OK, here is a dumb questions i've never thought of. what are all my small trim pieces made of??? (lip along the hood, headlight bezel's etc) are they aluminum or a light steel?? were they chromed from the factory or polished alum? If they're alum would I just polish them up, or do I have to get these re-chromed??
Mavs have a combo of aluminum & stainless steel trim. The hood lip moulding is aluminum. From factory these have an anodizing coating on them to protect them. As most have found out this coating doesn't last forever and then the trim loses its shine. What I have done is remove the anodizing (with oven cleaner) and repair any dents or scratches. Then with a buffer wheel polish them to a bright shine. The stainless needs to be repaired and buffed.
How do you remove the trim pieces and put them back on. I have just been looking at mine (around the winshields) and I am afraid to try and take them off for fear of breaking them.
You won't break them but you can bent & destroy them. The windshield is stainless steel. Start removing from the bottom. There is a small screw in each corner that needs to be removed. Sometimes after removing the screws you can slide the trim out the side off the clips. Then you will see how the clips hold the rest of the trim on. Then on the rest of the trim, using a trim removal tool or flat puddy knife feel for the clips that hold the trim in place and gently pry upward. Take your time and be carefull not to put dimples in the trim from the backside and with metal tools on the glass. Metal can crack a windshield very easily. Good Luck