polishing chrome, removing sidestand

[devo]

Okay, I bit the bullet and bought a an exhaust nut wrench to take off my r65 exhaust so I could fix my sidestand. Bob's BMW had them for $24.95, less than you can get them on ebay, anyway. New parts were cheap from Max's BMW. Some things I found out along the way: 1. Brown doesn't make a sidestand for R65. 2. My biggest problem with the sidestand is that the bracket that holds the stand has been worn down and will have be built up with a welder I think.

As long as I'm going to have some welding done, I think I may have the footprint of the stand enlarged a little.

Anyway, here's my question: As long as I have the exhausts off, what's the best way to polish them up and restore their finish? When I bought the bike it had 36k on it but the chrome looked great. Now after a thousand miles, it looks cruddy. What do dealers use?

Thanks to all of you people who have helped me out so far!

[lkchris]

"Blued" exhaust pipes are a matter of BMW pride.

It indicates the pipes aren't the heavier, double-walled pipes used by those manufacturers who value form over function.

[dlearl476]

Originally posted by devo
Anyway, here's my question: As long as I have the exhausts off, what's the best way to polish them up and restore their finish?
Thanks to all of you people who have helped me out so far!

Define "Cruddy". The R75/5 I just bought had small pin-pricks of rust just starting through the chrome which had the effect, from 1+ foot away, of making them look dull. I used "Never Dull" wadding, which is now marketed by Eagle One to restore them to a perfect finnish. Another option is No.7 brand (?) Chrome Polish which I once used to fix a '72 2002 bumper which was much worse. You can also use Simichrome or Wenol on really grimey bits but be really carefull, they are far more abrasive than the other two products. Buff very lightly with just a bit of goo on a WET sponge, or you'll scratch the crhome.
And finally, for really heavy rust or grit, a small wire wheel in a dremel will do wonders. It will remove the rest but leave the chrome unscathed.
The good news about rust on chrome is that unlike paint, which will corrode on the surface of the metal until it bubbles the paint up, rust on chrome will come up through the chrome and deposit on the surface of the chrome. Usually it looks MUCH worse than it really is, and getting the rust off the surface restores the finnish remarkably. One of the reasons I like the "Never Dull" is that is has anti corrosive chemicals in it that retard further rusting.