Help with wheel cleaning
 

Ok, I just cleaned (or tried to clean) all 4 wheels on my X5 and cleaned one of my Boxster S's wheels. Guess what? The Boxster S's wheel looks EXACTLY like when I first took delivery. Ok, maybe it looks even better.... The X5's wheels look like crap.

The Boxster's wheels don't get 25% as dirty as the X5's. I am almost thinking that the Boxster's brakes are ceramic. The X5's almost turn black (no joking). Cleaning the wheels on the Boxster has been a snap. Granted, I Klasse-sealed the hell out of them when they were new and use P21S to clean them, they look EXACTLY as good as new on the face AND inner section of the wheel (yes, I clean the inner sections also).

I Klasse-sealed AND added another layer of conventional wax on top of the X5 and looks like the brake dust is STILL embedded into the wheels - even the front surface. Using a claybar nets a destroyed clay bar when done. And I still have a lot left to clean on one wheel. I'm on a rate of one claybar per wheel and some seriously sore hands and elbows. I am so tempted to just use a green "Scotch Brite", but I know that these will effectively scratch the wheels...

Thoughts? So WTH? Anyone have any thoughts on how to thoroughly clean these damn wheels? I am neurotic and also need to clean the inside sections.

The best wheel cleaner I have used on BMW wheels is the BMW gel product, available from the dealer. It seems to work well dissolving the brake pad dust, and it doesn't harm the wheel finish.

The pad residue dust is black, because BMW puts carbon black in the pad material as a filler.

Griot's wheel cleaner works perfect for me.

I clean mine once a week, it helps keeping them new ... I even clean the wheels without washing the car :)

S100 cleaner, sold primarily for Motorcycles at motorcycle stores and such.,


S100 Total Cycle Cleaner


They make wheel cleaner gels as well, but I find the "plain" S100 works just as well and costs less.

:iagree:

You can also get something like the "California Duster" (bought mine from local Wal Mart). I use it on my wheels every other day (or whenever the rims look dirty) and they keep them looking pretty clean (and a whole lot easier to clean when the car is washed). It is kinda hard using them on the 214's (my wife's 3 series 5 spoke are a breeze to wipe down), but they definitely help.

Used PS21 (both regular and gel) in the past. I wasn't that impressed with it. I did an equally good job with just using the left over soap water from washing the body of the car.

Just bought and received Chemical Guys "Wheel and Rim Cleaner Gel". Can't wait to try it out this weekend to see how it works.

On a side note:
After reading various detailing forums, I Rejexed my rims when I first got them (think it pretty much does the same thing as the Klasse). On 2 rims, I didn't apply the Rejex to the inside of the rim, while on the other 2 rims, I did. Everytime I wash, I only do the outside as I find it very difficult to clean the inside section (just ordered a few tools to see if I can retify that situation). So after 14,000 miles and about a year +, I'm tried cleaning in extremely dirty inside part of the rim. Rejex does seem to work in making it easier to clean (practically clean with just plain soap water). The non rejexed rims had more of the brake dust stuck on it (after the soap water). I'm sure a good degreaser would get that out.

:iagree:+1

Craig

[QUOTE=mtech8;653005]You can also get something like the "California Duster" (bought mine from local Wal Mart). I use it on my wheels every other day (or whenever the rims look dirty) and they keep them looking pretty clean (and a whole lot easier to clean when the car is washed). It is kinda hard using them on the 214's (my wife's 3 series 5 spoke are a breeze to wipe down), but they definitely help.

:iagree:
I dust the wheels once a week with the California duster and the brake dust comes right off. All four wheels in less than 5 minutes. The wheels look great.

http://www.gwwgolfs.com/images/Corvette/CADustSet.gif/week :thumbup: