Special trick to cleaning ZCP wheels?

[mark896]

Anyone know a quicker way to shining up the ZCP wheels on a newer M3? I don't regret getting the Competition Package or anything but these wheels are a BITCH to clean. Sonax Wheel Cleaner? Special brush?

[Envious Eric]

you answered your own question

[saeedg48]

Originally Posted by Envious Eric

you answered your own question

[tibra1]

My racked knuckles and brusied wrists are the secret to cleaning ZCPs..

[Martin_D]

And a wheel mitt.

For the lugs and circle holes in the wheels...



-Martin D.

[Singletrack]

I use swissvax wheel brush for the parts I can't get my hands into and a lambswool (not the same one as the car) wash mitt for the rest.

Those foam tools Martin posted look pretty pimp though!

[robackja]

Did the whole sonax thing, pressure washer, etc. That blue EZ detail brush is by far the easiest and I just soap up my wheels using my foam gun with regular car soap. Works like a charm, no harsh wheel chemicals to breathe in, and the cheapest solution by far.

[Martin_D]

I am detailing an E90 today. I will document how I personally clean them. It may help some people, if not, go on and yell at me!!

Martin

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Martin_D

I am detailing an E90 today. I will document how I personally clean them. It may help some people, if not, go on and yell at me!!

Martin

Nice!

[mark896]

Originally Posted by Martin_D

And a wheel mitt.

For the lugs and circle holes in the wheels...



-Martin D.

Thanks, this is what I needed to know. I knew there had to be an easier way..

[FrankThomas]

Originally Posted by robackja

Did the whole sonax thing, pressure washer, etc. That blue EZ detail brush is by far the easiest and I just soap up my wheels using my foam gun with regular car soap. Works like a charm, no harsh wheel chemicals to breathe in, and the cheapest solution by far.

Regular soaps will cause the rotors to rust up and then sling orange dust all over the wheels the minute you start driving. I'm not a fan of Sonax because it smells like crap but P21s wheel gel works well and prevents rust on the rotors.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by ftconstruct

Regular soaps will cause the rotors to rust up and then sling orange dust all over the wheels the minute you start driving. I'm not a fan of Sonax because it smells like crap but P21s wheel gel works well and prevents rust on the rotors.

While the PS21 gel works decently, I don't agree that it will prevent rust on the rotors. It lessens it some but definitely does not prevent it.

[Industrial]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

While the PS21 gel works decently, I don't agree that it will prevent rust on the rotors. It lessens it some but definitely does not prevent it.

Seeing as how the rotors get rusty after a hard rain (car sitting) I don't see how the shampoo affects this at all. Seems like just water will rust the rotors.

This is my biggest peeve when/following washing. My newly cleaned wheels get trashed with orange "dust" and I have to clean them again- that's why I don't even bother drying my wheels with the rest of the car since I'm jut going to clean them after the first post-wash drive anyway....

[tibra1]

No amount of brushes, foam, special soaps are going to clean the wheel as good as doing it by hand..I wear a cloth glove and get to work

And FYI..after washing wheels the rust off the rotors is always going to splatter on to the wheels so you need to wipe down again..

As most things on this car its a labor of love

[bvhbmw]

+1 for P21S Gel over Sonax - I can't stand the smell of Sonax. The ACE TurboStick sometimes comes in handy for the wheel barrels:

http://www.detailersdomain.com/Ace-T...ine_p_192.html

I use a boar's hair brush, the EZDetail brush, the Swissvax wheel brush and the Uber spoke brush: http://www.detailersdomain.com/Uber-...ush_p_120.html

Not easy, but very clean when I'm done.

[Martin_D]

The car is here, cleaning will be started shortly.

[robackja]

Originally Posted by ftconstruct

Regular soaps will cause the rotors to rust up and then sling orange dust all over the wheels the minute you start driving. I'm not a fan of Sonax because it smells like crap but P21s wheel gel works well and prevents rust on the rotors.

As others pointed out, rain will also make rust on rotors. I have used Sonax before, and after a good rinse, rust would build up on the rotors. I don't think it has anything to do with soap. I don't even think pH balanced soap has any rust accelerating chemicals in it.

I also minimize rust forming by drying my car with a electric leaf blower, including the wheels. I find it gets water out of all the cracks, and my waxes seems to last longer as what little water is left on the char, it just flies off withiut any rubbing. Plus all the water blows right out of the lug nut areas as well.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by tibra1

No amount of brushes, foam, special soaps are going to clean the wheel as good as doing it by hand..I wear a cloth glove and get to work

While I agree with you for the most part, you're not going to get the inner barrels clean without some sort of brush. Or taking the wheels off.

[tmntmn]

i used Chemical Guy Wheel cleaner (RED BUBBLE) one forgot the name of it with a swissvax wheel brush and the end result was price less

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by SamS

While I agree with you for the most part, you're not going to get the inner barrels clean without some sort of brush. Or taking the wheels off.

Thats what I have been saying... I do hence the occasion brusied knuckles/ wrist.. I have tried the brushes..still comes out better by hand with a glove/mit ..

I have always gone for spoke style wheels for just this reason..thats a major downside to mesh style

[SamS]

Originally Posted by tibra1

Thats what I have been saying... I do hence the occasion brusied knuckles/ wrist.. I have tried the brushes..still comes out better by hand with a glove/mit ..

I have always gone for spoke style wheels for just this reason..thats a major downside to mesh style

You can reach all the way to the far inside lip (towards the center of the car) with just your hands? Do you have tiny elf hands?

[askjeeves]

lazy wash = sonax + pressure washer. gets them about 80% clean.
all out wash is sonax + daytona wheel brush + wash mitt + pressure washer

just another reason i need a set of te37s