Oppo-pinion needed - best way to clean these rims

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 03/07/2014 at 11:31 • Filed to: None

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I have these on 2 of my gen 2 quattros, and it is looking like a fine damn weekend coming up. what would be the way you would go after cleaning these things. I hit em with the high pressure last night and it didnt budge the grime. any product or technique that is going to save me a few hours here?

I really at least want to get the 100 cleaned up

Straightsix9904 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:33

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You have BMW rims on an Audi?

sacrilege

Now to help. Go buy the heaviest duty degreaser you can find and let it set on there for awhile and then scrub...then rinse repeat. Once it looks like no more is coming off, grab some scraps of a used clay bar, if you have one, if not, buy a clay bar, clean your car and then do the wheels.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:34

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Take my word for it... I feel your pain.

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505Turbeaux > Straightsix9904 03/07/2014 at 11:34

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I hope you are kidding. Stock rims on alot of quattros from the 80's!

505Turbeaux > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 03/07/2014 at 11:37

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those were the ones I was looking for for my 90 GM Colony Park forever. Man those look good though, damn. these turbines were easy though

Straightsix9904 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:37

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Really? I honestly did not know. Learn something new everyday. I'll keep that in mind though because I may be looking for a set soon.

6cyl > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:39

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Magic Eraser sponges are amazing at taking off caked on brake dust and grime

505Turbeaux > Straightsix9904 03/07/2014 at 11:39

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haha no worries. Although I actually dont think most stock BMW ones werent actually BBS. I had a set on my 95 sport package 525iTa and after the wife took one out I realized they were made by Ronal I think?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:44

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A toothbrush and time is the only way I've found to make them look good. I also put on those aluminum discs you put behind the wheel to keep the brake dust off. It works fine so far. It's been parked for the winter so we'll see once I start driving it again in the spring. If it ever gets here...

505Turbeaux > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 03/07/2014 at 11:47

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no doubt. Woke up to -2 today, but supposed to be 40+ this weekend! Not time for the italian and french cars to come out of the garage just yet, but it will be here

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:53

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I can't wait to get my Cutlass back on the road. I start a new job on Monday. Full time PM shift. Meaning it will only get to make it out to Saturday cruise nights.

What French and Italian cars do you have?

505Turbeaux > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 03/07/2014 at 11:55

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Peugeot 504 diesel and 505 turbo wagons, Alfa Milano and GTV6. Oh and congrats on the new job!

Svend > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 11:58

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I'm not too sure what you have available in the U.S. but you should be okay with a good wheel cleaner to remove the excess debris then spray a good de-ironiser/fallout remover and let it react (do not let it dry), gently agitate (especially into the corners) with a soft bristle brush and then thoroughly rinse. Reapply if necessary.

Sonax Wheel Cleaner Full Effect and Bilt Hamber Autowheels are great in that they are cleaners as well as fallout removers. Protect with a good sealant or wax to reduce the amount or brake dust that will adhere through driving and aid cleaning of the wheels when they do start to show build up. CarPro Iron-X is great when following a wheel cleaner (needs agitation).

You don't need all the brushes and stuff but you will need a good brush. Something like this.

You can use a small paint brush but be sure to put some tape, either masking tape or insulation tape around and over the metal bits so as not to scratch the wheel surface.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:00

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Mmm... Alfa... I found this guy in a random lot on Chicago's south side.

505Turbeaux > Svend 03/07/2014 at 12:00

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nice! I will try and replicate this pretty closely, minus the Lambo of course :)

505Turbeaux > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 03/07/2014 at 12:01

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oh man too bad there. was this in a post a while back? I think it was a special edition of I remember corectly

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:03

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I put up a post of random car pictures I found on an old memory card. Here's the back.

crowmolly > Straightsix9904 03/07/2014 at 12:05

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I respectfully disagree.

Some degreasers are strong enough to pit the metal.

505, maybe give a mother's powerball a shot.

505Turbeaux > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 03/07/2014 at 12:08

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ah nice I was thinking of another post. Good find though! Bet this thing broke a timing belt and that is why it is sitting there

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:08

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It's still there in Google street view . Along with some other neat offerings. 76th and Dobson in Chicago if the link doesn't work.

505Turbeaux > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 03/07/2014 at 12:09

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all kinds of cool stuff in there!

N/A POWAAAHH > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:11

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Carbrite Aluminum brightner. I don't know if it's for sale non-comercially

505Turbeaux > N/A POWAAAHH 03/07/2014 at 12:12

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will it work on painted rims?

N/A POWAAAHH > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:14

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I've only used it on non-painted, so I'm not sure. It's acid though, so I wouldn't recommend it.

505Turbeaux > N/A POWAAAHH 03/07/2014 at 12:15

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oh yeah alot of acid works on painted, but is hell on the bolts. I might give this a shot

Svend > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:19

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Haha. No worries. You can go all out and get all the bells and whistles (or rather brushes and erm, well, brushes) but a good wheel cleaner, a de-ironiser and a brush to get into all the nooks and crannies is pretty much all you need. I've been doing it for years to relax as it can be very therapeutic, so have built up quite are arsenal of pressure washers, chemicals, brush, and so on and so fourth. I'm not a fan of the EZ Brush (the red brushes) as you get a lot of 'fling' back and can be painful when you get it in your eyes. If you can afford it, its well worth forking out for a set of Wheel Woolies, they are chemical resistant and highly durable and so 'fling' back is non existant.

White cars can be a pain to keep clean as your probably aware so a good sealant or wax will greatly help reduce the build up of dirt and aid cleaning them. They can get expensive with quartz coatings that are highly durable and long lasting or you can use cheaper products a little more often but they aren't difficult to apply and can be done once every three months or so.

Follow ammo.nyc on Youtube or checkout detailingworld.co.uk for advice and tips there are 72,000 of us on the forum and we always try our best to help where we can. We range from 'weekend warriors' (clean our own cars on weekends) to professional detailers with a wealth of knowledge and most manufacturers are on also and any questions can be addressed pretty much straight away by them.

505Turbeaux > Svend 03/07/2014 at 12:25

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nice man, super thanks! Yeah I am going to take clay to her this weekend and seal it best I can due to lingering salt and grime on the roads. I just picked her up so I want to get it right now and have an easy summer of maintenance, and I have an interior to rip out this weekend and get right, along with some light oxidation on the trunk lid (looked like a fair respray at some point). I dont mind spending the money to have the right tools. Thanks again!

Svend > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:57

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No worries. If you want an incredibly easy to apply sealant in the mean time. Try Gyeon Q2M Wetcoat or CarPro Hydro2. Simply wash the car, thoroughly rinsing off any suds, spray the product haphazardly all over the car and pressure rinse the car to activate, then either take her out for a drive or towel dry her, job done.

Gyeon Wetcoat.

CarPro Hydro2

Each last for up to three months, but even if you have to top up after two, its no hardship as its so easy. I've got CarPro Hydro2 or five cars (mine and four friends cars).

505Turbeaux > Svend 03/07/2014 at 12:58

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wow cool. should it have a good coat of Zymol on it before applying? or can I hit right after clay with this? Thanks again

Svend > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 13:08

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Hit straight away. I did a friend's Vauxhall Corsa the other day. I hit it with some degreaser and pressure rinsed the heavy dirt off, snow foam and rinse, hit her with some Auto Finesse ObliTARate to remove the tar/asphalt, gently agitated it with a micro fibre cloth, rinsed, then hit her with the Bilt Hamber Korrosol (fallout remover for the car body) similar to CarPro Iron-X, let activate. and them pressure wash off, shampoo the car and wash and thoroughly rinse, spray on product, then pressure rinse to activate. No polishing, waxing or preparation just spray and pressure rinse. Towel dry or take for a drive and job done.

505Turbeaux > Svend 03/07/2014 at 13:15

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brilliant

Rows His Own > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 15:58

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Look up iron x gel. I have two different sets of BBS LMs for my E46 M3 and this stuff is even good at busting insane amounts of clumped dust and grime from the barrels. And one of those sets has polished barrels and brushed faces with gold hardware. Very difficult to use generic degreaser that could damage an otherwise expensive wheel

505Turbeaux > Rows His Own 03/07/2014 at 16:00

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nice will do!