A few days ago I picked up my Octavia Estate at my carwash and noticed stains on the alu trim which wouldn't clean off. I am well aware that alu trims are usually very sensitive and it may happen by using agressive clening products on hot surface etc.

The stains were only present on the alu trim around the 3rd windows (back) on both sides of the vehicle.

 

 

I also tried polishing it but nothing seems to work - it feels like the stains are below the coating and you can not really "access" them from the surface.

Also, my car wash (the same which I always use) told me they do not use agressive cleaning products.

 

So I went to my local dealer asking for a replacement (my car is still under warrianty) who immediately turned me down saying they have got clear instructions by VW group not to accept such complains as many users are using wrong cleaning prodcuts which can damage the trims.

 

What bothers me, that the trims around all other windows are in mint condition - check this pic to get the idea:

 

 

I intentionally used the flash on the camera to make showing it better - you can see that the trim on the right is very different. As mentioned the same situation is on both sides of the 3rd window trims. All this just lets me think that there is something wrong with the material and I should insist for replacement.

 

Dealer also told me that to both trims I also need to replace the windows and this costs quite a lot.

 

Do you have any experience in such problems - any suggestions are welcome  

 

Edited 13 June, 20178 yr by martinko

Martinko

 

So Sorry to see your trims are discoloured. I had exactly the same on a superb mk2 but it was done by the dealers when it went in for service, the cleaners had left Traffic Film Remover (TRF) on for too long in the sunlight and turned all the bright work trim to white. 

 

They attempted to polish the discoloured trim which worked to some extent on all but the rear curved trim which ended up markedly worse than the rest, just as you've shown. I agree that something is different with this trim piece.

 

In the end the dealer claimed off the cleaning company they employed, and replaced all the trim which surprisingly meant replacing some windows as well, a costly and time consuming exercise (I saw it in the workshop with the door cards off and the replacement rear quarter lights)

 

I always avoid using cheap hand car washes as they use aggressive chemicals like TRF to make cleaning easier, I've also noticed the alloy cleaning fluid appears to dull plated brake callipers. 

 

I do hope someone has a better solution for you as I found cutting compounds only did so much and the mark seemed to be on the metallised coating below.

 

Good luck.

I know it sounds old fashioned but have you tried vinegar? You just moist a microfiber towel in it and try to rub off the stains. Pay attention so as not to let any of it touch the paint or other body parts.

Edited 13 June, 20178 yr by paulsoava

2 hours ago, Greenliner1 said:

Martinko

 

So Sorry to see your trims are discoloured. I had exactly the same on a superb mk2 but it was done by the dealers when it went in for service, the cleaners had left Traffic Film Remover (TRF) on for too long in the sunlight and turned all the bright work trim to white. 

 

They attempted to polish the discoloured trim which worked to some extent on all but the rear curved trim which ended up markedly worse than the rest, just as you've shown. I agree that something is different with this trim piece.

 

In the end the dealer claimed off the cleaning company they employed, and replaced all the trim which surprisingly meant replacing some windows as well, a costly and time consuming exercise (I saw it in the workshop with the door cards off and the replacement rear quarter lights)

 

I always avoid using cheap hand car washes as they use aggressive chemicals like TRF to make cleaning easier, I've also noticed the alloy cleaning fluid appears to dull plated brake callipers. 

 

I do hope someone has a better solution for you as I found cutting compounds only did so much and the mark seemed to be on the metallised coating below.

 

Good luck.

Thank you so much. Well to be honest, the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that I can not even prove the stains occured due to improper cleaner or its improper usage.

If other windows' trims were affected too I would have no doubt that the fault is at the carwasher's side... but the rest of the car's trims are just fine and without any stains or whatever and therefore I can't blame him or make him pay for the damage. This situation is really blowing my mind. I can only assume that the reason for my problem is defective material only on this part (with poorly galavanized or improperly protected trims only on the both back windows). I think I'll insist with the dealer as much as I can to make them fix/replace the trims or even better - I will take the responsible from the carwash with me and see where the discussion will lead to.

 

44 minutes ago, paulsoava said:

I know it sounds old fashioned but have you tried vinegar? You just moist a microfiber towel in it and try to rub off the stains. Pain attention so as not to let any of it touch the paint or other body parts.

Thanks for the advise I will try this - got nothing to lose after all... 

Edited 13 June, 20178 yr by martinko

I just checked 3 company cars at my workplace (including my Octy). They are just arrived back from the car wash.

All of them have issues with that rear curved part and only with that. Something is definitely wrong with the material IMO. On the 2012 Superb it looks really bad.

 

 

 

 

same crap on mine.

tryed polish,autosol and many other things but no effect.

think the chrome is "fake" and have a layer of clearcoat (not sure if that is the correct word).

Wow, thank you so much Aki78 - this looks exactly like mine. I already know that is really useless to polish as the damage is NOT on the surface but underneath - there is NO sign of corrosion or anything else on the outside coating.

The hologram/rainbow effect is even stronger if you check it in the dark with a bright flashlight.

 

It really looks to me like the chroming of this part is not adequate.

Now the 700€ question is: did anyone of you try to ask if it can be recognised as bad material? My 2014 octavia is still under warrianty but the dealer want to convince me that the fault is on the car wash and they can not replace this under warrianty.