by "way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
Published 01/02/2017 at 14:13
by "way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
Published 01/02/2017 at 14:13
Tags: RIDE ETERNAL SHINY AND CHROME
STARS: 0
My w203 has some shiny wheels. Well, it had shiny wheels, now they’re not as shiny. I’ve seen good review of a local car wash’s services, but they charge $25 per wheel to polish them. What can I do to make them shiny on my own?
I’ve searched YouTube and there are various techniques out there, but I’ve run into a problem. Some of the videos show care techniques that only work for certain types (like stainless steel or aluminum), but not others. Confession time, I’ve always referred to mine as “Chrome” but I’ve never actually found out whether they’d be classified as alloys or as something else. The reflective finish is the only one I’ve seen on this style of wheel, the few others I’ve seen have been black or a matte silver finish.
Is there any database of wheel types that I’ve been missing? I know mine are part of an AMG appearance package, but I don’t know the name or model number for the wheels themselves. Once they’re shiny again I’ll post gratuitous documentation of their shiny-ness. Shiny.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
01/02/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
I use daily brasso on the chrome wheels on my explorer, can’t really see in the picture but they cleaned up really nice.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
01/02/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
I’m not a detailing Svend master but I’d think some polishing compound and some elbow grease would be all it took regardless of materials. Maybe one of those drill ball things.
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 1
I forgot those existed... might have to get one!
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 0
That does look a good deal more reflective than mine right now.
"Zip-McBump" (zip-mcbump)
01/02/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 0
I’m far from an AMG expert, but those are AMG III 18", right?
If so, just clean the shit out of them and treat them like you would any other painted bit on your car (clean, polish, wax).
The finish is called “Sterling Silver”, so it would stand to reason that they are painted.
"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
01/02/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
I’d use a good, non-acidic wheel cleaner to get rid of the brake dust. Then, just take a microfiber and some chrome polish, and polish them up, They’ll be good as new in no time.
"TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
01/02/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
brake cleaner*
*do not take any cleaning advice from TheD0k. I haven’t washed my truck since i bought it two years ago
"E90M3" (e90m3)
01/02/2017 at 14:31, STARS: 1
If the picture was in focus it’d be obvious how shiny they were. Before they were a lot worse than yours, they were looking like it was 1997 all over again.
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
*Googles AMG III 18"*
Looks like they are! I guess I’m pretty far from being an AMG expert too... Where can one find out more about the different wheel types?
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 0
Any specific brands you’d recommend?
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 14:37, STARS: 1
I don’t wash my car nearly enough, been resolving that 2017 will be the year of the clean AMG...
"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
01/02/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 1
I’ve used Sonax’s non-acid wheel cleaner before and it’s produced great results, be it on painted steel, painted alloy, polished alloy, or even chrome.
"Zip-McBump" (zip-mcbump)
01/02/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 1
Really, AMG wheels are kind of omnipresent; you could look through generations of Mercedes vehicles, and find two different wheels on one generation. You just have to do a little google-fu.
Anyway, I’m assuming that those are AMG III’s. They look exactly the same to me, but I’ve never heard of polished or chrome AMG III’s. I don’t want to make you too sure of what they are before you start to screw with them.
If you can’t clean a small portion of the wheels and find out for sure what they are, then it would be best to tread lightly. The clean/polish/wax regimen would be less aggressive than if it were polished metal.
The only thing I can tell you for certain is that if you get the wheel completely clean, (and I mean CLEAN), and you get black residue on the cloth when you polish, it’s polished aluminum.If you get nothing, it’s either clear coat chrome, or clear coat paint.
"Ssfancyfresh" (scotttt)
01/02/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 0
I’ve had great success with Eagle One Chrome Wheel cleaner. I had chrome plated wheels that yellowed and pitted over one season of Michigan winter. I was pissed. When spring arrived I used the Eagle One product and they looked like new.
You need to check the label though. Depending on where you live (California) you may be required to collect the runoff in a container and allow it to evaporate.
Are those wheels chrome plated or polished? AMG did both. If polished, you’ll want to use something else.
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 0
Thank you for the advice, I’ll definitely be careful as I figure out how to clean them! The google searching I’ve done so far would indicate they are in fact AMG IIIs, I’ll look at some of the Mercedes forums too.
"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
01/02/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
How would one figure out whether the wheels are chrome plated or polished? Any specific details of the finish that would reveal which?
"Forge Crown Victor!" (metallicaman0258)
01/02/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 0
I used to work in the detail prep wash bay at at the local MB dealer. What I used on almost all of the MB wheels was the same process. Rinse with water, drown in acid, spoke brush with acid, rinse, purple power if needed with the spoke brush, rinse, car soap and wash mitt, rinse. The spoke brush brush used looked like a tall slender tree tapered at at the top and medium bristles. The good thing about that brush is you can get the barrel of the wheel without removing it. Makes quick work of the removal of heavy brake dust too.
Your wheels should be polished aluminum clear coated. It’s safe to use wheel acid on anything with a clear on it as long as you do it In the shade and the wheels are cool to the touch. If the wheels are hot it will cause streaking. If if the brakes are hot the acid will boil off and burn your nose lungs lungs and throat. you can also use wheel acid If the brake calipers are painted.