Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner

[edwinm3]

BMW wheel cleaner is the same Sonax wheel cleaner in a BMW bottle FYI

[robotk]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Just used sonax for the first time this morning and I'm a little disappointed. My car had about two weeks of brake dust/dirt built up and my wheels are silver which makes it very noticeable. Sprayed on the sonax and let it go to work...sprayed it off with water and was shocked to see a decent amount of brake dust remained. Don't get me wrong, it was def cleaner than before but reading reviews of the stuff I expected the wheels to be spotless.

Get some Wheel Woolies. Makes cleaning so much easier - It really cuts down on the time and you will end up with a pristine wheel, barrels and all.

I'm not sure I understand the point of these expensive wheel cleaners. Maybe if you have neglected wheels, they makes sense. If you clean your car at least once a month, I would think that soap, water and good brushes will have the same effect. I try to wash my car at least once every other week and have never had a problem.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by robotk

Get some Wheel Woolies. Makes cleaning so much easier - It really cuts down on the time and you will end up with a pristine wheel, barrels and all.

I'm not sure I understand the point of these expensive wheel cleaners. Maybe if you have neglected wheels, they makes sense. If you clean your car at least once a month, I would think that soap, water and good brushes will have the same effect. I try to wash my car at least once every other week and have never had a problem.

Yea I used the Daytona wheel brush which is great for the barrels and in between the spokes but still leaves the face pretty dirty. I just dont think the Sonax cut down on my cleaning time at all which I was hoping it would.

[edwinm3]

I don't use the wheel cleaner often. Every couple of months or so. What I do use is soap and water, a sponge and a Daytona brush.

[dmk08]

I honestly don't get the rave reviews of Sonax either. I purchased the buy 2 get one free from detailers domain and I'm pretty disappointed. It doesn't do anything normal shampoo and water can do in the same time or quicker. I just use my wheel woolies. I have not used it again since the first time I tried it a month or so ago.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by dmk08

I honestly don't get the rave reviews of Sonax either. I purchased the buy 2 get one free from detailers domain and I'm pretty disappointed. It doesn't do anything normal shampoo and water can do in the same time or quicker. I just use my wheel woolies. I have not used it again since the first time I tried it a month or so ago.

This is actually my experience as well. I bought a gallon back in the day and have used it maybe two or three times. This is because sonax isn't meant to be a maintenance wash for your wheels. It's really for the wheels that have been neglected for long periods of time. If your wheels are sealed then there is no need for sonax and soap and water with some elbow grease will yield beautiful clean rims. Even if your rims aren't sealed the same process will still yield clean rims as long you give them a good wash consistently rather than let them sit for a year. Trust me I've done this and I'm sure the protection on my rims is near gone at this point and I actually let a good amount of dirt build up on the rims before I tackle them and soap and water still gets it done. If there are some stubborn pieces I just hit it with af citrus power and that'll do the trick

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by dmk08

I honestly don't get the rave reviews of Sonax either. I purchased the buy 2 get one free from detailers domain and I'm pretty disappointed. It doesn't do anything normal shampoo and water can do in the same time or quicker. I just use my wheel woolies. I have not used it again since the first time I tried it a month or so ago.

Are you using this stuff weekly? I use it maybe monthly, just for iron buildup, which I find it pretty impressive.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Are you using this stuff weekly? I use it maybe monthly, just for iron buildup, which I find it pretty impressive.

Nope only used it once. I wash my car every week so maybe I just don't ever get enough build up to need it. I wash it even if I dont drive it :X

[sensi09]

I agree on wheel cleaners not making things much easier. Made a thread on autogeek about that awhile ago http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...l-cleaner.html

With that said, probably going to pick up some sonax before I use that armor all wheel protectant to make sure hard to reach places are clean.

[dmk08]

Resurrecting this thread...

I used Wolfs Decon Gel at the recommendation of my detailer and man its great. Cheaper than Sonax, works better, and you can use it on multiple surfaces.

[leo95se]

i buy it by the case. its the only product ive ever seen that always works. follow with a wheel brush dipped in soapy water, i never hand wash my rims any more.

[sterile stork]

I picked up a set of wheels that appear to have been tended to with the Sonax/BMW cleaner. It is a bit of an etchant and when comparing the finish of these newer 220 wheels, to my 5 year old 220s that haven't seen Sonax, the older wheels win outright. While still great looking, the surface of the barrels is no where near as smooth, or deep looking. Don't shortcut the extra 45 minutes to clean the wheels with a brush and stool

[Skippy989]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

BMW wheel cleaner is the same Sonax wheel cleaner in a BMW bottle FYI

Unfortunately, that's not true. They do have the exact same bottle but the contents is different. Take it from someone who bought two bottles of the BMW wheel cleaner thinking it was the same. The BMW cleaner is about 50% as effective as Sonax. It has a different color and does not have a chemical reaction with brake dust - turning from green to purple as Sonax does.

[positiveions]

Sonax smells like a chemical version of a Grapefruit. I like using it. I don't get to drive my car a lot; therefore, I wash it once a month, and I clean the wheels then.

[lsmkr01]

I like the stuff so much I just picked up the 5L refill jug

[W///]

The Sonax helps a lot if you have a pressure washer. I only wash my car once a month (yea yea I know), so the build up is pretty bad. Too busy at work at the moment.

But I will say there are cheaper products out there that do the same thing. I use Eagle One wheel clearner now. Like $5 a bottle, leave it on for about 2 mins, pressure wash wheels. Then go back with soap using Daytona brush, sponges ect...

P.S. Sonax would be useless if you didn't have a pressure washer IMO. I don't think it would significantly cut down your time.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by Skippy989

Unfortunately, that's not true. They do have the exact same bottle but the contents is different. Take it from someone who bought two bottles of the BMW wheel cleaner thinking it was the same. The BMW cleaner is about 50% as effective as Sonax. It has a different color and does not have a chemical reaction with brake dust - turning from green to purple as Sonax does.

I stand corrected, just realized that

[Raja Ventureshield]

i like it for what it does. I hate the smell. I don't also like the cost, it's expensive. A big gallon is like 100$. :-(

[rjd598]

Sonax is really an occasional use thing IMO. If you do a good enough cleaning you won't really need another sonax cleaning for awhile. It all depends on how often and how much you drive your car. I've only washed my wheels with soap and water for the past year (since sonax application) and I would say with just soap and water I can get them 99% clean. My car is garaged and driven 2-3 times a week so washes are more of a rare occurrence so the brake dust has time to sit on the wheels. All for reference

[JR M3]

I liked the sonax so much that I went out and bought a 5L.

Unfortunately, I came across the einszett colourtec wheel cleaner right after. It works so much better than sonax. It doesnt drip off the wheel like sonax does, and it foams up when agitated with a brush. It even smells better too IMO. Price wise its almost the same

[Mo@BMWofFairfax]

WolfGang Wheel cleaner. Great stuff.

[skins333]

Originally Posted by JR M3

I liked the sonax so much that I went out and bought a 5L.

Unfortunately, I came across the einszett colourtec wheel cleaner right after. It works so much better than sonax. It doesnt drip off the wheel like sonax does, and it foams up when agitated with a brush. It even smells better too IMO. Price wise its almost the same

good to know, will try this next