In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

[gmitch23]

Ok so this past December it snowed and salt was on the roads. I did not want the salt to ruin my car so after the weather cleared up, I took my car to the automatic car wash so I could get the under carraige cleaned. The touchless automatic was not working so I had to use the one with brushes. *sigh* Yes, I know, dumb idea but I didnt want the salt to sit on the car until winter passed. Winter is pretty much over so I cleaned the car by hand and noticed all of my wheels are completly covered in scratches. Am I sol, or can this be corrected? The scratches are very fine and can only be seen up close and in certain lighting. See below, I circled where some of the damage is visible.




Eventhough you cannot tell from the picture, those scratches are literally in every nook and cranny of the wheels. It had to be the automatic wash because how could all four wheels become damaged?

[Meticulous-Detail]

Try some chrome or all metal polish to get the scratches out. Can you feel the scratches with your finger nails? If you can they might be to deep.

[BillyJack]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

The new Malibu wheels are actually plastic-coated chrome.
Depending on the severity of the scratches I'd try Swirl-X, Scratch-X or UC, going from least to most aggressive.
Finally, stay away from those brushes! If we can somehow get by in the Great White North (actually PA) with products such as RFEW and ONR, you ought to be able to do it in OK.


Bill

[gmitch23]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Try some chrome or all metal polish to get the scratches out. Can you feel the scratches with your finger nails? If you can they might be to deep.

No, they are extremely light scratches. I cannot feel them. Not sure what kind of polish to use. The other guy mentioned my wheels aren't real chrome and try swirl x. Hoe am it supposed to get enough elbow behind it to get the entire wheel polished?

[Meticulous-Detail]

If they are plastic chrome then I would go with what Bill said; the least aggressive to the most aggressive. An all in one, like cleaner wax, might work too. You should be able to polish without a problem. Apply with small foam applicator, work it in and then remove with MF towel. If that doesn't work then go to next aggressive product.

[gmitch23]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

So don't try a foam cone that's a drill attachment?

[gmitch23]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

The new Malibu wheels are actually plastic-coated chrome.
Depending on the severity of the scratches I'd try Swirl-X, Scratch-X or UC, going from least to most aggressive.
Finally, stay away from those brushes! If we can somehow get by in the Great White North (actually PA) with products such as RFEW and ONR, you ought to be able to do it in OK.


Bill

Now I actually have the chrome clad wheels, not the plastic chrome hubcaps. Are those still plastic coated?

[SpoolMe]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

The new Malibu wheels are actually plastic-coated chrome.
Depending on the severity of the scratches I'd try Swirl-X, Scratch-X or UC, going from least to most aggressive.
Finally, stay away from those brushes! If we can somehow get by in the Great White North (actually PA) with products such as RFEW and ONR, you ought to be able to do it in OK.


Bill

I was about to say , i think those are the cheap wheels that come on the malibu, probably plastic.

[Detailing by M]

Those look like hub caps. So they are CHROME PLATED PLASTIC.
Chrome is chrome no matter what is us plated to.
Some chrome is thicker and of higher quality than others.
Your hub caps have a lower quality of Chrome so they scratch easler than others.
Polish this with a chrome polish and I recomend the Dyna Cone too, as this will do a better and faster job then your hand.

[BillyJack]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Now I actually have the chrome clad wheels, not the plastic chrome hubcaps. Are those still plastic coated?

Yes, they are actually less susceptible to corrosion and delaminating than traditional chrome plating applied to an aluminum alloy base. That's why they're labelled as "chrome clad" rather than "chrome plated". The downside is that the coating is not as hard or scratch-resistant as traditional chrome plating, hence my recommendation to try a less aggressive product than you would use on traditional chrome plating.

Bill

[gmitch23]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Those look like hub caps. So they are CHROME PLATED PLASTIC.

They are not hubcaps. The malibu chrome "hubcaps" have black plastic caps that go over the nuts. The chrome clad wheels have the polished nuts, hence the cheaper "rim." If you look at mine, I have the polished nuts. BillyJack explained it better than I can.

[gmitch23]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Thanks BillyJack. Do you recommend using a drill polisher?

[BillyJack]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Thanks BillyJack. Do you recommend using a drill polisher?

I suppose you could. It would certainly save some effort. I don't have any of the shaft-mounted foam cones or balls, but I've used 3" pads on a right-angle drill for various painted and/or clearcoated wheels with success. Go carefully and check your progress often.

Bill

[gmitch23]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Well I sport tried Swirl X and UC by hand. No luck. I guess i'm out of luck. That chrome is pretty hard.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: In a hurry, made a bad choice, now I need help.

Well I sport tried Swirl X and UC by hand. No luck. I guess i'm out of luck. That chrome is pretty hard.

Try chrome polish. I have used the cone drill attachments on wheels with good results. Just start off slow until you work the polish in then kick it up. If that doesn't work I would bring it to the dealer and complain that the wheels can't withstand 1 car wash without getting scratched up. Chrome is a PIA to take care of no matter if real, clad, plated, plastic...........etc.