BMW Wheel Cleaner = WIN!!

[1013mm]

So I went ahead a bought some BMW wheel cleaner from my dealer yesterday (sucks they didn't give me a discount even though I asked nicely ) .... ANYWAY I used it this morning on both my 1 and my 3 and i must say WOW!!! It sure gets the job done! A few sprays on each wheel and a wheel brush, it cleans the wheel to the original look! I never had my wheels look this clean before, and I had to use elbow grease to wipe it all down (think of the horror when it comes to multispoke wheels ). This wheel cleaner is worth it even if you wax your wheels. The only thing i dont like is that after using it on tow cars I'm already around 1/4 gone, so I guess I'll only use it after every few months and keep up the waxing.

[Mega Man]

I bought this stuff too, but it has on the bottle:

Contains: polyaspartic acid sodium salt CAS# 181828-06-8<8%; tetrapotassium pyrophosphate CAS#....

Anyway, the main thing I'm getting at is the first ingredient. I thought we were in mutual conclusion that wheel cleaner with "acid" is a no-no.

[Lester]

Simoniz wheel cleaner is great too. I get it on sale every once in a while for $4 a bottle.

[G5Ti]

The BMW stuff is awesome. I figure using it should be okay since it is, after all, endorsed and sold by BMW. Plus, if you have problems with the wheels down the road, you should be able to plead a good case for warranty coverage if you can provide receipts for adequate quantities of their cleaner.

[pit1]

BE CAREFUL!!!!! Dilute if you insist on using it.

My dealer stopped using that in their service facility and gave me a disclaimer when I bought it. It works well, yes, but it's acidic and corrosive. Your wheels are painted...certainly more durable than your body finish, but treat them gently.

I used that stuff on my E46, had the million spoke premium wheels. Eventually the finish went to shit, pitted and yellow. It would even eat through the small "chemical" spray bottles I got from Lowes.

I stay away from that stuff like the plague. Nothing beats frequent gentle cleansing with microfiber, and constant waxing.

[AchtungF80]

I use Meguiars all wheel cleaner. Works just as easily and $5 at Walmart, sometimes less.

[Mega Man]

Originally Posted by pit1

BE CAREFUL!!!!!

I didn't look at it until I got it home. But, the word ACID did stand out to me after I had read all this stuff on this forum.

I suppose I'll go through and use this entire bottle, but when it's through, look to another source for my wheel cleanings.

[1013mm]

well I've only used it once, they rest of time it just needs a good wipe down since then I've put on two layers of wheel wax and its fine. the wheel cleaner is great if its your first time dealing with a think layer of brake dust.

[bmwzone]

Thumbs down on BMW Wheel cleaner. I don't see the point - it takes off maybe 70% but you still have to wash the wheels with soap and sponge.

[Mega Man]

Originally Posted by bmwzone

Thumbs down on BMW Wheel cleaner. I don't see the point - it takes off maybe 70% but you still have to wash the wheels with soap and sponge.

Knowing this, I probably won't do wheel cleaner anymore. I did have a wheel cleaner that I reviewed that worked really well, spray it on, spray it off, no dirt/dust at all where the solution was. However, due to the consensus of this forum and the Jedi Council, I have decided to not use it anymore as it may be too harsh for the wheel. To its credit however, it worked well enough that no scrubbing would be needed afterwords.

[1013mm]

of course youre going to have to use a brush to move it around, its not going to magically get all part of the wheel unless you spray the whole bottle all over....

[Mega Man]

That other product I tried worked that way. Never had to scrub. It was literally spray it on, let it sit. Spray it off. Wheel's clean.

That one's probably really acidic.

I'll take a look at it next time I'm at the auto store.

[RMA]

How can you tell if you have damaged your rims already? Lately I have been having a whitish residue (looks like leftover wax) on my rims after cleaned. Then I have to thoroughly go over them with a rag. Would that be a sign of damage to the clearcoat?

[RMA]

And is there a product that I can apply to the rims that will be able to cause less brake dust?

[HPFREAK]

Originally Posted by jzhang

So I went ahead a bought some BMW wheel cleaner from my dealer yesterday (sucks they didn't give me a discount even though I asked nicely ) .... ANYWAY I used it this morning on both my 1 and my 3 and i must say WOW!!! It sure gets the job done! A few sprays on each wheel and a wheel brush, it cleans the wheel to the original look! I never had my wheels look this clean before, and I had to use elbow grease to wipe it all down (think of the horror when it comes to multispoke wheels ). This wheel cleaner is worth it even if you wax your wheels. The only thing i dont like is that after using it on tow cars I'm already around 1/4 gone, so I guess I'll only use it after every few months and keep up the waxing.

since you live in LA I suggest you visit Chemical Guys in Inglewood. they have high quality stuff at great prices and if you go in there they often just give you extra stuff. I bought their best of the best cleaning kit with a foam gun and they gave me 4 extra cleanser and degreasers just for coming in plus a glaze and extra towels and microfiber detergent.

[Fireflyer239]

Two words for y'all - Purple Power. Cheap, super effective, readily available in the big ol' jug. Used it twice weekly on my E46 330xi for 4 years/80K miles and now on my 128 (on the stock wheels and now the Breyton GTS-R's), full strength with never a problem. Wheels on the 330 looked brand new when I sold that car - clear coat still perfect. If wheels are slightly warm, spray on/hose off removes literally 90% of brake dust. Wheel cleaners are an expensive joke, totally unneccesary.

[jibaholic101]

i use s100 diluted 50/50

can be bought at the harley davidson dealerships and is by far the best wheel cleaner i have ever used. it was originally meant to be used to clean chrome. it is non-acidic and makes the wheels look better than new

[Hind]

I wash my wheels with my car, then after it dries i wipe down and detail with Zaino #6. Works great, My 2 cent

[Hind]

Originally Posted by RMA

And is there a product that I can apply to the rims that will be able to cause less brake dust?

Downshifting? ha..

[supraking]

With all due respect (and coming from a guy that occasionally uses wheel cleaner), you can get your wheels 98% clean by using regular soap and water and a wheel brush. I wash my wheels with the same stuff I wash my car with and it does a great job (mind you I wash the car every 2 weeks). I'll also apply Wheel Wax occasionally, which I'm still on the fence about, but I only bought that recently.

Basically what I'm saying is if you clean them on a regular basis and with the proper tools, you can have sparkling wheels without the need to buy an expensive cleaner every month. This is more directed at the every day user, not at professional detailers or someone being paid to remove every last speck down to the micrometer...

[1013mm]

to me 7.95 is not expensive.

[singular]

Originally Posted by supraking

With all due respect (and coming from a guy that occasionally uses wheel cleaner), you can get your wheels 98% clean by using regular soap and water and a wheel brush. I wash my wheels with the same stuff I wash my car with and it does a great job (mind you I wash the car every 2 weeks). I'll also apply Wheel Wax occasionally, which I'm still on the fence about, but I only bought that recently.

Basically what I'm saying is if you clean them on a regular basis and with the proper tools, you can have sparkling wheels without the need to buy an expensive cleaner every month. This is more directed at the every day user, not at professional detailers or someone being paid to remove every last speck down to the micrometer...

+1, but recently I've switched to a microfiber towel instead of a wheel brush.