[LuvMyE92]

I don't know which wheel number I have, they are the honeycomb copies of the old TransAm wheels from the 70s.

They look fabulous, but they are a PITA to clean.

I just bought a new sponge, it's a big one used for cleaning grout off of tile work and nice and soft. I'm hoping that it will be easier to get into all of those holes. I'll cut it in half first.

I don't believe in this "spray on spray off" nonsense, as you have to get in there with a brush or a sponge or something and physically wipe off the dust. I also never, never use a pressure washer on anything related to the car, unless I'm trying to strip off paint. That's just too abrasive.

FWIW, I use Griot's wheel cleaner, it works well, smells good (unlike Iron-X) and I believe is the same as P21S but a bit less expensive.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by themnmd

CarPro iron x for the dust. Ceramic coating for wheels. Doesn't really stop the dust but way easier to clean. I use CarPro hydro lite 2. It's a spray on wash off , I get 6 - 8 weeks per application. Tip make sure wheels are perfectly clean or ceramic coating will seal in the dirt. Of course you can use a coating that lasts longer, I use the hydro lite because it's convenient. Oh I use both with a power washer, not a must though.

Don't use IronX for wheels, that's overkill. I use it to decontaminate the paint after winter to get rid of the small yellow spots on white paint.

Sonax wheel cleaner would work better as a spray on. I only use a towel to wipe of the brake dust and it works well.

[LivinLrge]

Another vote for Sonax...works great.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

I don't know which wheel number I have, they are the honeycomb copies of the old TransAm wheels from the 70s.

They look fabulous, but they are a PITA to clean.

I just bought a new sponge, it's a big one used for cleaning grout off of tile work and nice and soft. I'm hoping that it will be easier to get into all of those holes. I'll cut it in half first.

I don't believe in this "spray on spray off" nonsense, as you have to get in there with a brush or a sponge or something and physically wipe off the dust. I also never, never use a pressure washer on anything related to the car, unless I'm trying to strip off paint. That's just too abrasive.

FWIW, I use Griot's wheel cleaner, it works well, smells good (unlike Iron-X) and I believe is the same as P21S but a bit less expensive.

Looks like you have the 826 Bicolor. See below, but although I did end up using a brush the spray on spray off would have worked pretty well.

[snareman]

So at all of your recommendations I picked up some Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus and Sonax Wheel Rim Shield. The directions say you have to put the wheel cleaner on a cool dry wheel and let it sit for 5min so I knew I couldn't go to the carwash as the wheels would have been hot from the drive there.

So, I pulled my car out into the driveway, sprayed on the wheel cleaner and let it sit. It did start to change color as they say. I think it would have done pretty well just like that, but I did get a long thin wheel brush that I allowed me to get back in the inner parts of the wheel (the large flat round area in the middle. I then filled up a garden sprayer with soft water from my sink and rinsed them off. Higher pressure would have been nice, but that would have been hard water from the hose (and my hose is also a hassle to get out as it lives in my garage when it's not connected). Dried the wheels and applied the Rim Shield and let the car sit for an hour as directed. The whole process took a little over 30min.

The wheels are as close to looking factory clean fresh as they've ever been. Time will tell how effective the Rim Shield will be at either not having the brake dust stick as much and how easy it will wash off in the touchless wash. For the moment though, the wheels look AMAZING.

[sansri]

👍 Sonax works great. I would recommend trying it with a garden hose - usually I end up just spraying Sonax and then washing the the wheels with the hose. Finally do a light second round on the sections missed. This gets most of the wheel without too work ( 5-10 minutes or less ). Just get the large refill

[merlin3008]

I definitely second Sonax. Great product. I usually let it sit and then use the softest brushes I can find to agitate the inner sections of the rim. I haven’t coated my rims yet, but I just might when my M3 arrives. I’ve always found that a wipe down with some sort of non-greasy QD once dry, helps to improve appearance.

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by snareman

Looks like you have the 826 Bicolor. See below, but although I did end up using a brush the spray on spray off would have worked pretty well.

Correct. Thanks for the write-up, looks like i need to try the Sonax.

[LivinLrge]

I use this plus Sonax.


Car Wheel Brush, Premium Automotive Detailer and Tire Brush Cleaning Kit for Bikes, Engines, Trucks, Boats, Equipment, Exhaust Tips, Premium Water-Powered Multi-Purpose Rim Brush from Brush Hero https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7N7KGW...UTF8&psc=1

[modat]

Originally Posted by snareman

So at all of your recommendations I picked up some Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus and Sonax Wheel Rim Shield. The directions say you have to put the wheel cleaner on a cool dry wheel and let it sit for 5min so I knew I couldn't go to the carwash as the wheels would have been hot from the drive there.

So, I pulled my car out into the driveway, sprayed on the wheel cleaner and let it sit. It did start to change color as they say. I think it would have done pretty well just like that, but I did get a long thin wheel brush that I allowed me to get back in the inner parts of the wheel (the large flat round area in the middle. I then filled up a garden sprayer with soft water from my sink and rinsed them off. Higher pressure would have been nice, but that would have been hard water from the hose (and my hose is also a hassle to get out as it lives in my garage when it's not connected). Dried the wheels and applied the Rim Shield and let the car sit for an hour as directed. The whole process took a little over 30min.

The wheels are as close to looking factory clean fresh as they've ever been. Time will tell how effective the Rim Shield will be at either not having the brake dust stick as much and how easy it will wash off in the touchless wash. For the moment though, the wheels look AMAZING.

Be careful with home water softeners if you have one. They tend to have salt filters

[corbs09]

Another +1 for Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus. I actually just picked up a gallon to refill my spray bottle. Hands down best wheel cleaner I have used. Make sure you use it on COOL to the touch wheels and you aren't washing the car in the sun... it will bake on quick and you dont want that. Also there are a few versions of the Sonax wheel cleaner... the Plus is the version you want.

[Vigilant]

Try Poorboys wheel cleaner. Make sure you buy enough dispensers as the fluid will clog the lines. Spray on and wash. No manual work. Have used on my F80 for 6 years.

https://www.autogeek.net/pbsrwc128.html

[corbs09]

Spray on:


Spray Off:


Works like a charm. Then pull the car forward a few feet and tap the brakes to get the surface rust off rotors, blow wheels with compressed air to remove the "rust dust" and you're done in less than 15 mins.

[Ginster6]

Originally Posted by corbs09

Spray on:


Spray Off:


Works like a charm. Then pull the car forward a few feet and tap the brakes to get the surface rust off rotors, blow wheels with compressed air to remove the "rust dust" and you're done in less than 15 mins.

I wish it was that easy.. Sonax Plus does not work for me... have to spray 2-3 & brush it to make it work.
so it is basically a bottle per wash. sad......

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Ginster6

I wish it was that easy.. Sonax Plus does not work for me... have to spray 2-3 & brush it to make it work.
so it is basically a bottle per wash. sad......

Yea, mine definitely required some agitation from a brush. Maybe if I had a power washer and power blower.

[corbs09]

I use a power washer on a lower setting, maybe that has something to do with it. The other thing I do is ensure the wheels are cool to the touch and I let it sit on for about 3 minutes.

[Limegrntaln]

Pressure washer all day long. You just need to make sure you have the right nozzle size to go with the pressure washer. You dont need more than 1,000 PSI. Doesnt matter what pressure washer you have, the nozzles adjust the pressure of the jet.

Sonax wheel cleaner is good. I like P&S Brake Buster.

[Bimmer TiM3]

Pressure washer first then a quality wheel cleaner. Agitate with brush. Power wash off. Foam cannon entire car. Let sit 5 mins. Spray off. Soap with a wheel brush. Spray off. Wash rest of car. Dry. Vacuum. Windows. Interior. Quick drive around the neighborhood to get surface rust off. Clean that off with a microfiber towel. Take a shower. Go out to eat and start crying when you get to restaurant and wheels look like shit

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by Bimmer TiM3

Pressure washer first then a quality wheel cleaner. Agitate with brush. Power wash off. Foam cannon entire car. Let sit 5 mins. Spray off. Soap with a wheel brush. Spray off. Wash rest of car. Dry. Vacuum. Windows. Interior. Quick drive around the neighborhood to get surface rust off. Clean that off with a microfiber towel. Take a shower. Go out to eat and start crying when you get to restaurant and wheels look like shit

Exact reason I ordered the CCBs, you cant drive 10 miles without the wheels looking like you havent even washed them.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Exact reason I ordered the CCBs, you cant drive 10 miles without the wheels looking like you havent even washed them.

Unfortunately clean wheels aren't worth $8000 to me. And, I like the red calipers.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by snareman

Unfortunately clean wheels aren't worth $8000 to me. And, I like the red calipers.

Yeah, unfortunately, the OCD in me, hates brake dust. And I just like the bigger rotors, and I've never had a chance with other cars to even get them, so, for me, if I was going to build a car, I would spec everything I wanted. Kicking myself for not getting the Carbon Exterior package, but $103K was already giving me chest pains... But, now that the car is at the port, I think I want to call and add it, port installed.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Yeah, unfortunately, the OCD in me, hates brake dust. And I just like the bigger rotors, and I've never had a chance with other cars to even get them, so, for me, if I was going to build a car, I would spec everything I wanted. Kicking myself for not getting the Carbon Exterior package, but $103K was already giving me chest pains... But, now that the car is at the port, I think I want to call and add it, port installed.

I just swapped out the interior trim for CF after I got the car. Everything is SO MUCH more expensive after the fact. Spent probably close to $2k on a $900 option. If it's the same price as when you originally ordered the car doing it port installed and you have a thought that you'll regret it later definitely do it now.