What happens to aluminum if not coated is it gets dull over time, few weeks to a few months. Just ask anyone with a Harley or polished wheels. You can check your yellow pages to see if someone will re-anodize it or chrome plate it but it will be expensive and cheaper to get the part new if available. What some people do is spray a clearcoat over polished shiny aluminum and that preserves the shinyness.
This stuff addresses the protection of aluminum after it's restored. Unfortunately, I have just ordered it but have not used it yet, so I really can't vouch for it. It could be crap for all I know, and I would defer to fellow Panzer Pals who might have some experience with this product. Unless I hear any negatives, I'll likely give it a shot.
Any of these rub on products protection is simiar to a wax coating, it's very temporary where as the anodized coating should last years. As to cost of re-anodizing, I have no idea, just look in the yellow pages for places that do automotive restoration. Your best bet is to call the MB Restoration Center - Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes Classic, Classic Center California since money seems to be of no object, they can restore your car to like brand new.
Vehicle: 2001 E320 - Brilliant Silver/Ash: MBCA member
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I thought anodized trim was black, but that is pretty old information. My 2001 E320 has black metal trim, and I have found Meguiar's NXT All Metal Polysh to be pretty effective in restoring the shiny black luster to those metal trim pieces, however they are coated. In between applications, they adopt a bluish tint, but that product makes them look like new, albeit temporary.
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What would be the best and fasted way to remove the coating to get down to bare aluminum to apply the EVERBRITE coating. I tried the oven cleaner but it did not work, Do you have to leave it on there a long time to remove it?
Try a bottle of Greased Lighting. apply it only to the anodized trim and not the paint because it's strong stuff and should not touch the paint. it should burn off whatever the haze is on there. after that I would use some Nu Finish to help bring the gloss back.
Vehicle: 1982 380SE AMG euro (parted out) , 1983 300SD, 1984 500SEL AMG euro
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 79Mercy
What would be the best and fasted way to remove the coating to get down to bare aluminum to apply the EVERBRITE coating. I tried the oven cleaner but it did not work, Do you have to leave it on there a long time to remove it?
The oven cleaner must contain NaOH, sodium hydroxide, to remove the anodized layer. Ten minutes and wipe it off, and then a 30 minute treatment will do the job so you can sand the piece smooth. Do not leave on longer or you can risk pitting.
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