Tips for cleaning wheels?

[Tony_M3]

I have a G80 M3 that I absolutely enjoy washing. I find washing cars quite therapeutic and relaxing, especially after a long week at work.

One thing I do not look forward to however, is cleaning these damn wheels. The amount of brake dust that gets on them does my head in. On top of that, my car has 826m bi-color wheels and it seems like black painted barrels get scratched fairly easily.

My method for currently cleaning them involves spraying them with a foam cannon filled with diluted Brake Buster. I then use a detail factory brush to clean the tires and then a wolly wormit to clean the barrels. I clean the face of the wheels with a boars hair brush. Despite all of this, I’m still left with brake dust in some spots and I’ve noticed swirls marks in the black paint on the inside of the wheel. Any tips on how to do a better job or are swirl marks on painted wheel surfaces inevitable? I really wish BMW offered an all silver option for wheels on the G80/G82

[snakes1021]

I use chemical guys signature series wheel cleaner and every few months some hydro charge ceramic spray on a microfiber towel after they are clean repels break dust pretty good IMO. Im sure there are other similar sprays from other companies

and wheels brush similar to these

https://www.amazon.com/bzczh-Metal-F...%2C197&sr=8-15

[spazzz]

Do you rinse the Brake Buster after it dwells before scrubbing?
I rarely use anything except car wash soap, Megs Hyperwash, since my wheels are coated.

I would spray, rinse and maybe foam again then woolie. If you do that already I fold.

[Tony_M3]

Originally Posted by spazzz

Do you rinse the Brake Buster after it dwells before scrubbing?
I rarely use anything except car wash soap, Megs Hyperwash, since my wheels are coated.

I would spray, rinse and maybe foam again then woolie. If you do that already I fold.

I actually don’t rinse the brake buster before scrubbing. I’ll try that next time

[DanG]

Have you tried Groit’s wheel cleaner or their wheel cleaner kit? Works great for me and they give BMWCCA discounts.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/wheel-cleaning-kit/

[Throatpunch]

Sonax wheel cleaner then a pressure washer.

Ceramic coat them and u never have to hand clean

[Charles B]

Ceramic coating on wheels makes brake dust a soap and water exercise.

[Game]

Brake Buster doesn’t contain an iron remover. I’d suggest a wheel cleaner like Koch Chemie’s MWC or include an iron remover with the BB.

Other solutions:
Ceramic coating
Different brake pads

[1209582]

in my experience brake buster does not work well. i use something stronger like wowo's clean wheels diluted 1:4 or tuga devil wheel cleaner. brushes aren't the best for 826 and its a pain to clean. you need a small wheel mitt to properly wipe off the brake dust. try spraying on gyeon wetcoat, itll help make cleaning wheels easier.

[malvern_man]

Get your wheels ceramic coated, faces and barrels.

To clean my gloss black wheels I use a citrus pre wash in a pump sprayer then rinse off. I then use Garage Therapy One wheel shampoo in an IK pump foamer together with wheel woolies, ultra soft detailing brushes from AliExpress and a Garage Therapy wheel mitt. NEVER use the same mitt you use on the wheels on your paintwork. If I use GT wheel shampoo in a bucket then I use also 2 grit guarded buckets, one wash and one rinse these buckets are used for the wheels only.

[///MPhatic]

Start from the source; swap the OE brake pads for Akebono/Gloc/CarboTech pads. Then ceramic coat the wheels. Then after every drive take 15 seconds to use the leaf blower on them.

That's what I do.

Clean AF by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

Golden. by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

[allinon72]

I love Brake Buster but it is not strong, I do not dilute it. I shoot it right on with a foam cannon and let it sit.

For easier maintenance of BMW wheels, it's critical that:
- You have the appropriate set of tools that suits your wheel style (takes some trial and error)
- Your wheels are ceramic coated. This does NOT prevent brake dust from sticking but does make it far easier to remove, sometimes without actual friction in some areas
- You clean them frequently enough that the dust does not build up to a level that is hard to remove.

[skyline408]

I have ceramic coated my wheels, and no - I can't just hose off the wheels with no scrubbing to get them clean.

My regiment now - specifically for the 826m wheels is to hose them off first with water, spray your favorite wheel cleaner. I then have a bucket of soapy water ready with wheel barrel cleaner, fine brush, and a coarse brush for the tires.

I agitate each wheel with the brushes, and then I hose the wheel completely off.

I then leaf blow dry the wheels, and while the wheels are still somewhat damp, I mist the wheels with some quick detailer spray (I rotate between products, but currently bead maker) and wipe them off making sure I get between the spokes, etc..

It gets the wheels looking 95% perfect, and i've gotten my timing down from start to finish in about 20 minutes for all 4 wheels. I do this every 2 weeks or so.

[RaisinCain27]

Originally Posted by skyline408

I have ceramic coated my wheels, and no - I can't just hose off the wheels with no scrubbing to get them clean.

My regiment now - specifically for the 826m wheels is to hose them off first with water, spray your favorite wheel cleaner. I then have a bucket of soapy water ready with wheel barrel cleaner, fine brush, and a coarse brush for the tires.

I agitate each wheel with the brushes, and then I hose the wheel completely off.

I then leaf blow dry the wheels, and while the wheels are still somewhat damp, I mist the wheels with some quick detailer spray (I rotate between products, but currently bead maker) and wipe them off making sure I get between the spokes, etc..

It gets the wheels looking 95% perfect, and i've gotten my timing down from start to finish in about 20 minutes for all 4 wheels. I do this every 2 weeks or so.

Pretty much the routine I follow as well. My wheels are nt ceramic coated but I have recently started using Sonar Spray and Seal on them so I will see how that helps over the long run.

I have used various wheel cleaner products over the years and have found them all very similar once you let them soak for a bit and then go to work with your various brushes. Recently bought Sonar Wheel Cleaner and am looking forward ot trying that next wash.

[P1]

Unless you never clean your wheels, it's pointless to use a dedicated wheel cleaner.

Just use a good car shampoo and a variety of brushes. Will look great.

[Nettles]

Originally Posted by P1

Unless you never clean your wheels, it's pointless to use a dedicated wheel cleaner.

Just use a good car shampoo and a variety of brushes. Will look great.

Literally this. /thread

[DocL]

I stopped being a perfectionist with keeping my wheels clean because within 50mi they look like shit all over again.

[shawndean22]

I use Brake Buster and it works well. Now this depends how long you go in between washes. You may need stronger wheel cleaner with iron remover if the dust is baked on.
I only go 2-3 weeks when cleaning wheels.
One time I went over a month and had to clean wheels twice with brake buster.
Wheel will get swirls if you are agitating. Either stronger wheel cleaner or change pads.

[Eljefe25]

Brake dust is insanse on my car though and my wheels are ceramic coated.

I went through a touch less laser wash recently but they did not clean the wheels well.

Think I’m gonna start washjng my car by hand. I’ve been doing a lot of research and the process does not seem hard.

Does seem like you need some agitation to get the brake dust off the wheels though.

[PMW0801]

Gyeon Iron X works GREAT!!! You still have to agitate the wheels but a great start to cleaning the wheels. The right brushes and mitts help too.

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by Eljefe25

Brake dust is insanse on my car though and my wheels are ceramic coated.

I went through a touch less laser wash recently but they did not clean the wheels well.

Think I’m gonna start washjng my car by hand. I’ve been doing a lot of research and the process does not seem hard.

Does seem like you need some agitation to get the brake dust off the wheels though.

There is no magic solution and no amount or any kind of ceramic will clean the wheels from just water spray without agitation.

[Eljefe25]

Originally Posted by skyline408

There is no magic solution and no amount or any kind of ceramic will clean the wheels from just water spray without agitation.

Good point but the man the amount of brake dust is ridiculous. I feel like after my wheels are clean, driving 2 miles and the amount of brake dust you see is crazy.

I’ve never experienced this amount of brake dust before.

The only good thing is it’s motivated me to probably start washing my car myself which should give me more control over the process.