[Jeff123]

Hi

I have a few fairly minor scratches on the aluminium trim of the doors, facia and around the centre console. The trim looks pretty delicate to me, so I don't want to make things worse - has anyone had any success in improving the look of it?

[skipraider]

I doubt you would be able to remove the scratches as i think it is plastic. However, you could wrap them in something and give it a new look.

[Jeff123]

I thought about possibly using wax on them? Obviously not the abrasive stuff.

[Sturrock]

Give this a try - http://www.halfords.com/motoring/pai...cratch-x-207ml
Gets out some minor scratches then maybe hit it with AG super resin

[Russbmw]

Originally Posted by Sturrock

Give this a try - http://www.halfords.com/motoring/pai...cratch-x-207ml
Gets out some minor scratches then maybe hit it with AG super resin

Don't use that, it's for paintwork.

You can get plastic headlight restoring polish/compound which is less abrasive.

Sounds daft, but toothpaste can often work on light surface scratches on plastic.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by skipraider

I doubt you would be able to remove the scratches as i think it is plastic. However, you could wrap them in something and give it a new look.

Originally Posted by Russbmw

Don't use that, it's for paintwork.

You can get plastic headlight restoring polish/compound which is less abrasive.

Sounds daft, but toothpaste can often work on light surface scratches on plastic.

He's talking about the interior aluminium trim, which is made of aluminium!

No way of fixing the scratches afaik, which is why I did this to mine:

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1269798

[flipnkraut]

Originally Posted by teaston

He's talking about the interior aluminium trim, which is made of aluminium!

No way of fixing the scratches afaik, which is why I did this to mine:

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1269798

Does anyone know for sure if it’s actually aluminum and not metal coated plastic?

If it’s actual aluminum (which I doubt) there are plenty of metal polishes that should work.

[Jeff123]

The trim looks pretty flimsy to me, nothing like as robust as the E90. I suspect that its plastic.

I looked at a car recently at a main dealer that had a mark the size of a 5p coin on the centre console. Looked like somebody had rubber the surface off the plastic and it was a type of light brown colour underneath.

I might try toothpaste.

[Sturrock]

It's plastic.
Use the meguiars scratch x which should take out the worst. It's mildly abrasive but that's what you need to get the scratches out. Toothpaste is even less abrasive and you'll have the advantage of a minty smelling car.
I suggested the AG SRP because it has light fillers in. So once you smooth it out a bit with the scratch x you go over it with the AG SRP. won't make it any worse. I've got piano black interior and it's a bugger to keep scratch free.

[Jeff123]

I have some of those products so i will give it a try - thanks.

[Sturrock]

Np bud. The AG SRP should shine it up nicely, but you could go over it with a plastics finish. I've got poorboys natural finish atm, but notice Halfords have a 3 for 2 on Autoglym stuff just now which i've always found to be pretty decent stuff.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Sturrock

It's plastic.
Use the meguiars scratch x which should take out the worst. It's mildly abrasive but that's what you need to get the scratches out. Toothpaste is even less abrasive and you'll have the advantage of a minty smelling car.
I suggested the AG SRP because it has light fillers in. So once you smooth it out a bit with the scratch x you go over it with the AG SRP. won't make it any worse. I've got piano black interior and it's a bugger to keep scratch free.

Originally Posted by flipnkraut

Does anyone know for sure if it’s actually aluminum and not metal coated plastic?

If it’s actual aluminum (which I doubt) there are plenty of metal polishes that should work.

Originally Posted by Jeff123

The trim looks pretty flimsy to me, nothing like as robust as the E90. I suspect that its plastic.

I looked at a car recently at a main dealer that had a mark the size of a 5p coin on the centre console. Looked like somebody had rubber the surface off the plastic and it was a type of light brown colour underneath.

I might try toothpaste.

It is definitely actual real Aluminium, metal aluminium, not plastic aluminium!

That's why it dents so easily

[Jeff123]

Originally Posted by teaston

It is definitely actual real Aluminium, metal aluminium, not plastic aluminium!

That's why it dents so easily

Thanks - you should know!