awkward, and the aluminum draws attention to it. The way the e46 wraps around the interior is very nice, but the convex thing in the Z4 is another example of Bangle overdoing it.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by Westersund

Not that I have the aluminium panels in my car but my fridge is brushed aluminium and it was a pain to keep free from smudges, until I started using window cleaner (which contains alcohol). Leaves zero stains. I wipe it with a microfibre cloth used for windows.

Are you sure it is aluminum? I have never seen a fridge in aluminum. Typically it is SS as that is much more durable. I would think an aluminum fridge door would be dented up in a week.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by funkle

That really does look terrific. Funny I loved the Aluminum trim in my e46, and thought I'd love it in the MC, but turns out I don't. I think the Z4 dashboard shape is more awkward, and the aluminum draws attention to it. The way the e46 wraps around the interior is very nice, but the convex thing in the Z4 is another example of Bangle overdoing it.

Thanks! I've had a lot of compliments in regards to the wrapping. When I was showing it to my buddy at his shop, he asked me if I needed a job on the weekends to wrap customer cars. I thought he was joking but I noticed he was kind of looking at me to see if I'd be interested. Hell, you never know!

[StickMon]

That looks better than my "Felted Napa" Nicky.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by StickMon

That looks better than my "Felted Napa" Nicky.

Thanks. What is "Felted Napa" though, is that the carbon leather?

With the new wrap, a lot of my interior is looking a bit faded. I bought a new shiftknob when I bought the car, but I want to go with the small M5 one. As well, once I get my calipers installed, I'm looking into doing a lot of the cabin stitching in the same color. I want to get a new shift boot, ebrake, ebrake boot, and steering wheel redone (along with the buttons on the wheel). Once I do all of that, the interior should look a lot better.