I noticed that my side vents have gotten cloudy and am wondering what is the best way to clean them. It doesn't clear up with just water/soap. My understanding is that they are aluminum as they are the Portfolio edition side vents. Also, I'm wondering if there is a clear coat or something similar on them.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

 

Grab some Meguiar's cleaner wax or similar. Polish the surface, if clear coated it will clear. If pure aluminum the wiping material will appear black and at that point I'd grab some mother's metal polish and rub them down.
wj

 

The polished aluminum vents that are exclusive to the 2008 - 2009 XKR Portfolio Edition models are clear coated from the factory. I know this because I just applied a small amount of Simichrome Polish, an excellent soft paste polish that's made in Germany, and my rag did not turn black. That because it didn't make direct contact with metal.

I agree with @wymjym. I've also used Meguiar's Cleaner Wax with excellent results.

Those vents are just one of those things that made the 4.2L Portfolio models so expensive. They're expensive because they're milled from a solid block of aluminum.



That's per side. Ouch!

 

I guess i'll have to try the megs cleaner wax because the cloudiness on my side vents and chrome trim has driven me batshit for awhile now... I feel like i've attempted to buff them both with my DA buffer and various compounds a LOT to very little, if any, result.

I presume i'd be able to do better if I removed them, I presume removing both trim pieces is simple enough, but my main concern would be bending the window trim in the process, any experiences there?

 

As an after thought, if they have a clear anodized finish on them...polishing is not going to work. All that will be achieved is removing the anodize. I have seen 'crazed' clear anodize... cannot be 100% corrected, sorry.
But sharkhide boating coatings will make it look better. Also there is a gun stock oil that will help, it penetrates the clear, hardens and will last @ 12 months

wj

 

Holy Moley. Do they sell that stuff under streetlights @ the docks?

 

nah, at Cabellas and Amazon!
I asked a fellow with a 'raw' aluminum cobra how he keeps it so shiny and he told me about this stuff. Guy probably know about it.
wj