Sidewalk alloys - lacquered?

[bensidewalker]

Hey everyone,

I wonder if you can help me. I went to Halfords today and bought an alloy cleaning kit (£7.50, you get 500ml of liquid, a mixing bowl and a small paintbrush), and it says it is suitable for steel wheels, plastic wheels etc but it is unsuitable for un-lacquered wheels. Are Sidewalk alloys lacquered? I don't want to ruin them so I thought I'd better check before I use it.

Thanks

[hollinshead]

I believe the outer edge and the middle of the spokes are polished, ie not lacquered or painted.

I personally wouldn't risk using that halfords kit on them.

If your wanting some alloy wheel cleaner suitable and safe for use, Autoglym do something called Custom Alloy Wheel Cleaner. This is specially developed for custom alloys ie. special finishes such as the sidewalk's, but more importantly it does not contain acid!

Autoglym - car cleaning products, car care products, car valeting, car detailing

[bensidewalker]

Cheers mate - will take it back and see if I can get the Autoglym product you linked to!

[bensidewalker]

In the convertible forum people have also mentioned using Maguiars Hot Rims (Meguiars Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner from Halfords Price £7.49 3for2 on Car Cleaning Products) for their SideWalk alloys, apparently it is also gentle.

[minicabrio]

Hi Ben,

Sounds like you've bought 'wonder wheels' or its equivalent - don't put that any where near your alloys

Test to do, dip the brush in it, and drop 1ml of the solution onto the back of your hand - feel it burn? The solution is extremely[ acidic - now go wash it off with cold water

Meguires Hot Rims is the way to go I used to have a polished lip on my R90s (bare unlacquered aluminium) and it was perfectly safe even on that

[bensidewalker]

Thanks minicabrio - helpful as always!

[minicabrio]

No problem - Dad also has some of the old syle deep dish AMG alloys on his Merc with a bare polished lip, and they have always had the same treatment

I've tried all sorts of wheel cleaners, but once you've used Hot Rims, you won't go back. It shows that you don't need an agressive wheel cleaner to be effective

[mister.t]

I once got some of that Wonder Wheels in an open cut - My god that hurt

Gotta agree with Jon though - Hot Rims is very very good

[all_electric]

Yep, Megs Hot Rims gets my vote too...

[bensidewalker]

Thanks guys - BTW, Halfords have 3 for 2 on car cleaning products now (which I didn't know whilst I bought the stuff I bought yesterday, I only noticed when I looked at the receipt at home, and then saw it advertised on their website). Reserved Maguiar's Hot Rims online for collection

[bensidewalker]

Hey...Took back the Wonder Wheels and got me some Hot Rims Will give my alloys a clean when the weather picks up a bit!