MINI2

Perm · Apr 29th, 2008, 01:48 PM

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 · Apr 29th, 2008, 02:17 PM

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 · Apr 29th, 2008, 02:43 PM

Thanks for the tips.

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

Vecchio Engineering · Apr 29th, 2008, 05:37 PM

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

MINIAC · Apr 29th, 2008, 05:39 PM

Is P21S wheel cleaner available in the UK?

supa-dupa-cooper · Apr 29th, 2008, 05:53 PM

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 · Apr 29th, 2008, 06:24 PM

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

Sooper Rob · Apr 29th, 2008, 08:41 PM

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 · Apr 29th, 2008, 09:20 PM

Good job there Rob

Perm · May 1st, 2008, 01:30 PM

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

Chilli21 · May 1st, 2008, 05:32 PM

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

Apr 29th, 2008, 01:48 PM	#1
Perm MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottinghamshire Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 473 Offline	How do you clean R90 Alloy Wheels ? 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

Apr 29th, 2008, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Vecchio Engineering MINI2 Sponsor Join Date: May 2007 Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 116 Offline	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. www.vecchio.co.uk

Apr 29th, 2008, 05:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vecchio Engineering MINI2 Sponsor Join Date: May 2007 Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 116 Offline	The MINI / BMW approved alloy wheel cleaner would be worth checking out. www.vecchio.co.uk

Apr 29th, 2008, 05:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
supa-dupa-cooper Puzzle is here!!! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cloud MINI Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 17,103 Offline	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 * The Italian Job 2008......Team 50 - Sponsor Us Here!* UNION JACK OWNERS CLUB GB002

Apr 29th, 2008, 06:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vecchio Engineering MINI2 Sponsor Join Date: May 2007 Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 116 Offline	P21S wheel cleaner is available in the UK! In my opinion its the best wheel cleaner out there. Expensive stuff though! www.vecchio.co.uk

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Apr 29th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Perm MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottinghamshire Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 473 Offline	Thanks for the tips. Do you think the MINI / BMW approved alloy wheel cleaner is worth a try ?

Apr 29th, 2008, 05:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
MINIAC MINI Profiler Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: City By The Bay Local Time: 12:13 PM Posts: 10,351 Offline	Is P21S wheel cleaner available in the UK?

Apr 29th, 2008, 08:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sooper Rob MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North East Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 28 Offline	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

Apr 29th, 2008, 09:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
andrewcregan Andrew ATC Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheshire Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 532 Offline	Good job there Rob

May 1st, 2008, 01:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Perm MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nottinghamshire Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 473 Offline	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

May 1st, 2008, 05:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chilli21 winner of best MINI ONE! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Local Time: 08:13 PM Posts: 2,186 Offline	wash mine every week and had them for 2 years now and they are in very good condition

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