Cleaning AMG or any other alloy

[whestworld]

Hi

I'm a newby here but have been a Merc owner for 6 or so years.

I have a C43 which has pretty bad 'caked-on' brake dust. What do you guys use to clean this off. I've seen P21s gel recommended elsewhere or can anyone recommend a wheel cleaning co. in W.London

J

 

[ADY1983]

HI welcome to the forum I use meguiers hot wheels, melts brake dust a treat
Cheers Ady

 

[whestworld]

Thanks... I'll order some now!

J

 

[Alps]

on a weekly basis i use turtle wax "extreme wheel cleaner" lime green packaging, and for baked on stuff i use "wonder wheels" but its too harsh for using all the time.

for the tyres i think the extreme tyre gel is great, best tyre blackner ever, better than the foam stuff and lasts ages, smells really nice too (not that it makes a diff on tyres!).

all availible from halfords!

 

[c43]

I'll second 'Wonder Wheels'.

Haven't given the wheels a good clean for a while, so at the weekend gave them a go. Had to use Wonder Wheels on some bits and that stuff never ceases to amaze me. However I concur that everyday use of it might not be a good thing.

 

[C43AMG]

I'll second 'Wonder Wheels'.

Haven't given the wheels a good clean for a while, so at the weekend gave them a go. Had to use Wonder Wheels on some bits and that stuff never ceases to amaze me. However I concur that everyday use of it might not be a good thing.

"Not a good thing"

 

[Flash]

I'll second 'Wonder Wheels'.

Haven't given the wheels a good clean for a while, so at the weekend gave them a go. Had to use Wonder Wheels on some bits and that stuff never ceases to amaze me. However I concur that everyday use of it might not be a good thing.

As soon as Wonder Wheels makes contact with your wheel bolts then that is them gone and they will rust away so avoid using the stuff!!! I learnt the hard way and Wonder Wheels ruined the alloys on my W126 as well as the bolts... Since then I now only ever use car body shampoo on the alloys on a regular basis and never allow brake dust to build up excessively.

 

[Howard]

Yes , i agree ...

Don't use 'Wonder Wheels' or any other caustic cleaner ....

I use Zymol Wash/Wax on them once a week, or every two weeks when i am feeling lazy and they stay perfect.

 

[Alps]

ive used wonder wheels for the last 8 years since it came out, no problems!

i do however use it only on the occasions when its been a while since cleaning the wheel, otherwise i use less potent cleaners, like autogleam wheel cleaner or extreme like mentioned before!

your probably right about the wheel bolts, but mine have not rusted?!?

 

[GSBellew]

on a weekly basis i use turtle wax "extreme wheel cleaner" lime green packaging, and for baked on stuff i use "wonder wheels" but its too harsh for using all the time.

for the tyres i think the extreme tyre gel is great, best tyre blackner ever, better than the foam stuff and lasts ages, smells really nice too (not that it makes a diff on tyres!).

all availible from halfords!

Good god, a weekly dose of acidic based cleaner, you do know that its eating away at the lacquer of the wheel?

Here's a hint that will save you time and money:

If your wheels are very bad to start off with use a wheel cleaner to tidy them up as a once off, then dry them a polish them using a wax, this seals and protects the lacquer of the wheels in the same way as your car body itself (i'm sure very few of you would apply acid to your cars paintwork on a weekly basis and just rinse it off with water!) after this you can apply a product like turtle wax brake dust barrier or similar, this prevents the brake dust sticking to the wheels in the first place.

Now for the weekly clean after this, as Howard has already said, simply use car wash shampoo, but its best to use a double mix (ie twice as much concentrate as normal) on the wheels, if you have used brake dust barrier or wax the brake dust will rinse off very easily, you can then rewax or use brake dust barrier if you wish, the waxing does not have to be done every week, but a fairly regular treatment will keep your wheels looking good, and the money you save on accidic cleaners will leave your wallet healthier too.

 

[whestworld]

alloy damaging

I see it's quite clear that using most so called alloy cleaners will actually damage your alloys. I originally looked at P21S but I don't know anyone that has tried it. If I use an acid based cleaner, even 10 times in a year period, it's still going to strip the lacquer. I just spoke to my local Merc garage in W.London and they have recommended me look at refurbishing my alloys at a cost of £125 for all 4 corners, then keep them waxed.