Hot Rims- Aluminum stripping clear coat

[s word]

I don't have the ability to host, can I send them to someone to have displayed?

[Michael Stoops]

No, Dodge is Chrysler Corp. but during that time period all the domestic manufacturing facilities were transition to some new paint technologies, and it didn't always work out so well.

Back to your wheels - since it seems that the clear might have been compromised along the edges in some places, it could also be coincidental that the real lifting happened when you used the product "correctly". If it was compromised at all, it was only going to get worse with time and probably would have started peeling even if you had stayed with your non-traditional process. And of course, once the clear is missing from any area, that area will stain if hit with any sort of even moderately aggressive cleaner.

[s word]

My previous post did not come out completely. It had a lot more to it.

I don;t have ability to host the photos but I do have a couple of each different wheel and issue type. It does look like the body shop used harsher cleaner on a few of the rims still so what I took off must have been polish that they tried to correct the problem with unsuccessfully. The photos make the rims look bad because of lighting but to the bare eye the rims aren't horrible.

Would a product like the dynacone polisher (kit) be a wise move at this point? I know it may flake off a little bit more of the clear coat in the process. But I feel like the bare aluminum is not polished therefore that is creating the strange look on the rims, not just that the clear is missing. Not that I am trying to do this on a budget but $30 sounds better than $600 (refurbishing).

I am going to have to agree with you after further research that whatever I did "correctly" progressed the issue faster, but did not create the situation. Not really certain what caused it...manufacturer of rims does not have a length warranty on the finish. I do realize that finish on rims can be compromised by many things so that short warranty is understandable but also does me no favor. I am leading myself down the dynacone kit path for correction. Would post before and after pictures of course if I do, but I may need someones help with the photo hosting.

Also I will be in OC for an appointment in later afternoon of Weds...If anyone from Megs or anyone else on here is down there and wants to see the issue I am more than happy to show them.

[Rocksteady-Rebel]

I has the ESM similar to the LM BBS Wheels for a while. Got them cheap due to the CC coming off (might be a common issue).

Anyways I got some Aircraft Paint remover and Polished the bare metal. They are High Maintenance but looked so sexy on my E36.

Just my .02 here

[Rocksteady-Rebel]

I has the ESM similar to the LM BBS Wheels for a while. Got them cheap due to the CC coming off (might be a common issue).

Anyways I got some Aircraft Paint remover and Polished the bare metal. They are High Maintenance but looked so sexy on my E36.

Just my .02 here

[s word]

This is why I added a little line in my last post saying "after further research" because I found the clear flaking to be a common issue on slightly older rims (1+ yr old). It is not rampant issue where I would blow ESM up for it, but it does happen.
Did you aircraft paint remover the entire wheel? or did you just do the lip? I am totally down for this process as my car has these huge clear and non clear blotches on some wheels.

To go back to my original post where I said by following the product instruction the clear flaked off. After testing in the garage last night what I think happened is that the clear must have been coming up slightly (previous to me cleaning the wheel the correct way). When I sprayed and it let sit, the edge of the clear coat started to loosen up and loses the bond to the metal (at the edges). Likely the soap in the wheel cleaner in action doing what it should. This caused a bit of lift on the edge of the clear coat, which then when wiped flakes right off.

Also to be clear Meguiars and Michael have been completely helpful this entire time, never once did they clear themselves of the issue. They were always there trying to help remedy and understand the issue. They were truly concerned and a great partner. I mean the help really got to a point of offering above and beyond customer service which I find does not typically exist these days. The product in no way caused my issue, the issue must have already existed. The correct process on the product must have just pushed my clear to the breaking point causing the issue.

Though I still need to strip and polish the wheel. I feel like I am making advances in my understanding of what happened.

I am now the proud owner of a dynacone polishing kit from megs. I tried using it on area of the rim where there is clear and non clear. It ripped up a good amount of the remaining clear. So until I can further strip the clear another way, the polishing tool will remain in the bag.

I do pretty much nightly maintenance so I am not worried about cleaning the rims as I rather have shiny rims that I have to clean regularly than rims that look blotchy that I have to touch up less.

[Richard1]

Very interesting post.
The nice thing about aluminum is you can always sand and polish whatever went wrong.
I started these with 220 grit, down to 1500 grit, then Meguiar's Mag & Aluminum Polish.

[s word]

Very interesting post.
The nice thing about aluminum is you can always sand and polish whatever went wrong.
I started these with 220 grit, down to 1500 grit, then Meguiar's Mag & Aluminum Polish.

Right now I am living with the flaking. It is not that visible from standing height. I am probably the only one that sees it when i am hand cleaning the rims.

I think if i choose to refinish myself i will use aircraft stripper and then just a metal polish on meguiars dynacone. I am not sure if sanding will be necessary. Also the polished lip has a finished texture to it that I don;t even want to come close to with sand paper. It is made up with a bunch of very fine grooves. Excuse my lack of being able to explain how it looks better.

[Richard1]

You can also shine it up, leaving that texture (I know what you are talking about) with soda blasting. Google it and you can make a simple soda blaster that will clean up aluminum.

[s word]

I am just trying to follow up on my old posts to try to express long term resolutions. In this case I still own the rims with the flaked off clear. I am still likely the only person that will notice so I haven't done anything in terms of refinishing the wheels.

A few things changed from the past
-now I always use spray detailer or spray wax when cleaning the rims outside of washing the car
-I use a variety of wheel cleaners still including hot rims.
-I use wheel woolie to clean all the crevasses

Also I would like to note that I have experienced no further flaking of the clear coat.
The dynacone was not used to polish rim or help with further clear coat removal.
But it was used to polish my exhaust tips and it left them perfect.
Also dynacone was used on the kitchen sink for amazing results.