Shadowline Trim vs Car Wash

Paladin1 · 08-19-2019, 10:44 AM

Anyone have experience with the new Shadowline trim and touchless car washes? Previous black trim on BMWs was notorious for staining and "rainbowing" going through a touchless wash. I actually had the same experience with a previous X5 and chrome trim, impossible to correct. Never had a problem with my Q7 and black optic trim, but report on black trim in BMWs was not good, at least a couple of years ago. I know - hand wash - but not as easy removing Winter salt.

Xeno · 08-19-2019, 10:51 AM

I had this issue with the chrome on my F15, but have not noticed such yet on black trim of my G05.

Paladin1 · 08-19-2019, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeno

I had this issue with the chrome on my F15, but have not noticed such yet on black trim of my G05.

Thanks! Just noticed this should probably be in the "Wash/Wax" forum, but couldn't move or delete. Appreciate the reply and your experience. This was very frustrating in my F15 on the chrome - and nothing seemed to correct it. Also variable - severe on one side, not so much on the other. You'd think BMW could make trim impervious to soap (yeah, car wash chemicals are harsh, but so is salt and sand from the road - hey, BMW, the trim is outside). Here, at least, Audi seems to have figured it out.

wjakridgeii · 08-19-2019, 12:23 PM

It is horrible on mine as well. Has to be something in the manufacturing of the trim. Really a disappointment for an 80k car. I have lots of issues with this car. This rainbowing is just a huge spit in my eye every time I go out to drive the car.

dream54ing · 08-19-2019, 12:32 PM

I got some on my side mirror, nothing big, but its there. Not sure how it got there, I've been doing all my car washes.

I'm assuming no way of removing?

SlammedR8 · 08-19-2019, 12:47 PM

Owned 2 F15 X5s with high gloss shadowline trim and no such issues ever.
My G05 X5 also doesn't have this issue whatsoever.

However, my previous BMWs always did this. My E46 330 and it was very common the E70 X5 and other models around that time.

I guess BMW fixed the issue!

maczrool · 08-19-2019, 01:09 PM

I usually get this on my wiper arms. Not seeing any on my Shadowline trim or wiper arms yet though.

Marty in NY · 08-19-2019, 02:02 PM

Any silicone, petroleum or back to black type of treatments have the potential of leaving the rainbow affect upon black surfaces. Many types of fabric softeners do this too, even when your car cloths are washed and dried separately, there is still residue in the washer/dryer from the regular family washings/dryings.

You may have seen Larry from Ammo Auto Care's video where he showed his separate washer and drying in his basement...used only for car cleaning cloths.

I've noticed after using products like Mothers Black, Griot's Vinyl & Rubber Dressing, etc that work well on almost anything black, that after a rain or the car condensing at night after a warm humid day or after washing the car and I'm drying it, I see the rainbow on black surfaces, especially hard surfaces.

I've been able to minimize this substantially by going back around the car with a dry microfiber cloth once the treatment has had time to dry, and rubbing it down again. Some surfaces are more susceptible to the rainbow than others but this technique has helped quite a bit. I started doing it this way because I don't like the wet shiny look but in the end it has a twofold positive impact.

big pimp · 08-19-2019, 03:38 PM

simplest thing is check what is being used, or clean the car yourself.

any caustic product (which is what a lot of pre washes are made up of) will mark soft metals like aluminium and the gloss black parts.

alkaline products can be equally as damaging if used incorrectly.

Use at the manufacturers recommended dilution. a bit more doesn't make it clean any better.
Do not allow any chemical to dry into the body
Do not apply in direct sunlight

if you think you have stained them, use a medium cut polishing compound to hopefully restore them.

apply a good sealant on them.

Paladin1 · 08-19-2019, 04:14 PM

Thanks all! Sounds like a maybe on the black gloss trim - will likely hand wash until the first snow, and go easy on the car wash options (seems to have been worse with wax/protective additives). I was able to tone down the effects when I noticed it on my F15 chrome, but even chrome polishing compound didn't completely eliminate it - whatever metal was in the Hofmeister Kink was permanently stained. Best option is not to get it in the first place I suppose....

08-19-2019, 10:44 AM	#1
Paladin1 Brigadier General 5556 Rep 4,504 Posts Drives: 2022 iX xDrive50, DGM Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 iX xDrive M60 [0.00] 2022 iX xDrive50 [10.00]	Shadowline Trim vs Car Wash Anyone have experience with the new Shadowline trim and touchless car washes? Previous black trim on BMWs was notorious for staining and "rainbowing" going through a touchless wash. I actually had the same experience with a previous X5 and chrome trim, impossible to correct. Never had a problem with my Q7 and black optic trim, but report on black trim in BMWs was not good, at least a couple of years ago. I know - hand wash - but not as easy removing Winter salt.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-19-2019, 10:51 AM	#2
Xeno Major 315 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 M Sport 5.0i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I had this issue with the chrome on my F15, but have not noticed such yet on black trim of my G05. __________________ 2019 BMW X5 xDrive 50i M Sport: ZD8/ZLS/ZMP/ZP2/ZPK/ZPX/337/ZX7/2NH 2015 BMW X5 xDrive 50i/XL/CW/DA+/EP/LP/FVS retired; 2008 X5 4.8i; 2012 X5 5.0i retired, 2004 X5 4.4i retired R360c + EL, V1G2 + V1Driver, Uniden R8
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 12:23 PM	#4
wjakridgeii Private First Class 71 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Oregon iTrader: (0)	Yes It is horrible on mine as well. Has to be something in the manufacturing of the trim. Really a disappointment for an 80k car. I have lots of issues with this car. This rainbowing is just a huge spit in my eye every time I go out to drive the car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 12:32 PM	#5
dream54ing Captain 486 Rep 903 Posts Drives: 428xi F32- X5 X5 G05 -640i F06 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: ARIZONA iTrader: (0)	I got some on my side mirror, nothing big, but its there. Not sure how it got there, I've been doing all my car washes. I'm assuming no way of removing?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 12:47 PM	#6
SlammedR8 Major General 521 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i/2020 R8 V10 Spyder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	Owned 2 F15 X5s with high gloss shadowline trim and no such issues ever. My G05 X5 also doesn't have this issue whatsoever. However, my previous BMWs always did this. My E46 330 and it was very common the E70 X5 and other models around that time. I guess BMW fixed the issue! __________________ Current: 2019 BMW X5 40i - Carbon Black/Tartufo Individual Leather 2020 Range Rover HSE - Black/Black 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance Spyder 6MT - Ascari Blue/Black
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 01:09 PM	#7
maczrool Captain 154 Rep 602 Posts Drives: 22 M50i Carbon Black Join Date: May 2019 Location: Memphis iTrader: (0)	I usually get this on my wiper arms. Not seeing any on my Shadowline trim or wiper arms yet though.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 02:02 PM	#8
Marty in NY Brigadier General 2719 Rep 4,333 Posts Drives: 21 X5 40i, 18 GTi, Snowblower Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Any silicone, petroleum or back to black type of treatments have the potential of leaving the rainbow affect upon black surfaces. Many types of fabric softeners do this too, even when your car cloths are washed and dried separately, there is still residue in the washer/dryer from the regular family washings/dryings. You may have seen Larry from Ammo Auto Care's video where he showed his separate washer and drying in his basement...used only for car cleaning cloths. I've noticed after using products like Mothers Black, Griot's Vinyl & Rubber Dressing, etc that work well on almost anything black, that after a rain or the car condensing at night after a warm humid day or after washing the car and I'm drying it, I see the rainbow on black surfaces, especially hard surfaces. I've been able to minimize this substantially by going back around the car with a dry microfiber cloth once the treatment has had time to dry, and rubbing it down again. Some surfaces are more susceptible to the rainbow than others but this technique has helped quite a bit. I started doing it this way because I don't like the wet shiny look but in the end it has a twofold positive impact.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 03:38 PM	#9
big pimp First Lieutenant 44 Rep 336 Posts Drives: G05 M50d & Dakar Yellow E46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: N.Ireland, UK iTrader: (0)	simplest thing is check what is being used, or clean the car yourself. any caustic product (which is what a lot of pre washes are made up of) will mark soft metals like aluminium and the gloss black parts. alkaline products can be equally as damaging if used incorrectly. Use at the manufacturers recommended dilution. a bit more doesn't make it clean any better. Do not allow any chemical to dry into the body Do not apply in direct sunlight if you think you have stained them, use a medium cut polishing compound to hopefully restore them. apply a good sealant on them.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2019, 04:14 PM	#10
Paladin1 Brigadier General 5556 Rep 4,504 Posts Drives: 2022 iX xDrive50, DGM Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 iX xDrive M60 [0.00] 2022 iX xDrive50 [10.00]	Thanks all! Sounds like a maybe on the black gloss trim - will likely hand wash until the first snow, and go easy on the car wash options (seems to have been worse with wax/protective additives). I was able to tone down the effects when I noticed it on my F15 chrome, but even chrome polishing compound didn't completely eliminate it - whatever metal was in the Hofmeister Kink was permanently stained. Best option is not to get it in the first place I suppose....
	Appreciate 0 Quote