2005 Blk Merc E500 -Polishing Wheels

[OctaneGuy]

This is a car that I maintain a few times a month. However due to holidays, scheduling, and rain, it definitely took a beating that normally isn't seen in other months. It's not really an "Extreme Makeover" but the segment on polishing wheels might be interesting to anyone that's had to deal with uncoated polished aluminum wheels.

At first glance it doesn't look "that" bad.


But change your viewing angle and look a little closer and you'll see that it doesn't look good either!

BEFORE

Paint has a coat of dust on it. Reflectivity is on the dull side.


Lots of waterspots.








Wheels were covered in dirt and brake dust.




Finish doesn't look very good from this angle! Waterspots can clearly be seen in the highlights.

[OctaneGuy]

More ugly stuff on the paint. Bug impacts, bird poo, waterspots, ugh, some light swirls!

I normally start with the dirtiest part of the car, the wheels. But knowing that Wheel Brightener is too harsh for this car, I began by spraying the wheels and the bird poo with APC and saturating it. Then using a body brush with flagged ends dipped in Gold Class Car Wash soap, I gently washed the wheels.

AFTER


Ok, these are the wheels I'm washing with Meguiar's Car Wash soap and a soft brush. These uncoated wheels don't like wheel cleaners, they are much to harsh.


As you can see here, the lip is a bit cloudy and dull. This is from the dealer who serviced the car after the new wheels were put on, and they washed the car and used a wheel cleaner!


I decided to try my Mothers Powerball. I've had this for several months now, but just didn't have a chance to use it. It's mounted on a standard drill.


How do I get the polish on to the wheel, then polish with the Powerball? Easy with an applicator pad. Notice the pad is clean and the Metal Polysh is blue.


Applying Metal Polysh to the lip.


Just a few passes and my clean pad is already black! And the wheels were already clean!


A few more applications of Metal Polysh followed by buffing with the Powerball, now look at the difference!


Looks beautiful doesn it?


It was easy to polish out the lip, although the Powerball had a tendency to grab the spokes.

[OctaneGuy]

My new Powerball doesn't look so new anymore!


Here's another wheel. It looks pretty bad.


Hmmm, wonder if that same process will restore this one?


I decided that I better finish off the paint before trying to polish the last wheel.


Front wheel looks pretty decent now.


Yep, even from this angle!


Looks like that deep lip polished out nicely as well.


Yep looks good from here!

Paint looks much better here


I noticed some swirls, so I polished out the paint with a PC and M80.

[OctaneGuy]

There's definitely a joy in maintaining a nice car. The first time you work on it, you need the big guns to polish it out, but over time, simpler tools like the PC is all you need to maintain it!



























All done! The Mercedes looks spectacular again, and I'll be back in a few weeks to wash it again!

[sneek]

looks awsome! would like to see a detail on the MRS spyder lol i have only ever seen one in my life

[N.E.W.car]

I don't mean to hijack (great job on the wheels, by the way), but you fit everything in your Mini???

If so, I am on the way to the dealer on Monday...I have been wanting one BAAAD...maybe even a JCW...

[OctaneGuy]

If you check the Pro Detailers forum here on MOL and look for the thread on Detailing Rigs, you will see my MINI packed and ready to go. So yes, it holds quite a bit. And when I'm done, I unload it, and have a blast.

So definitely, get a MINI. =)

[gb387]

Looks great, the car and wheels.... Wheels are never fun!

[MandarinaRacing]

Couple of questions for you Richard:

1.I know that un-coated aluminum gets etched real easily, but how can you tell when NOT to use WB?

2. Was the staining on the lip caused by using APC, or was it there before?

BTW, stellar work as always!!!


Alex

[RamAirV1]

Originally posted by gb387
Looks great, the car and wheels.... Wheels are never fun!

Yeah, and the wheels on that Benz make my 5 spokes look easy to clean!

If I was the owner of that car, I would get those wheels clear coated now that they are looking so great!

Was #21 the LSP used on that E-500!

RamAirV1

[OctaneGuy]

I really love Wheel Brightener, but I've definitely gotten more cautious on when I use it and when in doubt, don't use it! LOL. Sounds simple enough I know. For me, if the wheels aren't painted or obviously coated, then I just use my soft brush and car wash soap. Its effective enough although there was one car I worked on where the car had been driven through some fires and the heat had pretty much baked on the brake dust and that was a freakin nightmare. =)

Re Lip Staining
No that was pre exisiting. what I'm not certain is if the NXT Metal Polysh I'm doing is a temporary thing on these uncoated wheels. I do know that after a few weeks, the wheels are dirty and foggy again, which leads me to believe the only thing that will prevent this is to seal it with a clearcoat. But whether its foggy because its unstable, or whether the protective polish is wearing off, I don't know. This all began when the dealer used a wheel cleaner on her new wheels. I did a test spot with Wheel Brightener and found it also fogged them.

Re LSP
Yep, sorry forgot to mention, 2 coats of M21 applied and removed with PC.

[93ZF6]

Great write up, huge improvement.

I just bought the Powerball Mini, I need to do the polished wheels on the Vette.

I think the deal on polished wheels is this, they are polished in name only and don't stay that way without 1. lots of work or 2. a clear powder coat or 3. a painted clear coat.