Advice please - how should I polish this exhaust pipe, or should I just leave it?

[Snapper32]

Just looking for some advice on removing some tarnishing/rust? from the exhaust pipes on a GS that I am about to buy.

I'm a bit confused about what I've read regarding the materials used for the downpipes on the ('13-on) R1200GS - some sources say it's all stainless steel and yet the BMW specs say it's chrome-plated (I didn't think it was possible to chrome s/steel, but then I'm no expert)!?

What I wanted to know was this; should I use an abrasive compound (like Autosol chrome polish) to try and restore colour and shine to the brown parts of the metal, or will this just weaken the finish and lead to worse corrosion in future ?

You folks know all about these things, so what do you do to keep your exhaust pipes looking half decent ?

Thanks!

 

[Zx9man]

Mothers aluminium polish did the trick for me

 

[Snapper32]

Mothers aluminium polish did the trick for me

I suppose that would also work well on the crankcase, would it, or is that lacquered !?

 

[Bryn]

Harpic max strength 10x
Look it up.. there’s a thread on here about it��

Not on the crank cases though

 

[ChazzyB]

If it's a TE the pipes would have been chromed. If not a TE, then pipes are stainless unless chromed option fitted...

 

[Neil W]

Ah but the TE pipes are supposedly chrome plated stainless steel

 

[twizzle]

I suppose that would also work well on the crankcase, would it, or is that lacquered !?

Don't use Ali polish on paint or lacquered surfaces - It's abrasive.

Use "normal" automotive polish or paint treatments.

 

[Nutty]

Get an old T shirt and a pot of autosol. Cut the T shirt into long strips. Slather the pipes in autosol, then wrap the T shirt around. Then pull each end (not at the same time!) for a few minutes, and hey presto. It takes some elbow grease, but will do the job.

 

[Santa-2512]

Get an old T shirt and a pot of autosol. Cut the T shirt into long strips. Slather the pipes in autosol, then wrap the T shirt around. Then pull each end (not at the same time!) for a few minutes, and hey presto. It takes some elbow grease, but will do the job.

Agreed, I have steel pipes , and apply harpix max for 10 minutes and wash off. i then use an old towel in strips ,apply some autosol to the pipe andwrap the towel strips round the pipe twice

and cross the ends.

Then as Nutty says, pull back and forth for as long as you want.

Once done, the pipes are nice and shiney, and will over a week or so revert back to a golden yellow colour

 

[Nutty]

Agreed, I have steel pipes , and apply harpix max for 10 minutes and wash off. i then use an old towel in strips ,apply some autosol to the pipe andwrap the towel strips round the pipe twice

and cross the ends.

Then as Nutty says, pull back and forth for as long as you want.

Once done, the pipes are nice and shiney, and will over a week or so revert back to a golden yellow colour

Having a young bikini clad lady with large breasts do the pulling and pushing would be a bonus!

 

[Snapper32]

Thanks for all of the input, so far . I should add that the bike is a TE model and so does have chromed pipes (assuming that all TE's do).

I know from experience just what damage bog bleach does to chrome (having had to pay to replace all of the taps in a flat that I once rented ), so I don't think I'll risk that. I may invest in some of that Mother's stuff or just stick with the old Autosol stuff.

 

[Benji]

Coat in harpic cleaner( black one) then polish up with autosol, comes up a treat.

 

[Benji]

Mines a te, no probs so far with this method.

 

[roamer]

I have a set of remus stainless de cat headers if you want something easier to keep,

 

[Snapper32]

I have a set of remus stainless de cat headers if you want something easier to keep,

Thanks for the offer, but I have broken all of my piggy banks open to get the funds for the bike and so will only be looking at 'necessary' upgrades going forward .