So are 'Stainless Bumpers' really stainless?

[alan_thomas]

A couple of years back I decided to splash out and buy a set of 'Stainless Bumpers'. They are sold by several suppliers but I believe the there is only one source and they are all made in Vietnam.
Unfortunately I am not one for cleaning cars and the bumpers rarely get any attention and I drive the car 12 months a year. I was recently surprised to see what appeared to be micro rust spots appearing on the bumpers and it required a firm polish with 'Solvol Autosol' to remove the spots.

Now I know the term 'Stainless' covers a wide range of steels from a steel that is only mildly corrosion resistant to full corrosion resistance. A magnet will not stick to the bumpers so that suggests they have a high nickel content but it definitely looked like corrosion spots.

It would be interesting to know what grade the bumpers are made from but it looks like I may have to start regularly cleaning the car ! - Alan

[marshman]

I fitted some of these bumpers 5 or 6 years ago, may be longer, I live by the coast and anything will rust, garaged or not, but there is definitely no sign of any corrosion on the stainless bumpers I have, and I am not really one for cleaning and polishing regularly, just one decent clean a year. Are you sure it is not "spider poo" [unlikely if you drive it 12 months a year - but some is hard to shift without a good soaking with a damp rag] or something else, are the spots on both front and rear and are you sure they are confined to the bumpers?

Roger

[richardthestag]

Unfortunately I am not one for cleaning cars and the bumpers rarely get any attention and I drive the car 12 months a year.

Man after my own heart Alan

I treat the inside of my bumpers to something like Dynax S50 annually, slows rust popping through from the inside.

My bumpers are oe chrome but I have seen stainless steel with rust specks. Trick is to treat it when you see it, coat of wax/autosol etc should protect them from one year to the next.

Stainless should be way less trouble than Chrome for folk like you and me.

Waiting for err indoors to say yes to a set for my car. BUT I need new tyres first

[jakesmig]

I've had the Stainless bumpers on my car for a while now and discovered similar rust specks, which in my case turned out to be errant spark residue from the grinder which had settled on the bumper and rusted

[mjheathcote]

I've had the Stainless bumpers on my car for a while now and discovered similar rust specks, which in my case turned out to be errant spark residue from the grinder which had settled on the bumper and rusted

This, if non magnetic will be either 304 or 316 grade.
Under normal circumstances should not stain, but 316 the higher grade for real hostile environments like salt water.

[Kithmo]

I've had the Stainless bumpers on my car for a while now and discovered similar rust specks, which in my case turned out to be errant spark residue from the grinder which had settled on the bumper and rusted

Been there done that, seen rust on white paint and even on glass where the sparks had been hitting the glass and embedding into it, a nightmare to remove.

[Andy S]

This is like finding out that Santa isn’t real.

My dream is to replace my slowly decaying Chrome Bumpers with Stainless Steel ones that will out last me.

Andy S

[mjheathcote]

Had my original chrome bumpers rechromed over 20 years ago, still as good today as the day I got them back!
Unfortunately the company that did them is no longer in business, and where more industrial chromers (cylinder rods ect), probably a better job as a result?

[stag8manod]

If you are going to clean your SS bumpers only use a SS wool or synthetic that hasn't been near anything steel. If a steel cleaning product is used it will micro-scratch the surface and it WILL rust.
Cheers Ian A

[Donkey]

My car was fitted with SS bumpers 13 years ago and they are still as new.

Brian

[alan_thomas]

I've had the Stainless bumpers on my car for a while now and discovered similar rust specks, which in my case turned out to be errant spark residue from the grinder which had settled on the bumper and rusted

I think you may be on to something here. Further examination revealed the spots were only on the front bumper and I have a wall mounted grindstone at the corresponding end of the garage. I do however like the idea it could be spider poo!

[Matt Cook]

https://www.bilthamber.com/car-cleaning-and-degreasing/korrosol

Try this stuff, it’s very good, amazing how much crap there is impeded in the paint, should work on the bumpers to. It’s not cheap but works really well.

Matt