What's the best product to clean alloys???
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Wonder Wheels. Has a nifty little brush and pot so there's little wastage as with some spray on products. Use a good quality wax afterwards. I use Autogylm Super Resin Polish followed by Extra Gloss Protection. Result: Super Clean, Super Slippery Alloys.
See, I thought you might say Diet Coke was the perfect wheel cleaner as it is mildly acidic, easily foams, comes pressurized, and with no sugar it won't leave a sticky residue.dietcokeplease said:
(Just kidding - I'm drinking a DC as I type this -- well actually its sitting on the desk next to the keyboard
)
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........it just has a funny aftertaste(!)
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LMB,
I know it sounds weird but yes I do wax the wheels on my cars - always have done. When "I were a young lad" I had a Golf - took my wheels for refurbishment and the owner said that the best way to keep your wheels clean and prevent corrosion was to wax them regularly.
The wheels are just like paintwork. They get more extremes of hot/cold and water/grit/brakedust than the bodywork. Waxing helps prevent the brakedust from etching into the surface of the wheels (preventing that horrible "pitting")and more importantly makes cleaning them easier the next time round.
I know it sounds weird but yes I do wax the wheels on my cars - always have done. When "I were a young lad" I had a Golf - took my wheels for refurbishment and the owner said that the best way to keep your wheels clean and prevent corrosion was to wax them regularly.
The wheels are just like paintwork. They get more extremes of hot/cold and water/grit/brakedust than the bodywork. Waxing helps prevent the brakedust from etching into the surface of the wheels (preventing that horrible "pitting")and more importantly makes cleaning them easier the next time round.
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Re: Wax!!!
Might be a bit whiffy or greasy though!
How about shaking some out of ears? - That's even better, it's free!MINIMARK said:Is car wax the same stuff that my missus uses on her legs then? Or is it different!
Mark
Might be a bit whiffy or greasy though! 
WD40.....just DONT spray it directly on the wheel.....not good for brakes. But I have found it does remove brake dust and tar marks generaly. I can't see why you wouldn't use a wax product on the white or silver wheels. White is probably powdercoat and the silver would be clear laquer.LMB said:Could someone please recommend a product that they have found to be the excellent at getting their alloy wheels looking like new.
Thanks
LMB
I use WD40 for removing tar and bugs from the paintwork and provided you re-wax the car afterwords seems to work fine. Taxi Drivers use kerosene in water for their paintwork, but I have never been game to try it. Might work for wheels too, and a lot cheaper than proprietary products.
cheers
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Apple,
I use Wonder Wheels on my MINI. The product is approved by loads of wheel manufacturers such as Wolfrace/Alloy Wheels International. The MINI wheels have are sprayed silver/alu and then clear coated with a lacquer. As long as the lacquer is intact then it's ok to use. Just follow the instructions on the box. The most important thing to note is that the contact period of the acid solution is not of paramount importance - just make sure it does not dry out by spraying it lightly with water. Also don't forget to wax afterwards.
I use Wonder Wheels on my MINI. The product is approved by loads of wheel manufacturers such as Wolfrace/Alloy Wheels International. The MINI wheels have are sprayed silver/alu and then clear coated with a lacquer. As long as the lacquer is intact then it's ok to use. Just follow the instructions on the box. The most important thing to note is that the contact period of the acid solution is not of paramount importance - just make sure it does not dry out by spraying it lightly with water. Also don't forget to wax afterwards.
Cleaning alloy wheels
Many wheel cleaning solutions are very corrosive/caustic and can actually damage wheels when used over long periods of time. It is very difficult to know which ones are safe and which ones aren't.
I asked my BMW dealer what they would recommend for my MINI's 16" white wheels. They have their own cleaner which they sell for around £10 a litre which seems to work very well and its also peace of mind that since it is recommended (and presumably validated/approved) by BMW it won't damage those nice white alloys.
Incidentally, even the 'silver' 16" wheels are not actually alloy finish - they are painted silver and lacquered so have exactly the same cleaning properties as the white ones.
Generally I find that they clean up very easily. They don't have awkward profiles to get dirt out of and the surface seems to be 'slippery' and well lacquered so that dirt washes off without much effort.
I would recommend the BMW cleaner itself and I'd be sceptical about any others.
TJL
Many wheel cleaning solutions are very corrosive/caustic and can actually damage wheels when used over long periods of time. It is very difficult to know which ones are safe and which ones aren't.
I asked my BMW dealer what they would recommend for my MINI's 16" white wheels. They have their own cleaner which they sell for around £10 a litre which seems to work very well and its also peace of mind that since it is recommended (and presumably validated/approved) by BMW it won't damage those nice white alloys.
Incidentally, even the 'silver' 16" wheels are not actually alloy finish - they are painted silver and lacquered so have exactly the same cleaning properties as the white ones.
Generally I find that they clean up very easily. They don't have awkward profiles to get dirt out of and the surface seems to be 'slippery' and well lacquered so that dirt washes off without much effort.
I would recommend the BMW cleaner itself and I'd be sceptical about any others.
TJL
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