What the heck is this?!?

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cardude2000

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Looks like bubbling on the ‘chrome’ strip. Is this even real chrome? Could it actually be rust underneath??

d8302734e137f02d110b6706b496c65c.jpg


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humer101

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Looks like bubbling on the ‘chrome’ strip. Is this even real chrome? Could it actually be rust underneath??

d8302734e137f02d110b6706b496c65c.jpg


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How old is your car? And where are you located?
State?

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drakon543

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it looks like an improperly prepped section when it was coated. even when real chrome plating it has to be prepped correctly. looks more like water in paint or on the surface
 
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cardude2000

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How old is your car? And where are you located?
State?

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3.5 years, northeast. It could certainly be rust, frankly I thought it was just a plastic was with a Chrome like finish put on it.
 

humer101

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3.5 years, northeast. It could certainly be rust, frankly I thought it was just a plastic was with a Chrome like finish put on it.
Very suspect chrome, i never see like that my neighbor told me it might was wrong mixing or they use different glue to attach the chrome.

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CMoore711

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Sorry if I missed it, but what “chrome strip” are we looking at here? The side door molding?
 

CMoore711

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The side molding pieces are plastic, not metal. So that is for sure not rust.

However, something has happened to it. I’ve seen similar things happen to “chrome” plastic pieces if the pressure washer wand at the car wash is held too close to the “chrome” plastic surface. It’s usually in the form of a line or larger noticeable defect though whereas yours are small specs which is throwing me off.
 
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cardude2000

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The side molding pieces are plastic, not metal. So that is for sure not rust.

However, something has happened to it. I’ve seen similar things happen to “chrome” plastic pieces if the pressure washer wand at the car wash is held too close to the “chrome” plastic surface. It’s usually in the form of a line or larger noticeable defect though whereas yours are small specs which is throwing me off.

Yeah these are actual bubbles (hard though) and not pitted as they appear...
 

CMoore711

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Well the good news is they’re as easy to remove as a decal badge that’s stuck on with tape.

Replacements come with double-sided 3M pre-installed, and from a quick glance on eBay OEM replacements can be had for about $75/ea. give or take.
 

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