18" Wheels (detail, cleaning, etc. help needed)

[Whelan]

So this is my first car that has a set of wheels that are so unique. My last car was a simple painted wheel but this is a different beast. As you can see from the pics below its got a gloss black paint as well as a machined face. I've been diligent in keeping them as clean as I can but I need input and advisement. What products to use, best way to polish them (remove the swirls), and wax them, etc. Any and all help is welcome.

Right now I am using the Meg's Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner with a soft brush, then microfiber drying.

Also if you have any ideas on how to keep those calipers clean I would really appreciate it, came OEM like that and love the look.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: 18" Wheels (detail, cleaning, etc. help needed)

These are OEM factory wheels, right? They sure look familiar, but just double checking. Factory OEM wheel with a painted area and a machined or polished area, or even fully polished, will all have a full coating on them so your choice of All Wheel Cleaner is correct. Had this been an aftermarket wheel with painted areas and bare, machined areas, you'd have problems with the machined areas.

Now, as you probably know, German cars are notorious for shedding massive amounts of brake dust. That can mean cleaning the wheels is a paint, but cleaning the calipers can be almost more difficult since you often can't reach them fully with a brush to properly agitate them. But you can't really apply anything to them that will actually repel brake dust, although you could clean them thoroughly (probably with the wheels removed), dry them completely and then spray them with our Hot Rims Brake Dust Barrier. That should make them easier to clean in the future, it will last through several washings even when a wheel cleaner is used, and it will stand up to the heat on the calipers.

[Whelan]

Re: 18" Wheels (detail, cleaning, etc. help needed)

Yes these are OEM wheels, one of the reasons I loved the car from the start. It has everything I want so I would not have to change all this down the road.

Surprisingly the brake dust is not so bad, although I chalk that up to the fact that I have a manual instead of an automatic (DSG) so I do not brake as often when instead I just downshift and engine brake.

As for the calipers, I was thinking of using a toothbrush to get in there and scrub them, it's been 7 months since I've owned the car and they are just now starting to get little areas where the dust/gunk is starting to appear.

What are your thoughts about detailing to remove the swirls and protect the wheel with a sealant coat? I was contemplating getting the Powerball.