How do you clean R90 Alloy Wheels ?

[Perm]

Hi,

Calling all R90 alloy wheels owners……….. what do you use to clean your alloy wheels ? Specifically how do you clean the polished lip ? My wheels have loads of stuck on brake dust which does not want to shift when washing……

Is it safe to use some alloy wheel cleaner? Will this harm the polished lip ?

Thanks

Perm

[Vecchio Engineering]

Simple answer is with difficulty! Start by using a Ph neutral wheel cleaner and agitating dirt off with a detailing brush. Unfortunately, acid wheel cleaners are only good for cleaning concrete. Clean the remaining brake dust/dirt using a tar remover or other speciality products that are available. Then use a suitable wheel wax to seal the alloy. This will make dirt/brake dust harder to bond onto. However, changing brake pads to a less chalk like substance helps dramatically.

The R90 is one of the nicest wheels for the Mini; however, it needs high maintenance. If you ever curb/scratch the diamond cut outer lip paint over with clear nail varnish IMMEDIATELY. Hope this helps.

[Perm]

Thanks for the tips.

Do you think the MINI / BMW approved alloy wheel cleaner is worth a try ?

[Vecchio Engineering]

The MINI / BMW approved alloy wheel cleaner would be worth checking out.

[MINIAC]

Is P21S wheel cleaner available in the UK?

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I dont have the R90's but ive got the 17" Webspokes which have the polished lip. I dont use any wheel cleaner on mine (they are only 8 weeks old) but make sure they are washed every week (sometimes twice) and waxed twice a month using Turtlewax TechWax for wheels, which stops brake dust sticking

[Vecchio Engineering]

P21S wheel cleaner is available in the UK! In my opinion its the best wheel cleaner out there. Expensive stuff though!

[Sooper Rob]

Don't have R90's.
I buy 5 litres of wheel cleaner at a time I find this far more cost effective. I've just bought Valetpro Bilberry Safe Wheel Cleaner, 5 litres cost me £28 including vat and delivery. Bilberry can be used neat or diluted with water upto 10:1, it is a very effective safe wheel cleaner.

Swissvax Wheel Brush to clean the face of the wheel and EZ Detail Brush to clean inside. To protect the wheels I use Chemical Guys Wheel Guard.

Here are the results I have achieved,

Front wheel


Rear wheel

[andrewcregan]

Good job there Rob

[Perm]

Many thanks for all the tips...
I will going down the P21S route.... plus some megs metal polish to keep the lip sparking over the summer months.

Cheers
Perm

[*Vikki*]

wash mine every week and had them for 2 years now and they are in very good condition

[techlab2k]

Doh, I listened to the Autoglym guy and bought their alloy wheel cleaner. All it did was strip off the coating on the time and now they look terrible.

[ozzy]

A thread from the dead :big grin: suggest clean them weekly without wheel cleaners! to keep them nice.
If there not nice now a referb will make them nice again.
Truth is i have had 4 sets in 5 years, all replaced under warranty as the lacquer goes milky.