The outside of the wheels that you can see doesn't look too shabby (except the odd kerb mark), but the insides are black.

I was wondering if taking a steam cleaner to them would take all the old grime and brake dust off?

Any comments or other suggestions are welcome before I start.

Adrian

 

If you take them off any good wheel cleaner should remove

Use an old clay bar to finish it off

Then a coat or 2 of wax will help make them easier to clean in future

 

Phil's advice is spot on, more detail on the following link...

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...es_wheels.html

but, I have seen a few pro detailers use steam on really cruddy rims with excellent results - just be careful and spot test the finish first.

 

thta is exactly what i did last weekend

(the neighbours thought i was nuts taking each wheel of individually )

Took them off, gave them a good spray of wheel cleaner, cleaned the difficult bits with a little brush, rinsed and then washed them again.Rinsed and left them to dry. Then picked off any remaining tar bits with Autoglym tar remover. Finished off with a liberal coating of wheel wax, wiped clean and buffed up.
Applied some Turtle wax tyre cleaner and then took the opportunity to clean the calipers and wipe down the discs.
Scrubbed and cleaned the wheel arches and mudflaps and then wheels back on.
Job done

The wax did a great job, kept the wheels looking much better during the weeks driving during rubbish weather, so worked a treat

 

Thanks for all the advice. I tried a few different ways, but I fear the pitting is too deep to bring back.

The outsides came up well, apart fom the kerbing marks but The insides are too far gone to look anywhere near good. The only way forward is a refurbish which was going to happen anyway thanks to the kerbing that the previous owner left me with.

Anyone know of a refurb place in the North West? And how do they work, do you have to leave your rims there and they loan you some or do you have to get a spare set to use? I suppose I could leave it on bricks

A

 

Don't know of anywhere in your area, but most places will loan you wheels.

 

this might sound stupid but if the insides of the wheels are really black and/or pitted and you can't afford a refurb. - how about going over the lot with smooth silver hammerite, then topping off with clear varnish and then polish. True it will not be a concours finish from a perfectionist point of view but unless you look really closely it would be a lot better than nothing. I have used hammerite to touch up kerbing damage on the edges of the rims and again, unless you really closely inspect the finish, it's a quick and cheap way to smarten up the superficial appearance. I'll get back in my flame proof suit now chaps.

 

I just use Wonder Wheels!! Does me!!