Anybody have any ideas for how to get this nasty black carbon build-up off of my tail pipes?? There's quite a lot of it already (4k miles) which surprised me a lot and Im having quite a hard time getting it off :mad any suggestions?

I used my wheel cleaner. The stuff that's supposed to help remove brake dust off the wheels. Sprayed a little of that stuff on there, waited about 30 seconds... and the carbon gunk wiped right off.

Flitz swabs work well also. My Borla pipes get dirty fast as well, about the same, 4K miles. I was introduced to Flitz at one of my old jobs, and airplane dealership. The boss had the airplane detailer use it to clean the exhaust stacks on PT-6 turbine engines, the elephant ear style exhausts. It isn't abraisive, so it wont mark them up.
The bad news it it will take your fingerprints off in the process, you will want to use gloves of some type when you use it.

I tried the brake dust removing wheel cleaner type stuff, that didnt work. These flitz pads, never heard of them where might I be able to find them?

Try a hardware store like Home Depot. It's usually next to Brasso. It's made to polish sterling silver. It's a can that looks like a turtle wax can in size. The wad is inside is saturated with the cleaner, and you pull it apart as you use it. It does work well on all chrome and stainless steel.

You may even try Grand Auto or Pep Boys as well. Keep it simple ha ha.

I do have an advance auto and auto zone and Lowes and good old Walmart and stuff like that around me pretty close, I'll have to give them a try and see if they have it, thanks man!

I use that stainless magic spray, leave it on 3 minutes and it brightens the stainless up, very nice stuff.

Hope it works out, works well for me. Good luck.

Im going to give it a try tomorrow so I'll let everyone know how it goes, thanks for the responses.

some oil and a sponge works pretty good.

windex will work too.. honestly pretty much anything works for this

If it is the stuff you see around the interior lip of the tail pipe, why not try carburetor cleaner? If it will clean up residue on my old-school carb, it should be able to clean off the carbon.

If it is the stuff you see around the interior lip of the tail pipe, why not try carburetor cleaner? If it will clean up residue on my old-school carb, it should be able to clean off the carbon.
This is exactly what it is, oil hasent worked, brake cleaner hasent worked, traditional wheel/brake dust remover hasent worked, cleaner wax negative, Same for bug/tar remover Ive tried everthing I have! I even tried goo off!

I tried to find flitz pads and they cant be found around here so Im going to try to Eagle One nevr dull this afternoon and see how that goes.

Just needs some elbow grease

#0000 steel wool

I must have some evil carbon build-up because the nevr dull did ehh and sorta removed it from one tailpipe and barely did anything to the other... This is driving me crazy!

I must have some evil carbon build-up because the nevr dull did ehh and sorta removed it from one tailpipe and barely did anything to the other... This is driving me crazy!

I'm with you. I've tried basically the same products you listed above and I can only get about 50% of the build up off of mine.

Be sure to post here if something you find (or others have suggested) ends up working and getting it off.

I even tried laquer thinnger and that didnt do it!!! All the scrubbing Ive ben doing is actually causing the stainless to flake off of the inside of the lip, which Im quite unhappy about because it shouldnt be doing that... Im about to give up!

I used wheel cleaner followed by p21s multi surface finish restorer.

oil and a brilo pad works, try it

"I even tried laquer thinnger and that didnt do it!!! All the scrubbing Ive ben doing is actually causing the stainless to flake off of the inside of the lip, which Im quite unhappy about because it shouldnt be doing that... Im about to give up!"

You must be kidding!!! Most of the above tips above will work fine. If it's flaking off it aint stainless. You must be lazy! GH

"I even tried laquer thinnger and that didnt do it!!! All the scrubbing Ive ben doing is actually causing the stainless to flake off of the inside of the lip, which Im quite unhappy about because it shouldnt be doing that... Im about to give up!"

You must be kidding!!! Most of the above tips above will work fine. If it's flaking off it aint stainless. You must be lazy! GH
It definitely isnt laziness, I've owned many cars all of which I keep in super clean condition. From taking care of my Dads vette back in the day to my evo 9 I owned prior do my 335. The evo developed tailpipe carbon build-up and that was nothing compared to this and I have no idea why... I know how to take care of cars and I'm just plain and simple at a loss with this; :help that's why Im posting asking for help from those with experience. Not looking for comments from people that are anything but helpful... :nono

Every Bimmer I get at the shop has the carbon on the exhaust tips. Some have baked on and here's what I use:

1. For really stubborn carbon, I use a piece of Scotch Brite green pad soaked with Brasso or a metal polish. This carbon is usually on the rolled tip mouth of the tip.
2. Next, I go over the entire exhaust tip with 2000 grit sandpaper and "wet" it with the same metal polish. I keep cleaning until I get the desired shine.
3. Wipe off the polish with an old clean terry towel.

Done

Before on an X5 4.4i

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/02%20X5%20Black%20TradeIn/02X5_TradeIn_ExhaustTipsBeforeClose.jpg

After

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/02%20X5%20Black%20TradeIn/02X5_TradeIn_ExhaustTipsCleaned.jpg

Finished tips on a 550i

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/07%20BMW%20550i/550i_Exhaust.jpg

Toto

Every Bimmer I get at the shop has the carbon on the exhaust tips. Some have baked on and here's what I use:

1. For really stubborn carbon, I use a piece of Scotch Brite green pad soaked with Brasso or a metal polish. This carbon is usually on the rolled tip mouth of the tip.
2. Next, I go over the entire exhaust tip with 2000 grit sandpaper and "wet" it with the same metal polish. I keep cleaning until I get the desired shine.
3. Wipe off the polish with an old clean terry towel.

Done

Toto
Were those chrome plated tips? Is all this safe for the chrome finish?

Were those chrome plated tips? Is all this safe for the chrome finish?

Correct me if I'm wrong (at my age, that's easy to do), but BMW uses stainless on their exhaust tips. Some are highly polished and others (like the X5) are not. I wouldn't use Scotch Brite on chrome, but would use #0000 steel wool instead.

Correct me if I'm wrong (at my age, that's easy to do), but BMW uses stainless on their exhaust tips. Some are highly polished and others (like the X5) are not. I wouldn't use Scotch Brite on chrome, but would use #0000 steel wool instead.
Not sure, but I have the add on chrome tips, thus the reason I am trying to be sure. Don't want them to peel on me, and the winter has made them pretty gross to look at.

Not sure, but I have the add on chrome tips, thus the reason I am trying to be sure. Don't want them to peel on me, and the winter has made them pretty gross to look at.

Understand: I'd probably start with something like #0000 steel wool soaked in Brasso metal polish (both hardware store items) and work that area.

Toto

Sounds like a ruined finish to me......

I believe on the 335 They are technically "Chrome plated" exhaust tips. Although they arent polished or shiny by any means and dont look like chrome, on bmwusa.com under ecterior that's what it says, and thats what I believe Im having peel and flake off now due to all the scrubbing Ive done trying to remove this carbon. So needless to say Im SUPER mad now. The plating is coming off in parts, but still not the Carbon!!!!:help

I tried the Scotch Brite (kitchen variety) with lots of elbow grease and they only cut partially through the carbon buildup. I am taking the car in for detailing later this week so I'll see if they have a solution for that.

Please removing carbon from a car with cats is easy, try removing carbon from a exhaust that doesnt have any cats, it sucks. And after 5 miles, the tips are black again.

Every Bimmer I get at the shop has the carbon on the exhaust tips. Some have baked on and here's what I use:

1. For really stubborn carbon, I use a piece of Scotch Brite green pad soaked with Brasso or a metal polish. This carbon is usually on the rolled tip mouth of the tip.
2. Next, I go over the entire exhaust tip with 2000 grit sandpaper and "wet" it with the same metal polish. I keep cleaning until I get the desired shine.
3. Wipe off the polish with an old clean terry towel.

Done

Toto

I HIGHLY recommend taking this advice...he's advised me on a few things on another forum and knows what he's talking about.

Well the guy detailing my car took care of it and they look shiny now, not exactly sure what he did though, didn't get a chance to ask. I'll try to keep them clean on a weekly basis to avoid the pain.

I HIGHLY recommend taking this advice...he's advised me on a few things on another forum and knows what he's talking about.
+1, he was spot on. Metal polish did the job. I now use it with every car wash.