Can I machine polish the black roof on my Audi - looks like plastic?

[GotMoreSun]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to the forum and am having a hard time getting a straight answer about polishing my black (plastic?) roof with glass sun roof in the middle, on my Audi (picture attached). Does anyone have any experience claying, polishing and waxing this kind of roof? There are many Audi's, BMWs etc. that have this roof, but I can't find any specific info addressing this. My roof appears to be the same material that the pillars are made of between the front and back doors.
Thanks for your help.

[TTQ B4U]

I don't see a pic attached? What model and year?

[GotMoreSun]

I don't see a pic attached? What model and year?

My Audi is a White 2015 A8L with the black top. Sorry, Iam new to the forum and couldn't figure out how to attach the pic.

[TTQ B4U]

My Audi is a White 2015 A8L with the black top. Sorry, Iam new to the forum and couldn't figure out how to attach the pic.

It's an all aluminum chassis with laser welds and so far as I know it's painted. I don't recall it being a wrap of any type. My audi is Brilliant Black, aka Pure Black. I'll be with a friend who has a 2016 A8L in the morning so I'll look at his. He has Phantom or Metallic black but I'm 99% sure it's painted.

In the end, if the car is in fairly good shape you will just polish it anyway vs needing to compound it. Just hit it lightly and glance at your pad. If it's vinyl like the B Pillars, it will turn the pad black. If that's the case, I recommend CarPro Essence on a white pad and a light touch. That finishes out Pillars like a mirror.

[GotMoreSun]

Thanks for your help - I am curious what you find and think. My car is in mint condition but needs a claying real bad with lots of contamination. I really don't see any swirls in the clearcoat on the white paint but do see swirls in the black top.

[TTQ B4U]

Thanks for your help - I am curious what you find and think. My car is in mint condition but needs a claying real bad with lots of contamination. I really don't see any swirls in the clearcoat on the white paint but do see swirls in the black top.

Do the test with polish. Again, if it's the B-Pillar material wrap, it will leave your pad black. Just go easy if so. My guess is though it's paint as many factory black roofs are. That is unless there was a previous owner that got it wrapped.

[GotMoreSun]

I know for a fact that the top / car is factory original - no wrap

[LEDetailing]

I googled:

"2015 Audi A8l white with black roof"

Google images showed the first Audi which appeared to have a very large sunroof/glass roof trimmed with piano black plastic. The material in the photo of the roof looked similar to the b-pillar.

I would use a finishing pad and a finishing polish. If that doesn't polish the black roof's plastic to your satisfaction, I'd step up to a polishing pad with the same finishing polish.

As pdggp mentioned, Carpro Essence is a great polish. I've also had good luck with Menzerna SF3500 on a black LC finishing pad with my Lexus piano black trim.

Make sure you tape off the area you are polishing. If you do have a large piece of glass on your roof. The last thing you want is polish rubbed onto your weather seals of your glass.

[LEDetailing]

One thing to add. If your roof is the piano black style trim, this style of trim is very scratch sensitive.

It may benefit you to have the roof covered with clear Paint Protection Film (PPF). Or look at putting a paint coating such as Carpro Dlux on the roof.

[TTQ B4U]

I know for a fact that the top / car is factory original - no wrap

Polish, PPF it then coat it.