Detailing wheels.

[C63STEVE]

So,we no longer wash our cars,we detail them. I have to be honest I really enjoy a Saturday afternoon detailing my new to me A45S plus. After using all my chosen products on the car it looks great. Apart from the wheels! I have black painted alloy wheels and they always look dull. I have looked for a product on the shelves at Halfords and other places but I can’t find anything to put a shine on my wheels. Any suggestions people?

 

[ALFAitalia]

I clean my cars rather than detail them.....as I don't live in America.......

Are they supposed to be shiny?....I notice that Mercedes do various optional levels of sheen on their wheels.....from matt to high sheen.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Detailing isn't cleaning, or valeting. The clue's in the name. It's deep clean, wax and seal.

If it's less than a full day's work or £300, it's a clean and wax.

Mint Rims from Autofinesse is you friend to wax and seal painted or alloy wheels. (You need other products to clean them)

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

And TV production companies: please stop showing "detailed" period cars on film. They just didn't look like that it the 50's, 60's and 70's.....

 

[Ted]

Gtehniq C5 once a year, then a spray and wipe off with Meguiars fast wax keeps my black wheels looking good

 

[ALFAitalia]

DETAILING

noun

1. the process of thoroughly cleaning the interior and exterior of a vehicle and doing minor repairs to improve its appearance :auto detailing.
   
   
   
   So by definition it just needs to be clean.....not paint corrected or polished/waxed.
   

 

[ALFAitalia]

I'm no fan of black wheels......but not showing brake dust is a big plus.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Gtehniq C5 once a year, then a spray and wipe off with Meguiars fast wax keeps my black wheels looking good View attachment 155680View attachment 155681

Is it just me or is that MB logo a bit dented?

 

[C320]

OP. A photo would help. Loosely speaking though. Dirt is clinging on for dear life as there is a protective coat missing. Black wheels are notorious for this. Give them an iron out (fall out remover). Hellfrauds sell these nowadays. Do not allow it to dwell too long. My suggestion would be something like this:

1. Pre-wash solution.
2. Rinse.
3. Snow foam. Use a soft brush to work around bolts/valve etc.
4. Rinse.
5. Fall out remover.
6. Rinse.
7. Shampoo with a lambs wool mitt - two bucket method.
8. Rinse.
9. Light clay bar if need be. Nothing aggressive to scratch the wheels. Road tar is harder to see on a black wheel e.g., if you have been on a fresh road.
10. Dry. With air if you have access to an air dryer or soft towel.
11. Protect e.g., G-Tech C5 or a decent wax. Autoglym alloy spray seal works well too. You basically want to make the next clean easier. If nothing can embed too deeply then it is easier to maintain them.
12. Enjoy said shiny new wheels etc.
13. Repeat the above bar clay method and protective coat the next time e.g., if you have a decent protective coat on them then you obviously will not be applying this weekly.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

OP. A photo would help. Loosely speaking though. Dirt is clinging on for dear life as there is a protective coat missing. Black wheels are notorious for this. Give them an iron out (fall out remover). Hellfrauds sell these nowadays. Do not allow it to dwell too long. My suggestion would be something like this:

1. Pre-wash solution.
2. Rinse.
3. Snow foam. Use a soft brush to work around bolts/valve etc.
4. Rinse.
5. Fall out remover.
6. Rinse.
7. Shampoo with a lambs wool mitt - two bucket method.
8. Rinse.
9. Light clay bar if need be. Nothing aggressive to scratch the wheels. Road tar is harder to see on a black wheel e.g., if you have been on a fresh road.
10. Dry. With air if you have access to an air dryer or soft towel.
11. Protect e.g., G-Tech C5 or a decent wax. Autoglym alloy spray seal works well too. You basically want to make the next clean easier. If nothing can embed too deeply then it is easier to maintain them.
12. Enjoy said shiny new wheels etc.
13. Repeat the above bar clay method and protective coat the next time e.g., if you have a decent protective coat on them then you obviously will not be applying this weekly.

That is what they call "detailing."

 

[C320]

Use pH neutral products wherever possible too.

 

[kam09]

It depends if the wheels are finished in gloss or matte/satin.. but black alloys will always show the dirt pretty much straight away.. use a ceramic coating or spray sealant on the wheels after deep cleaning them to try and keep them cleaner longer and to get the dirt off quicker when washing..

 

[Rubyred]

Bet Steve wish he hadn’t asked now I just use the wax for the bodywork on my wheels, brake dust seems to clean off pretty easy.

 

[SmartAmg]

Bet Steve wish he hadn’t asked now I just use the wax for the bodywork on my wheels, brake dust seems to clean off pretty easy.

Agreed. Simple's

 

[SpikyMikey]

Bet Steve wish he hadn’t asked now I just use the wax for the bodywork on my wheels, brake dust seems to clean off pretty easy.

I've always generally used Collinite 845 on mine. The biggest problem being in colder weather you have to stick the bottle in a bucket of hot water before you can pour the stuff out the bottle.

 

[sgregory124]

So,we no longer wash our cars,we detail them. I have to be honest I really enjoy a Saturday afternoon detailing my new to me A45S plus. After using all my chosen products on the car it looks great. Apart from the wheels! I have black painted alloy wheels and they always look dull. I have looked for a product on the shelves at Halfords and other places but I can’t find anything to put a shine on my wheels. Any suggestions people?

If your wheels have anything like the finish on my wheels, they're diamond cut on the face and painted elsewhere. With mine I noticed the finish attracts the dirt and is a little rough to the touch. So after using Meguiars All Wheel cleaner (nice and PH neutral), I used Meguiars Tire Gel on the black bits and then finished with a coat of - you guessed it, Meguiars Liquid Ceramic Wax.

The latter does nothing to my eyes on the wheels except maybe add a few minutes of extra protection from the tonnes of brake dust that ends up on the wheels after I perform one stop, but it makes me feel so much better and it smells nice


I took this picture a few minutes ago, the car was washed Sunday morning, but since then the area I live in has had 4 seasons of weather and the aftermath of the a mini-Tornado (seriously) - but the wheels still look relatively clean I think.

 

[rayaans]

I believe the a45s wheels are Matt black in which case you're not really going to alter the look at all. They just need cleaning and protecting. Benefit of them being Matt is you don't see scratches anywhere near as badly as gloss black wheels

 

[Scooby_Doo]

My wheels are always the last to get washed, with whatever is left in the wash bucket, usually a weak mix of Polar Wash. Always look great and with the occasional coating of wheel wax. I've never used a specific wheel cleaner . quick way to ruin centrecaps and accelerate any corrosion on polished alloys.

 

[sgregory124]

My wheels are always the last to get washed, with whatever is left in the wash bucket, usually a weak mix of Polar Wash. Always look great and with the occasional coating of wheel wax. I've never used a specific wheel cleaner . quick way to ruin centrecaps and accelerate any corrosion on polished alloys.
View attachment 155735

The Megs All Wheel is non-acidic so doesn’t corrode wheels. I used it on my previous C63’s and on a previous Audi’s diamond cut wheels with zero issues .