R36 Wheel Cleaning

[snerlo]

Just a quick question to all you out there. Obviously due to the soft pad compounds, the inside of my rims get rather dirty and its not real easy to clean. I was going to pull each rim off on the weekend and give it a good scrub. Is there any easier way of keeping them clean. Do any of you use a product that you can purchase. Bit nervous about constantly using chemicals on them and are scared that constant use will damage the rim.

[MJW]

I use nanolex on the car & rims as a polish & also use a nanolex wash which maintains a layer of protection. I find that if I wash the car weekly, 95% of all brake dust etc just washes off.

[Diesel_vert]

Unless you love washing your car 52 times a year, consider using different brake pads (Remsa) or ceramic brake pads (ATE, Hawk, etc).

[MJW]

Still going to get road grime etc that will need cleaning. I like having a clean car

[Diesel_vert]

Not that I don't appreciate a clean looking car, but I'm not really precious about that sort of thing for my daily.

Personally, I don't bother with wheel cleaners and just use the remaining amount of car shampoo solution after washing the body.

[snerlo]

That is normally what I do Diesel_vert but it is difficult to get in between all the spokes on our R36 and then trying to clean the dish of the rim is even more tiresome. I might pull the wheels off and then give them a good polish

[Lucas_R]

Have you tried some of the wheel brushes available at high quality car detailing providers like Car Care Products? My step sister and her husband have a black R36 wagon which is in lovely condition, and i asked him not that long ago how he keeps those wheels so clean (they were spotless and dont look easy to clean) and he uses a dedicated mag wheel brush to clean the barrels of the rims.

Even still, removing the wheels every now and then for a really good clean will keep the back of the spokes etc clean. You cant reach the back of the spokes on those rims when they are fitted to the car.

[ganue]

I use einszett wheel cleaner.. In the photo below I have applied the cleaner and hosed off with high pressure. I haven't used a brush yet.

http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/product/einszett_1z/colourtec_wheel_cleaner

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[brad]

I usually buy my wheels 2nd hand, so they are generally black with caked on brake dust.

I can usually get them back to better than OEM condition off the car by:
wash with a general purpose cleaner. rinse.
Attack any stuck on bitumen or other nasties with something stronger (tar & bug remover / kero / whatever). Use a toothbrush around the wheel weights & any cast-in writing.
Clay-bar the wheel - just use up an old one that's on it's last legs.
Apply sealant or wax to the whole wheel.

For ongoing on-car maintenance use a sponge/microfiber mitt on the face & wheel brush in the barrell. Re-apply the wax/sealant to the face every 6 weeks or so (straight over the old stuff.

Repeat the process when you do a wheel rotation every 7500-10000km.

[snerlo]

Well i ended up spending all saturday morning washing the car. First washed the car, then vacuumed, then pulled each wheel off and gave it a good clean. I washed it with left over car wash, then cleaned with prepsol/grease and wax remover, then polished with meguiars, then waxed with meguiars. Hopefully that should make it a little bit easier to get in there and give them a clean when i wash the car. Wash a reasonably long winded process but god the car looked schmick when it was all finished. I then had to take it for a drive that late afternoon. They really are a great machine to drive.