Topic: Lexus 'chrome' issues

[PJungnitsch]

We were car shopping today, and just about pulled the trigger on a beautiful low mileage 2015 RX350.

That is, until we saw all the plastichrome looked like this:



What the hell is it? Sure did not want to come off.

This same trim (around the grill, rear hatch, under the doors) on all the other used RX's in the lot, including those much older. The solid metal chrome of the lettering and badge was fine.

The only thing we could think of was that it had spent it's first few months in BC, could it be effects of salt spray?

[Fobroader]

Very good reason to plastidip all the chrome black!!!

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[rrocket]

Depending on how cheap you get it for, if you really love it get new pieces.....I don't imagine they'd be too pricey.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Is that on the front grill ?
Would that be covered under factory warranty ?

[Railton]

We were car shopping today, and just about pulled the trigger on a beautiful low mileage 2015 RX350.

That is, until we saw all the plastichrome looked like this:



What the hell is it? Sure did not want to come off.

This same trim (around the grill, rear hatch, under the doors) on all the other used RX's in the lot, including those much older. The solid metal chrome of the lettering and badge was fine.

The only thing we could think of was that it had spent it's first few months in BC, could it be effects of salt spray?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/automotive-care-and-detailing/688810-spots-on-chrome-trim.html
Railton

[rrocket]

Hey!

Why not put that in as a condition of purchase? That they polish out that crap?

[PJungnitsch]

It didn't look like something that would polish out, like it had etched itself into the plastchrome. The real metal pieces (like the lettering) were fine. Looked at alternatives like getting it replaced under warranty (rejected), replacing (too expensive), or switching with an older car on the lot (too much shop time).

Sucks as would have bought it on the spot otherwise.

Did some research and it looks like magnesium chloride damage from road de-icer:

I live in Denver and frequently drive to the mountains for skiing. Colorado and Denver both use Mag-Chloride to keep the roads from icing. Modern cars are using chromed plastic parts rather than chrome metal parts. These new parts are susceptible to staining by the Mag-Chloride. This staining apparently goes sub surface and seems to be permanent. I have tried just about everything to remove the stains on my Lexus RX to no avail. One source suggested giving the parts a good coating with wax and always wiping the car down after driving on roads with Mag-Chloride

I have now tried all of the above mentioned methods. These might work on fresh stains, but they did not work on the older stains. They did remove some of the color of the stains. They appear to have some yellow or gold tones to them. but the shape of the stain remains. I believe that this is an etched mark on the chrome surface, or the underlying plastic and once etched, cannot be removed.

I spoke with my sales person at Lexus and she said that she has a product that will also remove fresh stains, but not the etching. She will be getting me the name and I will try it as well.

 https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/the-chromed-bits-on-my-s-have-the-measles.16510/page-2

[Ex-airbalancer]

It didn't look like something that would polish out, like it had etched itself into the plastchrome. The real metal pieces (like the lettering) were fine. Looked at alternatives like getting it replaced under warranty (rejected), replacing (too expensive), or switching with an older car on the lot (too much shop time).

Sucks as would have bought it on the spot otherwise.

Did some research and it looks like magnesium chloride damage from road de-icer:

I live in Denver and frequently drive to the mountains for skiing. Colorado and Denver both use Mag-Chloride to keep the roads from icing. Modern cars are using chromed plastic parts rather than chrome metal parts. These new parts are susceptible to staining by the Mag-Chloride. This staining apparently goes sub surface and seems to be permanent. I have tried just about everything to remove the stains on my Lexus RX to no avail. One source suggested giving the parts a good coating with wax and always wiping the car down after driving on roads with Mag-Chloride

I have now tried all of the above mentioned methods. These might work on fresh stains, but they did not work on the older stains. They did remove some of the color of the stains. They appear to have some yellow or gold tones to them. but the shape of the stain remains. I believe that this is an etched mark on the chrome surface, or the underlying plastic and once etched, cannot be removed.

I spoke with my sales person at Lexus and she said that she has a product that will also remove fresh stains, but not the etching. She will be getting me the name and I will try it as well.

 https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/the-chromed-bits-on-my-s-have-the-measles.16510/page-2

Have not noticed that on our 2013 Rx , will take a look today

[G.Bombay]

That liquid road de-icer stuff is nasty, ruins everything.

[rrocket]

It didn't look like something that would polish out, like it had etched itself into the plastchrome. The real metal pieces (like the lettering) were fine. Looked at alternatives like getting it replaced under warranty (rejected), replacing (too expensive), or switching with an older car on the lot (too much shop time).

Sucks as would have bought it on the spot otherwise.

Did some research and it looks like magnesium chloride damage from road de-icer:

I live in Denver and frequently drive to the mountains for skiing. Colorado and Denver both use Mag-Chloride to keep the roads from icing. Modern cars are using chromed plastic parts rather than chrome metal parts. These new parts are susceptible to staining by the Mag-Chloride. This staining apparently goes sub surface and seems to be permanent. I have tried just about everything to remove the stains on my Lexus RX to no avail. One source suggested giving the parts a good coating with wax and always wiping the car down after driving on roads with Mag-Chloride

I have now tried all of the above mentioned methods. These might work on fresh stains, but they did not work on the older stains. They did remove some of the color of the stains. They appear to have some yellow or gold tones to them. but the shape of the stain remains. I believe that this is an etched mark on the chrome surface, or the underlying plastic and once etched, cannot be removed.

I spoke with my sales person at Lexus and she said that she has a product that will also remove fresh stains, but not the etching. She will be getting me the name and I will try it as well.

 https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/the-chromed-bits-on-my-s-have-the-measles.16510/page-2

Could you replace the items on your own as you find them?

[aquadorhj]

DAmmit, i hate you for bringing this up.  now i have to go look at mine....

[PJungnitsch]

All the others in the lot were fine! Looks like Mag chloride is mostly a Colorado thing, maybe the original owner took it on a ski trip.

Edmonton is just starting to use a bunch of pre-emptive deicer in the winter, but it is mostly calcium chloride, apparently not as bad:

According to a city memo, the mix ratio Kortech created has:

26 to 28 per cent calcium chloride
.25 to 1 per cent magnesium hydroxide
-5 to 8 per cent magnesium chloride/sodium chloride and potassium chloride
-64 to 66 per cent water

The problem with this car is all the plastichrome was bad, every single piece. And it's not cheap or (or apparently that easy to change). The price was not that good to make up for it.

So close

[Noto]

Yeah, my dad's 2006 RX has none of that...but I don't think Ontario uses Mg-Cl (I could be wrong...who knows).

[Ex-airbalancer]

No problems with our RX or truck
I think the Brine in Southern Ontario is created in a 23% concentration of rock salt to water.

[Ex-airbalancer]

We were car shopping today, and just about pulled the trigger on a beautiful low mileage 2015 RX350.

That is, until we saw all the plastichrome looked like this:



What the hell is it? Sure did not want to come off.

This same trim (around the grill, rear hatch, under the doors) on all the other used RX's in the lot, including those much older. The solid metal chrome of the lettering and badge was fine.

The only thing we could think of was that it had spent it's first few months in BC, could it be effects of salt spray?

Do you a link to the RX

[PJungnitsch]

This one:

https://www.lexusofedmonton.ca/inventory/used-2015-lexus-rx-350-f-sport-package-all-wheel-drive-4-door-sport-utility-2t2bk1ba9fc287508

[rrocket]

This one:

https://www.lexusofedmonton.ca/inventory/used-2015-lexus-rx-350-f-sport-package-all-wheel-drive-4-door-sport-utility-2t2bk1ba9fc287508

Plasti Dip it!!

Don't need no stinkin' chrome on an F-Sport!!   

[KD]

Very strange that they all would have this.  The plastic chrome on my GS350 is fine but there's not much on there anyway.  Only issue i see now is the spotting on the paint from rail dust but that's normal for this time of year. 

[bridgecity]

The plastichrome looks similar on certain parts of our MDX, and previously on the CRV. A rag and a little elbow grease and it comes off, in our situation anyway. But ya, doesn’t appear on all plastichrome parts.

Come to think of it, I think it only occurs on the hatch pieces.