sKunk

The gold alloys on my new scoob are almost black with 30000 miles of crap off the roads. Anyone recommend a good product to nuke the crap and make them shine again?

Once I get the wheels clean I'll take piccies of the car

ash1

iTrader: (2)

Its a tough job - I've tried all sorts on my gold wheels. In the end I bough a pressure washer, this I felt was the best way to get rid of the dirt with something called wonder wheels. I'm sure there's better stuff out there - I once remember when I had a Beamer, a guy had this industrial stuff and it was great - don't know where you get it from though - perhaps Machine Mart might be a good start.

Ash

WREXY

If you want to protect your wheels use your muscles, a sponge and a bucket of water with car shampoo. This is not a joke. This is the best way to preserve the laquer finish of your wheels. After you wash and dry them, wax them and the next time you wash them they will clean easy.

The man to call for cleaning, polishing and waxing, or all car care is Mark Underwood, the Wax Wizard, he has the best products, on 07702 822544.

Cheers,

Wrexy.

Miles

The Comma stuff is excellent and reasonably priced. Get a stiff brush in the pack.

Much better than the product everyone thinks of. Only the Comma stuff shifted the crud on my wheels.....

9000RPM

Wonder Wheels! Brilliant stuff. It says 'not to be used on paint', but it's the only stuff to clean the white wheels on my ITR. I've used it for a couple of years with no problems. Although it's probably worth testing it on the inside of the wheel first, just in case!

9000RPM

Steve Perriam

i use wonder wheels stuff

xcellent stuff

use it every 2 weeks

sKunk

Where's the best place to pick up wonder wheels? Is this something that say.... halfords would stock?

Blow Dog

Wonder Wheels at Halfords. Much cheaper in Costco if you can get in.

Cem

greeny

Wonder Wheels is good, but be very carful if you've got damaged wheels (kerbed etc) as it is acid and will eat your wheels for breakfast. Also keep off your calipers as it will stain them.

Best I've used for brakedust though.

Costco tip is good, 1/2 halfords price.

Tim Taylor

Get the car valet. They will do them for you and the rest of the car for £40ish.

Tim

sKunk

I just picked my car up from a Subaru dealship and it is supposed to have had a full Valet. The car is spotless but the wheels are minging

ozzy

Skunk,

I found that Wonder Wheels was great for getting rid of stuff stains, but it started to turn the calipers green and this then started to stain my Speedlines.

The trick is to wash them often with plenty of soapy water (normal car shampoo is good enough). Don't let the brake dust build-up or it'll take something strong like WW to shift it. Then apply plenty of polish to keep them shiny. That should make it easier to wipe clean.

Stefan

AlanN

Autoglym wheel cleaner is great too but expensive
I actually found it to be even better than Wonder Wheels.

Alan.

[Edited by AlanN - 10/24/2001 12:52:28 PM]

Diablo

Guys,

Use any of the "off the shelf" cleaners at your peril

This from experience.

Best way is hard work with car shampoo, sponge, and clay bars for the stubborn stuff.

Many polishes will also help to shift the dust, not ideal, but better than the acid based cleaners.

WD 40 also works well and does not damage the wheels. Do this with wheels off of course.

Once clean, use lots of wax and brake dust will simply sponge off.

Big problems if hot particles have eaten into the laquer.

Alternatively, use the lazy "wonder" cleaners and face the consiquences later

D

CM

I find that getting a small jar and using a concentrated car wash mix, with fairly hot water shifts the dirt extremely well.

Use a cloth rag, rather than a sponge for something slightly more abrasive. This is also great for getting rids of bugs in the summer, without having to resort to harsher chemicals on the paitwork.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I use the Armorall wheel cleaner, not as much hassle and does just as good a job spray on, wash with sponge, dirt comes off what more do you need?

Tony

scrap

If you 'show' your car at all - the best thing for cleaner road crap off is - wait for it - baby wipes! Great for cleaning bits and pieces under the bonnet too.

sKunk

I keep a very clean car and my last set of wheel on my Calibra (17" Khans RS) had not a mark on them after 15,000 miles. The last owner of my new scoob didn't take such care and likes to scrape kerbs by the looks of it so it's gonna take some work to get these babies to shine

I think I'll start with the car shampoo concentrate and work upwards until I get to sulphuric acid

father_jack

Yep Costco is cheapest - you get 2 x 1 litre bottles (of Wonder Wheels) for a tenner inc. - they also do rain-x for about £6.50, Mobil 1 is £25 ....

[Edited by father_jack - 10/24/2001 3:35:23 PM]

manny

The wife!!

Cougar

Somebody elses Wife!!!

John Catlin

Agree with you manny.

Always carry out an inspection after.

mook

Here's how I keep mine shiney. Instead of your normal car shampoo, put Mer in the water. It's a polish but can also be used as a shampoo. Doing this every time builds up a protective layer of wax that alloys easy removal of brake dust. It also means that once you've washed and leathered the wheels you don't need to wax them as it's already been done. Also prevents stray white bits.

I've used this methed for a year on a new set of 17"s and they look pretty much like new. I also wash the car in the same way, saves lots of time and works a treat

vineshc_uk

Wilkinson do Wonder Wheels for £5.99, brilliant stuff.

Huxley

I use Starbright "Alibright" wheel cleaner for my wheels and it's the dog dandgles, i have been using it for a while now and not noticed any problems with it at all and it gets all the s*** off with no effort at all


Huxley

ps. This is a professional valet type cleaner from a good source

Luke

Parafin.

sKunk

Anyone used wonder wheels on gold alloys?

Martin J Stirling

Wonder wheels is very good at what it's supposed to do. The problem is that it works by dissolving any residue that is left on the wheel. This means that after prolonged use, Wonder Wheels and any other type of acidic wheel cleaner will slowly dissolve the lacquer on the wheels leaving a very matt and dead finish or even stain them.

Best thing is only to use these products occasionally on the most stubborn stains. You wouldn't apply acdic type cleaners to the body paint so why apply it to the paint on the wheels!?

Soap and water mate

MS