I had a go at polishing my exhaust with Silvo recently, but it made naff all difference. It looks like the actual chrome coating is ruined. 

 

Can the tips be replaced, or will it need a whole new cat-back? 

My original tips looked like that when I bought the car.  Autosol and an hour of elbow grease sorted them out.

http://www.autosol.com/product_p/1000.htm

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosol-Solvol-Chrome-Metal-Aluminium-Cleaner-Polish-The-Original-Best-/320925147531?epid=645872122&hash=item4ab8a1218b:g:hs0AAOSwyQtVj-xV

 

Edited 21 October, 20178 yr by skinnyman

This is the process I used on mine. 

 

https://youtu.be/2CycXrwe43M

 

At least the tailpipes on yours are rounded, I have donated less blood than I shed cleaning my exhaust tips! 

 

Tru dat! 

Autosol, or a small polish kit with metal polish soap will do the job..

Something like this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Max-Aluminium-Alloy-Polishing-Buffing/dp/B005DPJDQO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508611700&sr=8-1&keywords=metal+polishing+kits

 

 

You can usually cut the old tips off.

 

Fine steel wool or 2000 wet and dry would be my starting point with your tips.

Will give Autosol a go then

 

Pretty sure I've got some 3000/2000/1500 paper from polishing my headlights, so that's doable too.

Rjg, this might be your excuse to get a new cat back stainless steel custom exhaust with nice shiny tips, I did!

On 24/10/2017 at 16:48, roaddetective said:

Rjg, this might be your excuse to get a new cat back stainless steel custom exhaust with nice shiny tips, I did!

I've come from a Stage 2+ Jetta with Milltek turbo back exhaust, so I'm enjoying the lack of drone but also missing the noise when I floor it! 

 

Had a quick go with some 1200 grit earlier which certainly got rid of loads of the black crud. 

With a made to measure custom exhaust you can get the sound you want. I asked for a nice tone without drone, stating to the guy that I am too old for a lot of noise. When I collected it and took it up the road there was far too much drone on and off the gas between 3-4k revs, so eventually I took it back for some free adjustment. 2 hours later drove it away and they got it just right. It should of course last the life of the car and beyond, all for £360. I told the good lady it was preventative maintenance spending, as the old one had a fair bit of rust on it. All true if you think about it. 

    

Mr Muscle oven cleaner.