Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

[Kyle R]

Hey guys, I just got my wheels in the mail today and they need some reconditioning. There are some minor swirls on the lip's. I'm thinking of cleaning them with a microfiber wash mitt, gold class in the foam master, and meguiars "hot rims" cleaner. I plan to follow with m205 or m105 on the gl110v2 with a yellow pad. Then I am going to top it all off with tech wax or ultimate wax. Has anyone ever polished the lips on wheels? By the way, the wheels are first generation work equips 18x10 -30 offset in the front and 18x12 -20 offset in the rear for all of the wheel addicts on the meguiars forums Here are a few pictures of the wheels. Thanks!

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Bump? The wheels are clear coated by the way.

[Mr Miyagi]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

My Work Wheels don't have the same lip level as yours..but I asked a similar question here

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49110

Basically any good cleaner/wax is the answer

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

My Work Wheels don't have the same lip level as yours..but I asked a similar question here

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49110

Basically any good cleaner/wax is the answer

Thank you sir! I'm in the same boat you were. I'm 99% sure they were clear coated, but these wheels were manufactured a long long time ago. I may just end up having them refinished in the near future.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Do not use any wheel cleaners on them since they are clear coated. Just use soap and water.

Now are those chrome rims that are clear coated, or polished aluminum that is clear coated? Are you positive the swirls are in the clear coat and not the actual metal underneath. Typically metal swirls tend to have a shinier more reflective look than clear coat swirls, which just like like thin thin white lines.

Go ahead and do a test spot with 205 or M105 by hand and see if it removes any swirls. If it doesn't change at all, then the swirls are not in your clear, but they are in the metal, and there is nothing you can do at that point. However if it does work, then you are good to go on removing swirls.

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Do not use any wheel cleaners on them since they are clear coated. Just use soap and water.

Now are those chrome rims that are clear coated, or polished aluminum that is clear coated? Are you positive the swirls are in the clear coat and not the actual metal underneath. Typically metal swirls tend to have a shinier more reflective look than clear coat swirls, which just like like thin thin white lines.

Go ahead and do a test spot with 205 or M105 by hand and see if it removes any swirls. If it doesn't change at all, then the swirls are not in your clear, but they are in the metal, and there is nothing you can do at that point. However if it does work, then you are good to go on removing swirls.

They are polished aluminum, not chrome. I really hope that they are clear coated and the scratches are just in the clear coat. I don't want to pay a few hundred dollars to have them refinished right now Ill update on sunday when I clean them and hopefully remove all of the swirls.

[Ganesa]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

awesome car + rims & awesome pics... thats one hellaflush (hell of a flush)

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

awesome car + rims & awesome pics... thats one hellaflush (hell of a flush)

thanks! the pictures are of the previous owners car, however, we both have the exact same car and wheels

[nothelle]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Damn.... 10" up front and 12" rear? How do you manage to get it in without negative chamber? I was just about commenting on how to use a D/A onto those rims, but boy that lips are wiiiideeeee.....

How bout using NXT All Metal Polish? I've seen some great results with that in hand mode

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Damn.... 10" up front and 12" rear? How do you manage to get it in without negative chamber? I was just about commenting on how to use a D/A onto those rims, but boy that lips are wiiiideeeee.....

How bout using NXT All Metal Polish? I've seen some great results with that in hand mode

Rolling and pulling the fenders was the only way to run natural camber and not rub. It looks insane with natural camber too, 100% of the wheel is planted on the ground. I'm going to have a photo shoot hopefully before June, so ill have to post up a bunch of photos. I'm going to Advance Auto Parts tomorrow to get more gold class soap so ill be sure to pick up NXT All Metal Polish while i'm there.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Rolling and pulling the fenders was the only way to run natural camber and not rub. It looks insane with natural camber too, 100% of the wheel is planted on the ground. I'm going to have a photo shoot hopefully before June, so ill have to post up a bunch of photos. I'm going to Advance Auto Parts tomorrow to get more gold class soap so ill be sure to pick up NXT All Metal Polish while i'm there.

Don't use metal polish on clear coated wheels. Metal polish is meant for metal, not clear coat. Treat your rims as you would your paint.

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Don't use metal polish on clear coated wheels. Metal polish is meant for metal, not clear coat. Treat your rims as you would your paint.

Will do. Thanks!

[nothelle]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

This was done by one of my fellow detailers in indonesia, one of local Meguiar's licensee (sorry bro, borrow your pic for a while). One of the best before after rim detailing i've seen so far...

Polished by hand+cotton cloth using NXT All Metal Polish :



But like others mentioned... it's meant for metal as the title suggested....

[wifpd4]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Rolling and pulling the fenders was the only way to run natural camber and not rub. It looks insane with natural camber too, 100% of the wheel is planted on the ground. I'm going to have a photo shoot hopefully before June, so ill have to post up a bunch of photos. I'm going to Advance Auto Parts tomorrow to get more gold class soap so ill be sure to pick up NXT All Metal Polish while i'm there.

Photo shoot before June.....thanks for the warning! I'll take some time off from MOL so I don't have to look at this car again!

(previous comment laced with sarcasm and envy)

[Kyle R]

Re: Cleaning, polishing, and waxing my new wheels!

Photo shoot before June.....thanks for the warning! I'll take some time off from MOL so I don't have to look at this car again!

(previous comment laced with sarcasm and envy)

Haha thanks man, I appreciate it. Ill also have to post up a few pictures of the wheels now because they look INCREDIBLE. I washed with gold class soap and my foam master. I used a microfiber cloth to remove the dirt. I then clayed the wheels, and let me just say, I used two clay bars for four wheels. I have never seen a surface that was so poorly maintained. I then polished with the gl110v2, m105, and yellow pad. I didn't remove too many swirls, however, the wheels are much more reflective after the polish. Topped with 2 coats of ultimate wax. If I can figure out a way to get a picture from my cell phone to the computer tonight, ill post up an after picture of the wheels. Thanks again guys!