Tips and tricks cleaning style 359 wheels (ZCP M3)

[Logodude]

I've had my M3 M3 for about 8 months now. I really enjoy washing the car but when it comes to the wheels it's frustrating. Does anyone have any tips and tricks on making it a little easier to clean these wheels. Perhaps a tool or something. I believe there the style 359M wheels but I could be wrong. Factory wheels on a 2012 M3 ZCP. Thanks

[swhat]

Sonax wheel cleaner

[rjd598]

ez detail brush or wheel woolies. honestly take them to a professional detailer and get them decontaminated properly and have a coating applied. after that all you'll need is soap and water with the recommended tools i've mentioned.

[Hierlevelz]

Originally Posted by swhat

Sonax wheel cleaner

+1 with a boars bristle brush to agitate the dirt.

[BimmerRookie]

Something I've recently started to use is a product called "Brush Hero". I Found it on amazon and it's awesome!

try it out

[Logodude]

thanks guys, I think I'm going to go with the wheel woolies. There a little pricie but they look to be promising. They should make getting the barrel clean really easy.

[fhaze3]

I have only used the large and medium wheel woolie, a large flat microfiber on a stick (for getting behind the brake calipers), a washcloth and a lug brush.

I get a full barrel clean and it makes me happy.

Never use any product just whatever car soap I have on hand.

I also don't let them get that dirty.

[BimmerRookie]

Originally Posted by Logodude

thanks guys, I think I'm going to go with the wheel woolies. There a little pricie but they look to be promising. They should make getting the barrel clean really easy.

http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Hero-Wat.../dp/B013TK3EMS

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by BimmerRookie

http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Hero-Wat.../dp/B013TK3EMS

not a bad suggestion, but i would question the quality of the bristles. wheels can get scratched and damaged just like your paint. this brush looks like it will definitely be inducing swirls at minimum, but i could be wrong. if anyone wants to try it on their hre wheels feel free.

also they don't seem to go too far into the barrel, which for me wouldn't be good enough. when you want to clean your wheels get the barrels as well. the look and final result is completely different than just cleaning the face of the wheel especially considering the finish of your wheels.

[BimmerRookie]

Originally Posted by rjd598

not a bad suggestion, but i would question the quality of the bristles. wheels can get scratched and damaged just like your paint. this brush looks like it will definitely be inducing swirls at minimum, but i could be wrong. if anyone wants to try it on their hre wheels feel free.

also they don't seem to go too far into the barrel, which for me wouldn't be good enough. when you want to clean your wheels get the barrels as well. the look and final result is completely different than just cleaning the face of the wheel especially considering the finish of your wheels.

It comes with 2 brush attachments, one soft and one slightly more coarse. I use to to get into the nooks and crannies, but also along side wheel woolies for the barrels.

It does a good enough job for me, just thought I'd throw it out there!

[Apex Everything]

I use AMMO NYC Plum and a large Wheel Woolie.

[DR-JEKL]

As suggested its best to get them decontaminated 100% then a nano sealant applied. From then on all you need is a EZ detail brush and car wash soap every few weeks and you can stay away from the expensive deironiser wheel sprays

http://www.ezdetailbrush.com/

[Logodude]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I need to look into that decontamination. That sound like it will save me a lot of time and frustration.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Logodude

Thanks for all the recommendations. I need to look into that decontamination. That sound like it will save me a lot of time and frustration.

take wheels off. use sonax full effect wheel cleaner. agitate. iron x. clay if you really want to be sure surface is clean. apply some type of wheel coating to protect your hard work. water and soap is all you need after that.

[radiofrequency]

Originally Posted by rjd598

take wheels off. use sonax full effect wheel cleaner. agitate. iron x. clay if you really want to be sure surface is clean. apply some type of wheel coating to protect your hard work. water and soap is all you need after that.

This....

If you are serious about keeping your wheels clean, and it sounds like you are then purchase these: http://www.chemicalguys.com/Wheel_Wo..._p/acc_m10.htm

Believe me, I've used every type of wheel brush out there, and my preference is the Wheel Woolies. I've also tried just about every type of wheel cleaner, the Sonax Full Effect strips all of the crud from your wheels. I typically spray this cleaner on each wheel and allow the cleaner to go to work on its own for about five minutes. After that I agitate with the Wheel Woolies, spraying more cleaner on where necessary. I also ensure that the inner hub is cleaned. This will make any wheel pop. If you are cleaning your wheels with Sonax Full Effect for the first time, and your wheels are really grimy, then you might want to do two passes, this is just my OCD step to ensure that you obtain a good result. One of my vehicles has Modesta coating on the wheels, and the other has OptiCoat, once the coatings are applied, you can simply use the same soap with which you wash the car to clean your wheels using the Wheel Woolies. Cleaning goes a LOT quicker after your wheels are coated. I do not use any type of wheel cleaner on my coated wheels, it's unnecessary and pretty expensive to keep doing so, and I've heard that wheel cleaners are likely to strip the coating from the wheel.

I still use Sonax on my SUV as the car is my workhorse and is not coated like my 991 or M3. Over the years, I have used many different detailing products, the technology has come a long way over the past 15 years, with more effective solutions that appear to create less damage to painted surfaces with prolonged use. What I've found, quite by accident, is that the products out of Germany seem to be of the best quality and do what they claim to do. I am not disrespecting other detailing products, but this has been my experience over the last 20+ years and a lot of detailing! I now use, almost exclusively the following brands: http://www.sonax.com/Products (they have been around since 1950, so they must be doing something right.....), and Einzett, who have been around since 1936: http://www.1z-usa.com - I hope that this helps!

[simpleM3]

What's a reasonable price to pay for Opicoat for wheels only?

[/Rock//It///M]

I have a love hate relationship with my zcp's.
Love the way the look clean. Hate to clean them.
I use griots heavy duty wheel cleane and wheel wollies which work well.
I think the key is to clean and or wipe them between cleanings bc it helps
Once the season is over i will have them fully cleaned and coated.

[Banana Hammock]

I've been using Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner for a while now and I love it.

I don't wash my car very often because of the whole California drought thing going on but every time I do, the wheel cleaner does a great job removing most of the built up gunk without even scrubbing.

Stuff smells disgusting though.

[Chewbaccam]

I just buy new rims. Seems easier.

Actually I just take the tough route with one of those microfiber mitts and clean them by hand. I soak the tire with soap beforehand and then just sit there miserable cleaning off each rim.

Now that I think about it, buying new rims is a much better alternative.

[radiofrequency]

Originally Posted by rjd598

ez detail brush or wheel woolies. honestly take them to a professional detailer and get them decontaminated properly and have a coating applied. after that all you'll need is soap and water with the recommended tools i've mentioned.

This...the Wheel Woolies are remarkable, they long handled Wheel Woolie allows you to get into all of the crevices and clean the entire inner barrel of the wheel. Sonax Full Effect is very useful to deep clean your wheels, but agitation is still necessary if you want a clean wheel. The coating referenced in the quote will make your life a lot easier, all my vehicles have their wheels coated, either with OptiCoat or Modesta. Modesto is more expensive, but if you are able to swing the money for Modesta, it's well worth the cost, and you'll only need soap and your Wheel Woolies to clean the wheels. The cost of wheel cleaners can add up over time, as the 359's, IMHO, need a lot of wheel cleaner to get them perfect, so there is a cost benefit over the long term to a coating. PS: I hope that my advice helps, I have used just about every wheel cleaning brush out there, but IMHO, the Wheel Woolies are the best tool on the market at present. If your wheels have tar deposits on the inner barrel, use mineral spirits to soak those off, it's cheap and works well.

[anubis]

wheel woolies. there are 3 piece kits on amazon. as far as soap, any car wash soap would be fine.

[roastbeef]

mother's wheel brush and sonax full effect wheel cleaner. best you're going to get.