My stock mufflers are off on my SC300 and I want to clean them. My question is around the fact that the tips are gold plated (colored, whatever) and i do not want to strip the plating, so what is a good cleaner that won't destroy the gold?

 

I like to use Meguiar's NXY All Metal Polish. It is mild enough to not remove too much of the gold and very effective. Apply gently with a foam pad and remove with a microgiber.

 

i'd use a buffer or you can get one of those wheel polisher from mothers' and that should do the trick....

 

Depending on what you are trying to remove, I would definitely go by hand first. I really believe a powered polisher would be too powerful and possibly remove the coating. You might want to try any of the minimal abrasive metal polishes, Blue Magic and Mothers are also good choices. I am not sure exactly what the coating is but it is rarely gold. In most recent years, titanium nitride is used most often. It has a darker golden color but it is very hard and that makes it preferable for most applications. While tough, it is still probably very thin so I would leave the powered devices alone and try cleaning by hand first. Good luck.