Trim turned blue??

[sparkey]

I had a customer go through my wash and call me an hour and a half later to tell me that the trim around her windows had turned blue, kind of like a motor cycle tail pipe does when it gets hot. To me it almost looks like corrosion. I run only hi ph presoak and when I titrated it, it was right on target. I have never had an issue like this before and have probably ran 500 cars since with no issues. I am at a loss here. I don't believe its an issue with my wash. I can't see the damage on my cameras where she exited the wash. This is a 2019 Mercedes so its a new car. Anyone ever ran into anything like this? I am a little suspicious getting a call an hour and a half later. I am wondering if she washed her windows with something harsh or its just junk trim?

 

[soapy]

Anodized metal trim on BMW and MB seem to do it most. Generally you can take some polishing compound like me meguiars scratch X and remove it with a clean cloth. Similar to oxidized paint.

 

[Greg Pack]

Ugh. I haven’t seen this in a while and assumed Mercedes had fixed it for good. I haven’t seen it on any recent models. don’t think there is a clear coat on the anodizing. Cleaner wax will work to improve the appearance , but it will do it again when it’s washed. Look at old PT cruisers driving around and you will see that type of damage on them too.

 

[OurTown]

This is just crazy that this happens on a new car. I thought all trim had some type of anodizing like aluminum wheels do.

 

[JustClean]

German cars don't like touchfree carwashes! There are no touchfree machines in Germany due to the road grime.
The cars are build for brush machines.
As said before: Wax will take it out

 

[Greg Pack]

This is just crazy that this happens on a new car. I thought all trim had some type of anodizing like aluminum wheels do.

I believe it is the lack of clear coating on the anodizing that causes the problem, but not 100% sure.

 

[soapy]

No clear coat is the problem.

 

[soapy]

I just read that Honda RIdgeline pickups years 17 - 19 are under recall because acid based soaps at car washes causes the fuel pump to develop cracks. Honda is installing cover over the fuel pump under the recall/

 

[OurTown]

I just read that Honda RIdgeline pickups years 17 - 19 are under recall because acid based soaps at car washes causes the fuel pump to develop cracks. Honda is installing cover over the fuel pump under the recall/

Yeah. There was a thread here about that a while back. Diamond Wash posted it I think?

 

[sparkey]

So would Hi PH presoak do this or is the a low PH thing? If this happened at your wash would you pay for the damage since it appears to be a manufacture defect?

 

[Greg Pack]

So would Hi PH presoak do this or is the a low PH thing? If this happened at your wash would you pay for the damage since it appears to be a manufacture defect?

Hi Ph does it. I would not "pay for damages" since it can be waxed out in 15 minutes. in the mid 2000s some volvos would do this too and they actually issues a TSB that said "use cleaner wax" to fix it. Your customer will not be able to use that wash again without this happening. Since this is a problem with one line of cars and not all lines, I consider it more of a problem that will have to be eventually addressed by the mfg. My wash does not do that to my 2014 E63. This is also concerning to me because I have a lot of Mercedes come through.

You can try swapping to low pass followed by high and that may help. Swapping to a presoak that uses sodium metasilicate as a builder might help. Perhaps someone with a higher level of knowledge on that can comment.

 

[Eric H]

My wife just forwarded an email from my son's friend's mother asking about this. Thank god I remembered this post and have an explanation, it's embarrassing enough when stuff like this happens but even worse when it is someone you know

 

[OurTown]

That looks like a black trim piece. What kind of car is it Eric?

 

[Eric H]

Mercedes SUV possibly a GLE. I think it if from the Bug-A-Salt pass on the Washworld Razors. The Bug-a-Salt only applies the chemical on the front of the car up to the side mirrors. if you look that is about where the staining stops. i haven't spoken with here yet...she told my wife it wipes of easily.

 

[sparkey]

I am about to post signs at my wash. "We are not responsible for Mercedes vehicles" do to their substandard trim.