Proper Tools for Troublesome Wheels

Hey all, I was just thinking of how I'd probably freak out about encountering some wheels I just couldn't get perfectly clean. I know there are some wheels that you just can't save but I definitely want to try my best as possible when it comes to clients' cars.

I currently have this issue on the old '89 BMW 525i sitting in my driveway and still kind of have it on the 2005 BMW 530i (also sitting in the driveway). Now I haven't tried P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel yet and I'm definitely planning on buying Meg's Wheel Brightener from my local distributor. Here's the thing though, there are so many wheel types, products, and tools. With that in mind, it kind of makes it difficult figuring out what to use with those wheels that are in dire need of attention.

Here is what I've pretty much summed up from reading some older threads:

Washes:
- P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel (I have this)
- Meguiar's Wheel Brightener (just purchased)

Polishes:
- Autosol Metal Polish (I've heard great things about this and is coming my way!)
- Collinite Metal Wax #850
- Duragloss Aluminum Polish
- Duragloss Metal Cleaner & Brightener
- Duragloss Metal Polish
- Flitz Industrial Strength Aluminum Preclean
- Flitz Brushed Stainless Steel Polish
- Flitz Metal Polish Liquid
- Flitz Metal Polish Paste
- Flitz Stainless Steel & Chrome Cleaner
- Meguiar's Hot Rims Chrome Polish
- Meguiar's Hot Rims Mag & Aluminum Polish
- Meguiar's Mirror Glaze All Metal Polish
- Meguiar's NXT Generation All Metal Polysh
- Mother's Billet Metal Polish
- Mother's Chrome Polish
- Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish
- Mother's PowerMetal
- Noxon 7 Metal Polish (I have this)
- Wenol Metal Polish

Tools:
- Ace PowerStick
- EZ Detail Brush
- Flitz Buff 'n Polish Ball
- Mother's PowerBall
- Mother's PowerBall Mini
- Mother's PowerBall Mini MD
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Obsessive Detail Dura-Ball (has anyone used this?)
- Swissvax Wheel Brush
- Top Innovations SteamFast SF-275

I know I'm missing some other candidates so please feel free to chime in. I have still yet to develop a "go-to" method for tackling troublesome wheels. However, I was thinking of going with P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel followed by Meg's Wheel Brightener for those really tough wheels.

What happens then if that doesn't work enough? I'm under the assumption that going with a Mother's PowerBall Mini MD would be in order along with a metal polish (Autosol in my case since I've heard it being praised by Carlos. If that doesn't completely work, I guess you can't save those wheels, hehe.

So what has worked for you on those ridiculously difficult wheels? Perhaps some of you may chime in on some of your wheel makeovers? :worship2:

 

BMW makes a wheel brush kit, I have been sittin here all night at work thinkin if I should employee charge it.
I think with P21 and Meg Wheel Brighter, some nice brushes and MF towels you should be able to get them clean.

 

the ace powerstick is an awesome tool.

 

That's a nice list. I'm fighting hard not to make it a shopping list. Hey slanguage, I love your avatar :lol2:, so true.

 

The Hot Rims cleaner worked pretty well on my rims. I had a mixture of baked on brake dust and baked on tire shine that would not come off until I sprayed that stuff on and left it to dwell for a minute. Anything that didn't rinse off came off when I touched it with my finger lol

 

Interesting. I wonder if that would happen on the wheels I'm working on, LoL. :shead:

 

I might have missed it but Claying wheels, just like the rest of the car, always seems to improve the finished product. Just my 2 cents.
G

 

So how did it turn out Denzil?

 

I didn't have a chance to work on those wheels again because they belong to my sister's car, LoL. Unfortunately she lives about 1.5 hours away and comes to visit every once in a while.

My mother's birthday is coming up next Sunday so I believe she will be back. I'll just have to make sure I grab a bottle of Hot Rims before or when she gets here.

Thanks for reminding me eyezack! I totally forgot about this and some of the other things that I'm supposed to test out.

 

Just don't forget to do a test spot man with the Hot Rims cleaner haha

Oh, btw, forgot to mention before, but Mr. Clean's magic eraser didn't do it for me. That was the main reason why I tried Hot Rims. It may work for you though. I'd suggest Mr. Clean first then Hot Rims or whatever else you are testing to get rid of the remaining stuff

 

LoL, yeah I tried the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and it only helped very slightly. I might go at it one more time with it before I try the Hot Rims. Thanks for the tip though!

 

i'd be careful of this product around a car. i used it to remove shoe scuff marks on a bathroom door and it did remove them after some scrubbing. but i noticed it also removed the top layer of paint, for example what was a semi-gloss painted door now has a spot that looks like 'flat paint' - the spot i used the eraser on. i'd hate to think what those abrasives might do to a rim's finish.

 

Brake dust was bonded to the paint on the inside of the wheel, like pitting of IRON on these wheels.

No cleaner (even WB at full strength) could 'easily' get it off. Basically the only way I was able to do it, was get some adams grey clay, some WB 1/2 and a stiff bristle brush and the hose.

Apply WB, scrub for 2-3 minutes a small section.
Hose off with water.
Clay the shit out of it with a used piece of clay.
Apply WB again, scrub with brush, hose off.
Repeat until section is clean (probably about 5-10 minutes) move onto 'next section'.

They key is to not scrub the clay with the WB on the wheel. It will begin to eat the clay and breakdown the abrasiveness. (bad) This process was used for the inner side of the rims, not the outside.

Just my process for wheels spawned and baked in hell,
IB