Trim looks like crap

[StingertimeNC]

yes exactly! It is a pain as the trim is fairly thin and hard to work with. After doing one side, I switched to spray paint, again, with them off the car. This is super easy!

 

[SHxTGUN]

Hey guys, I was looking at a 2018 GT2 on a dealer lot and noticed the trim was looking pretty bad. Anyone have any opinions on if this is cleanable or if it looks permanent to you guys?

And also as a side question, is the trim that runs from the sunroof supposed to have this texture? (Shown in last picture). It just looks off, but I'm not a Stinger owner so I wouldn't know.

 

[RedCal]

The dark chrome can be cleaned up, but the roof rails need replacing
Clay bar for the plastic, metal polish or similar for the door/window bits, followed by a good sealant or ceramic

 

[Transmetal]

I've never seen discoloration on the front end trim before, usually it's just the areas by the doors and rear glass.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I've never seen discoloration on the front end trim before, usually it's just the areas by the doors and rear glass.

Yeah, until this week: and now we've been shown two.

The drip rails can be repainted, or even taken down to the bare steel and polished: @rocket23 's polished, naked metal drip rails look pretty spiff. If you cut a good discount for complaining about these cosmetic flaws (looks like heavy weathering possibly after overdoing the cleaning chemicals), then you can clean them up: it will probably be a good deal of work, but then you can protect them with ceramic or a good sealant (clear coat) or coat of wax: I've put three coats of wax on my window trim pieces and that is the least you can do: if necessary, I will wrap them gloss black or paint them gloss black (whichever way is less expensive), to match the gloss (piano) black accents already on the car.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I priced the OE window trim pieces today: for a set of all six, $579.19. That begins to look like the best solution, as wrapping or painting them professionally has to be in the same price range if not more expensive. Now, to keep the spotting/discoloration from occurring again, ceramic coating? Or is PPF an option? Wax? I don't think that anybody really knows. Probably any of these would be better than just snapping the new pieces in place and waiting for the finish to fail again.

(The pricing is strange: One called "GARNISH ASSY-C" costs $149.07; the other four pieces are called "MOULDING ASSY-" and one type costs $50.95 and the other costs $70.00; from the invoice quote I cannot tell which parts numbers go to which pieces, thus I cannot tell which prices attach to which pieces; but, as the hatch pieces are more complex, I'm assuming the most expensive price is that one; while the shorter rear passenger window trim is the least expensive one and the front door/A-pillar pieces are the middle priced ones.)

 

[5tinger]

I think the "smoky finish" is responsible for causing the spotting and staining issue for the chrome trim pieces found in the front bumper, grill, side view mirrors and the side air grill.

 

[StingertimeNC]

I priced the OE window trim pieces today: for a set of all six, $579.19. That begins to look like the best solution, as wrapping or painting them professionally has to be in the same price range if not more expensive. Now, to keep the spotting/discoloration from occurring again, ceramic coating? Or is PPF an option? Wax? I don't think that anybody really knows. Probably any of these would be better than just snapping the new pieces in place and waiting for the finish to fail again.

(The pricing is strange: One called "GARNISH ASSY-C" costs $149.07; the other four pieces are called "MOULDING ASSY-" and one type costs $50.95 and the other costs $70.00; from the invoice quote I cannot tell which parts numbers go to which pieces, thus I cannot tell which prices attach to which pieces; but, as the hatch pieces are more complex, I'm assuming the most expensive price is that one; while the shorter rear passenger window trim is the least expensive one and the front door/A-pillar pieces are the middle priced ones.)

I think the best solution is the gloss black spray paint. Less than $10.00 and no more maintenance headaches. So easy to remove and paint and re-install. Also, a close enough match to the piano trim that you will never even notice. I would spend the $570 left over on a JB4!

 

[jeffster]

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The trim down both sides has started to look like crap....there was slight discoloration in a couple spots when I purchased it about 6 weeks ago.....I pay for 6 months at a time for unlimited car washes at a car wash company that has multiple locations that does touch the car, after every car wash the trim hadn’t really changed much but could tell it was getting worse...then I went to a touch less car wash and after the wash my trim basically looked like this....I’ve read about some people compounding it and using other products on it but looks like I’m just gonna have the guy who does all the work on my car wrap it gloss black and be done with it!!!

Having the faded and water marked trim replaced on my 2019 gt1 next week. Should not be hapening!!

 

[Spyder168]

My trim is also suffering from this spotting. I'm also guilty of using an automatic car wash and I suspect that being one of the first customers of the day may have contributed to the discoloration. My guess is that either chemicals settled, separated or reacted with each other while sitting in the lines overnight or that there was some sort of cleaning solution run through the system which left some residue. Either way, the result was some sort of chemical which was capable of etching the top coat of the trim pieces.

I tried both metal polish and cleaner wax until my arm almost fell off, but I did not see any improvement in the appearance. Granted, I had waited 3-4 weeks until I finally tried to do anything about it. Looks like I'll be purchasing a new set of trim and sticking to hand washes from now on...

I'm late to this but it is a known issue and will be covered under warranty as I just went to dealer and they ordered all 6 pieces, so all good...doesn't mean they addressed the cause and could re etch, spot, look scratched, but service guy said the ones they've replaced haven't come back. So we'll see.

 

[terrylharris]

I used a touchless car wash on my Stinger for 3 and 1/4 years and when I sold it the chrome was spotless.

 

[MerlintheMad]

^^^Do you park where the sun doesn't shine a lot? Because I think that is the prime difference in Stingers that get discolored dark chrome trim (and cracked drip rails).

 

[Spyder168]

^^^Do you park where the sun doesn't shine a lot? Because I think that is the prime difference in Stingers that get discolored dark chrome trim (and cracked drip rails).

It started looking really bad when it got cold and dewy...IE it stayed wet for extended periods of time. I've never used an auto car wash and I use a high powered leaf blower to dry it after I wash it. The only time a microfiber touches it is when I'm doing my detailing with a good wax and ceramic detailer. Drivers side is really bad...right side is ok except the piece that runs down the hatch area.

 

[Spyder168]

It started looking really bad when it got cold and dewy...IE it stayed wet for extended periods of time. I've never used an auto car wash and I use a high powered leaf blower to dry it after I wash it. The only time a microfiber touches it is when I'm doing my detailing with a good wax and ceramic detailer. Drivers side is really bad...right side is ok except the piece that runs down the hatch area.

Sun is on it all day usually also.? It's just bad trim coating.

 

[StingertimeNC]

To solve it once and for all, paint it gloss black. Just need spray paint. Super easy. For the doors, get the window visors. Even easier and they look sleek.

 

[MerlintheMad]

It started looking really bad when it got cold and dewy...IE it stayed wet for extended periods of time. I've never used an auto car wash and I use a high powered leaf blower to dry it after I wash it. The only time a microfiber touches it is when I'm doing my detailing with a good wax and ceramic detailer. Drivers side is really bad...right side is ok except the piece that runs down the hatch area.

Sun is on it all day usually also.? It's just bad trim coating.

That could be, bad batches of trim coating, I mean. You have to wonder, when a particular piece or pieces either turn discolored or don't; and one is much worse than the rest. I recall pics not too long ago on here of the coating actually flaking off. So, there is some quality control issue Kia has with these pieces. I've already decided that if/when my window trim turns into a maintenance nightmare, I'll have them painted gloss black to match the already existing piano black pieces. There isn't any point in replacing them with new, since this will likely occur again.

 

[Spyder168]

That could be, bad batches of trim coating, I mean. You have to wonder, when a particular piece or pieces either turn discolored or don't; and one is much worse than the rest. I recall pics not too long ago on here of the coating actually flaking off. So, there is some quality control issue Kia has with these pieces. I've already decided that if/when my window trim turns into a maintenance nightmare, I'll have them painted gloss black to match the already existing piano black pieces. There isn't any point in replacing them with new, since this will likely occur again.

I agree.

 

[baws22489]

my trim that runs from the back of the sunroof down besides that hatch was looking bad and the car is garage kept and purchased in 10/2021. I took it by today to show the service manager in Virginia, and he took me in and showed me an email from Kia to all service managers saying do not replace these anymore and they have a fix/work around. he showed me the product they are told to use now and they just clean them up. I didnt drop the car off for them to do that today but the stuff is called Chemical Guys Light Metal Polish.

I will get some and test it out as my sons 2019 is also turning bad again even after being replaced already.

 

[terrylharris]

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The trim down both sides has started to look like crap....there was slight discoloration in a couple spots when I purchased it about 6 weeks ago.....I pay for 6 months at a time for unlimited car washes at a car wash company that has multiple locations that does touch the car, after every car wash the trim hadn’t really changed much but could tell it was getting worse...then I went to a touch less car wash and after the wash my trim basically looked like this....I’ve read about some people compounding it and using other products on it but looks like I’m just gonna have the guy who does all the work on my car wrap it gloss black and be done with it!!!

I had my Stinger for nearly 3 and 1/2 years and always used a brushless car wash and my chrome always looked spotless. It was always garaged and cared for meticulously.

 

[Typeface]

Had mine replaced by Kia a year ago, was the same after 6 months. Mainly on the side where the sun hits at work, i would say their clear coat isnt ready for the Aussie sun. Last time it happend i tried polish on one section and it came off with a little elbow grease then i got Kia to change them all but i cant be arsed going to Kia again as im sure it will just happen yet again so i will just polish the shit off.