If scrap iron and the corresponding bling-bling accessories lose their shine, there can only be one solution: Ambitious drivers use suitable care products - also known as chrome polish or metal polish. Read here which of the 13 products in the test actually brought back the shine.
🏆 The test winner at a glance:
The top three play in a league of their own. The distance to the products rated "good" is at least eleven points. In practice, however, brilliant results can also be achieved with the "classics" Nevr-Dull, Sonax and Autosol; the differences are only noticeable in a direct comparison. And even with the products placed in the lower half, "satisfactory" results are possible in the truest sense of the word if you are willing to invest a little more time and material. ,
This is how we tested
All roads lead to chrome. Whether on two, three or four wheels. MOTORRAD therefore once again joined forces with its sister publication auto motor und sport. And the tried-and-tested white coats from Kärcher were again on board with lots of testing know-how.
All test samples were bought by MOTORRAD and auto motor und sport in late autumn 2022 via the internet and in specialist shops. The prices mentioned are the actually paid prices, not always the non-binding target prices. A very important difference, which in the case of the identically constructed products from Dr. Wack (P21S and S100) was even decisive for test victory and placement. ,
The test candidates went to the research and development laboratory of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG in Winnenden. The Swabian cleaning equipment professionals with laboratory manager Frank Ritscher and his colleague Shanice Comminey supported MOTORRAD and auto motor und sport with advice and action - and many laboratory tests.
Of a more theoretical nature was the review and assessment of the ingredients with special consideration of possible allergens and other substances that may be hazardous to health and the environment (scoring see "Chemical Analysis/Recipe"). The determination of the respective pH value (keyword "skin compatibility") and the determination of the (non-scored) dry substance content continued. Using a combination of microscope and computer, the Kärcher professionals inspected and measured the friction bodies contained in the products. An action that was not relevant to points, but deepened knowledge of the respective recipe. ,
The testers then assessed the detailed and understandable user instructions (maximum five points) and processed the products on brushed aluminum sheet according to the manufacturer's specifications. The aim was to transform the 5 x 7.5 cm test field into a surface that was as shiny as possible.The maximum of 20 points awarded in the "Application" category consisted of a maximum of ten points each for application/distribution and polishability. A maximum of 60 points could be achieved for "polishing performance" - a maximum of 30 each for gloss and sanding pattern (scratch removal); the assessment was purely visual, to put it simply, based on the sharpness and quality of the mirror image - in this case, a more meaningful method than measuring with a gloss level measuring device that is otherwise often used to assess painted surfaces, but which quickly reaches its limits with highly reflective surfaces. ,
In order to verify the laboratory tests under real practical conditions, a second set of all test samples ended up in the editor's workshop in northern Germany. There it was a matter of giving a new shine to a well hung and impressively corroded Suzuki GSX 750. Unsurprising finding of the work on the real device: practically no qualitative differences to the laboratory tests. Finally, it was necessary to assess the knowledge gained under the generic term "price-performance ratio". The care products could get a maximum of ten points in this category.
Autosol – noble chrome shine/metal polish
, Provider: Dursol factory, 42655 Solingen, www.autosol.de; Price: 5.99 euros for a 75 ml tube (bought from Louis); Price for 100 ml: 7.99 euros Chemical analysis: pH value 9.5, alkaline and therefore strongly degreasing the skin; Dry substance content 55.1%; relatively uncritical recipe; angular friction particles 2–7 µm, somewhat inhomogeneous size distribution Consistency/smell: white solid paste/cream; slight smell of petrol Application: very brief user instructions; good application, is very easy to spread, polishing is also very easy Polishing performance: good gloss (25 out of 30 points), satisfactory sanding pattern (16 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: There are means that have been used since time immemorial play a role – Autosol is one of them. It has hardly any weaknesses, can be used sparingly and delivers a solid result.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: good
Order Autosol – Noble Chrome Shine/Metal Polish directly here.
Chrome Magic – chrome polish
Provider: Autec, 79415 Bad Bellingen, www.autec-vertrieb.de Price: 13.99 euros for a 250 ml bottle (bought from Louis); Price for 100 ml: €5.60 Chemical analysis: pH value 8, alkaline and therefore strongly degreasing the skin; Dry substance content 33.4%; relatively uncritical recipe; angular friction body 1.2–7.3 µm, inhomogeneous mixture Consistency/odour: white liquid; Smell of wall paint Application: very detailed user instructions; Application and distribution is a little more complex, polishing very easy Polishing performance: good gloss (25 out of 30 points), satisfactory grinding pattern (17 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: More effort is required when processing, but the gloss result is convincing . When it comes to avoiding scratches, the same applies here: there is still a little more to do.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: good
Chrome Magic – order chrome polish directly here.
Elsterglanz – chrome care
Vendor: Ahrenshof, 04509 Wiedemar, www.ahrenshof.de Price: 2.95 euros for a 150 ml tube (bought at dm drugstores); Price for 100 ml: €1.97 Chemical analysis: pH value 7.5–8.5, alkaline and therefore strongly degreasing the skin; dry matter content 41.2%; contains the allergen limonene (fragrance); angular friction body 1.1–24 µm, inhomogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: white cream with visible particles; Paint smell Application: very detailed user instructions; Application and distribution very difficult, polishing also very time-consuming Polishing performance: Below average gloss and sanding finish (each 11 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Firmly anchored in the care product brand memory, but that is no guarantee for good performance. In the test, the product only just barely scored "sufficient".
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: sufficient
Elsterglanz – order chrome care directly here.
Liqui Moly – Chrome Gloss Cream
Supplier: Liqui Moly, 89081 Ulm, www.liqui-moly.de Price: 9.35 euros for a 250 ml bottle (bought from Amazon); Price for 100 ml: 3.74 euros Chemical analysis: pH value 8.5, alkaline and therefore strongly degreasing the skin; dry substance content 32.1%; relatively uncritical recipe; small, round abrasive bodies 1–3.2 µm, very homogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: light gray liquid cream; Paint smell Application: very detailed user instructions; Application and distribution very difficult, polishing very easy Polishing performance: Satisfactory to good gloss (20 out of 30 points), satisfactory to good sanding pattern (20 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Of course, the Ulm generalists also have a Offer metal care product. That does a solid job. No more, but also no less in this test field.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: satisfactory
Order Liqui Moly – chrome gloss cream directly here.
Meguiar's – NXT All Metal Polish
Provider: Meguiar's Germany, 41453 Neuss, www.meguiars.de Price: 12.21 euros for a 142 g can (purchased from kfzteile24); Price for 100 g: EUR 8.60 Chemical analysis: pH value cannot be determined (solid paste); Dry substance content 47.6%; relatively uncritical recipe; round friction bodies 1.1–5.1 µm, inhomogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: solid paste; Smell cannot be defined in more detail, slightly chemical Application: Detailed information on the unwieldy flap label; good application, distribution and polishing very easy Polishing performance: very good shine (28 out of 30 points), good sanding pattern (25 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Ami products are a bit bizarre by European standards. When it comes to metal care, however, this remedy is convincing. And that should apply worldwide.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: very good
Order Meguiar's – NXT All Metal Polish directly here.
Mellerud – stainless steel gloss special polish
Supplier: Mellerud Chemie, 41379 Brüggen, www.mellerud.de Price: 6.99 euros for a 75 ml tube (bought from Bauhaus); Price for 100 ml: 9.32 euros Chemical analysis: pH value 9–10, alkaline, strongly degreasing the skin; Dry substance content 42.4%; relatively uncritical recipe; partially angular friction bodies 1.6–9.6 µm, inhomogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: more liquid cream with particles; petroleum-like smell Application: very detailed user instructions; Application and distribution a bit more complex, polishing very easy Polishing performance: still satisfactory shine (15 out of 30 points), satisfactory sanding pattern (16 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: With only a good half of the points in terms of polishing performance the possibilities are limited. If the price doesn't fit either, you won't get a top position.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: satisfactory
Mellerud – Order stainless steel gloss special polish directly here.
Nevr-Dull – Magic Wadding Polish
Vendor: Helmut Koch, 21244 Buchholz, www.nevrdull.de Price: 10.99 euros for a 142 g can (bought from Louis); Price for 100 g: 7.74 euros Chemical analysis: pH value cannot be determined (polishing cotton); Dry substance content 43.7%; relatively uncritical recipe; Fiber thickness 10–25 µm, sharp-edged abrasive bodies 5–7 µm Consistency/smell: somewhat cloth-like cotton wool; very strong smell of petrol Application: very detailed user instructions; Distributing and polishing very easy Polishing performance: Good shine (23 out of 30 points), satisfied to good sanding pattern (20 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Every passionate vehicle care worker knows the polishing cotton. The US classic does a good job again this time. Actually belongs in every garage.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: good
Order Nevr-Dull – Magic Wadding Polish directly here.
Nigrin – metal polishing paste
Provider: MTS Marken Technik Service, 76761 Rülzheim, www.nigrin.com Price: 3.29 euros for a 75 ml tube (at Conrad); Price for 100 ml: 4.39 euros Chemical analysis: pH value 9, alkaline and therefore strongly degreasing the skin; Dry substance content 49.7%; relatively uncritical recipe; round abrasive body 2.2–10.7 µm, moderately homogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: light yellow cream; slight citrus smell Application: detailed instructions, Nigrin cloth required; Application and distribution a bit more complex, polishing very easy Polishing performance: Satisfactory shine (17 out of 30 points), satisfactory to good sanding pattern (20 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Inconspicuous - that probably describes the performance of this care product. More is possible with the gloss, but hardly any scratches remain. With use good for solid results.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: satisfactory
Nigrin – order metal polishing paste directly here.
P21S – Metal/Alu Polish
Vendor: Dr. O. K. Wack Chemie, 85053 Ingolstadt, www.dr-wack.com Price: 8.50 euros for a 100 ml tube (bought from Amazon); Price for 100 ml: EUR 8.50 Chemical analysis: pH value cannot be determined (paste); Dry substance content 53.4%; relatively uncritical recipe; very small round abrasive particles 0.7–2.2 µm, homogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: white solid paste/cream with visible particles; Paint smell Application: Very detailed instructions, "polishing cotton" required; Application and distribution is a bit time-consuming, polishing very easy Polishing performance: Very good shine (30 out of 30 points), good sanding pattern (25 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Wack has once again lived up to its test winner claim. In the in-house comparison of the car (P21S) and motorcycle line (S100), the "special offer" wins.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: very good
P21S – order metal/aluminium polish directly here.
Rotweiss – stainless steel & chrome gloss polish
Supplier: Rotweiss Produkte Josef Zürn, 88142 Wasserburg, www.rotweiss24.de Price: 13.99 euros for a 150 ml tube (at Conrad); Price for 100 ml: €9.33 Chemical analysis: pH value 7.8, slightly alkaline and therefore degreasing the skin; Dry substance content 59.4%; contains the allergen orange oil (perfume); round abrasive bodies 0.5–5 µm, moderately homogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: mint green cream; slight smell of orange Application: very detailed user instructions; Easy to apply and distribute, very easy to polish out Polishing performance: below-average gloss (10 out of 30 points), satisfactory to good sanding pattern (20 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Convincing in use, below-average. in the polishing performance - that takes revenge. The recipe, which may not be entirely uncritical, does not make it any better.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: satisfactory
Order red and white – stainless steel & chrome gloss polish directly here.
S100 – Metal Polish
Provider: Dr. O. K. Wack Chemie, 85053 Ingolstadt, www.dr-wack.com Price: 11.99 euros for a 100 ml tube (bought from Louis); Price for 100 ml: 11.99 euros Chemical analysis: pH value cannot be determined (paste); Dry substance content 53.3%; relatively uncritical recipe; very small round particles 1.4–3.5 µm, homogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: white solid paste/cream with visible particles; Paint smell Application: Very detailed instructions, "polishing cotton" required; order and distribution lei. More complex, polishing out very easy Polishing performance: Very good gloss (30 out of 30 points), good sanding pattern (25 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Same recipe as the "car sister", same great performance and still not a test winner - as the? The S100 remedy is sometimes offered more expensively in stores.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: very good
Order S100 metal polish directly here.
Sonax – chrome + aluminum paste
Supplier: Sonax, 86633 Neuburg/Donau, www.sonax.com Price: 5.90 euros for a 75 ml tube (bought from Amazon); Price for 100 ml: 7.87 euros Chemical analysis: pH value 7.8, slightly alkaline and therefore degreasing the skin; dry matter content 42.6%; uncritical recipe (good: without hydrocarbons); small, round abrasive bodies 1.5–3.1 µm, homogeneous mixture Consistency/smell: light brown, beige cream; odor cannot be defined, neutral Application: very good user instructions; Application and distribution a little more complex, polishing very easy Polishing performance: Good shine (25 out of 30 points), satisfactory sanding finish (17 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Quality at a fair price - that's the Sonax image. A little more is possible when it comes to removing scratches, but there is the healthiest recipe for it.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: good
Order Sonax – chrome + aluminum paste directly here.
Turtle Wax – All Metal Polish
Supplier: Turtle Wax Europe, Liverpool (UK), www.turtlewax.com Price: 6.80 euros for a 300 ml bottle (bought from Reichelt ); Price for 100 ml: 2.27 euros Chemical analysis: pH value 9.2, alkaline and therefore strongly degreasing the skin; dry substance content 20.7%; relatively uncritical recipe; round friction bodies 2.2–6.1 µm, inhomogeneous Consistency/odour: light gray liquid; Smell of lemon and strong of varnish Application: very detailed user instructions; Application and distribution very complex, polishing very easy Polishing performance: Satisfactory to good gloss (19 out of 30 points), good sanding pattern (25 out of 30 points)
Conclusion: Working with the agent is more complex and strenuous, but very few scratches remain. When it comes to shine, there are much better products.
auto-motor-und-sport verdict: good
Order Turtle Wax – All Metal Polish directly here.
Chrome is coming back!
For many years, the metal coating, which was intended as pure surface protection in the early days of motorization, was considered a dying species, but now the old Glanzheimer can be found more and more often. Be it to decorate a motorcycle. Or to put the fat exhaust tailpipes of powerful cars in the spotlight a little better.
Although: Of course not everything that glitters is chrome. Plain plastic often serves as a base for a shiny metallic vapor coating. Often used on motorcycles on headlight and turn signal housings; in cars on the radiator grille or interior parts. Therefore, a warning at this point: The products tested here have the term "metal" in their name or at least in the description for good reason. So if you're not sure what's under the glossy layer you need to care for, you should test the products in question in a well-hidden place first. If things go wrong, the supposed chrome is very quickly gone. This is called an abrasive, i.e. material-removing effect. ,
Back to "real" chrome and a little material science digression: The high-quality and classic chrome plating of metal parts was and is a very tedious and, above all, time-consuming and therefore expensive procedure. A typical three-layer structure looks like this: The bare and meticulously degreased metal part ends up in a bright copper bath for several hours and receives a 120 μm (that is 120 thousandths of a millimeter) thick copper layer electrolytically. The soft copper fills in bumps and serves as a carrier material. Then it goes into a nickel bath for a long time, in which the thing gets a 50 μm thin nickel layer that serves to build up the shine. After that, a short chrome bath (which is not shiny silver, but rusty brown, since chrome looks like large, reddish-brown oatmeal) ensures a mere five μm thin chrome layer as a quite hard metal coating.
Different recipes
Chrome on the vehicle has to decorate more than protect these days and therefore needs to be cared for in a particularly loving manner. Since anno Tobak, this has mostly been done with pastes that contain abrasive components (i.e. abrasives) that put an end to rust film, scratches, blind spots and rust spots. For just as long, users have been annoyed by mostly white marks that get caught in the gaps after polishing. A fact that explains the more than 40 years of success of a polishing cotton like Nevr-Dull in this country, which of course should not be missing in this product test. ,
Whether paste, cream or polishing cotton - the developers of such products face a conflict of interest, as is so often the case in the chemical sector.On the one hand, it is important to remove the aforementioned signs of age, weathering and dirt, which requires powerful abrasives; On the other hand, these polishing bodies must not be too aggressive, so that a high-gloss, reflective surface is created in the end. A further complication is that the spectrum of the chrome to be cared for ranges from only slightly soiled, almost new goods to the spotted, very old chrome of the beloved young or oldtimer. Finding the right recipe is a balancing act for the responsible white coats. And this does not take into account the demands of merchants (availability and price of raw materials) and the ever-increasing demands in terms of health hazards and environmental compatibility. ,
Keyword health hazards: There is almost always something in car care products and also in cleaners such as the recently tested hand washing pastes that is not necessarily beneficial to health. Carefully worded. This never happens out of bad faith, there are almost always practical constraints behind it. The product has to last a certain amount of time - and we're already talking about preservatives. Of course, it should also be particularly easy to process – this is where petroleum derivatives come into play, and thus hydrocarbons that are harmful to the organism. Solvents, humectants, etc. - there are quite a few things that are not really healthy in the long run. But what is often forgotten by particularly sensitive and environmentally concerned natures: the dose makes the difference. And that has a lot to do with the length of stay. Which brings us back to the present product test.
In contrast to, for example, spray wax or hand washing pastes, which usually only have direct skin contact with their users for a very short time and the use of which some health risks are more of a theoretical nature, chrome and metal polishes like to seek human contact for a little longer. For example, for a whole afternoon, in which the bare index finger works lovingly on metal cosmetics with a cloth and polish. Chrome and metal cleaning can definitely be a contemplative and therefore very time-consuming activity. Hence our urgent advice: It is better to wear gloves when applying, spreading and polishing, for example these ultra-thin and usually blue rubber things. This prevents the hydrocarbons contained in almost all products (very laudable exception: Sonax) from finding their way through the skin. And while we're on the topic of health/environment, there's also good news: The risk of the products tested here getting into the groundwater is extremely low. The thing with the rag, you understand?! ,
Speaking of cloths: Its use is sometimes a cloth with seven seals, not every care product manufacturer simply mentions "soft cloth" in the user information.Sometimes a cotton cloth is explicitly mentioned, in other places microfiber is required. From a marketing point of view, Nigrin very cleverly insists on a "Nigrin all-purpose cloth", Dr. Wack uses cotton wool for polishing and microfiber for polishing. It is therefore best to clarify before use whether mum's worn-out bed sheets or an old towel are sufficient in order to achieve the best possible results. You don't want to do anything wrong.
Balancing the application
You don't have to worry as much about whether you want to attack the (real!) chrome or just unpainted metallic surfaces. The tested products are suitable for both. However, our laboratory tests were not carried out on chrome. This is far too hard and therefore too undemanding to be able to work out real differences. The tests were carried out on brushed and otherwise untreated aluminum sheeting - relatively soft, perfect for typical signs of weathering, so that differences in polishing performance can be seen much better than on chrome. ,
The fact that a care product on this sensitive surface provides both a good shine and a convincing sanding pattern, i.e. a surface that is as scratch-free as possible, is rather the exception. Only the top three finishers manage this balancing act. For the rest, the performance focus is more or less on one side or the other. From the user's point of view, the main care goal is probably "gloss", and this can also be achieved with many of the other ten test participants.
So there are no real failures, but a few amusing anomalies. So S100 buyers shouldn't be surprised that their object of desire is also offered in a red plastic tube. This is even newer than the silver plastic tube shown here, but the contents are completely identical. However, anyone who reaches for the silver tin tube has gotten an older recipe.
The Meguiar's purchase can also cause some confusion; the manufacturer is not quite in agreement about whether its product should be called "Polish" or "Polysh". Both can be found in stores, the content is also the same. This also applies to Sonax: "Chrom + AluPaste" or "Chrom + AluPaste" - both fit. ,
