Hate Rims!!Help!

[Midgad]

Why does it take longer to clean the rims than it does to clean all other parts of car combined.?
Shoot, only takes half hour to wash and like 15 minutes for each rim!
I currently wash rims with car wash solution on rag, then get all over with a rim brush.
Sure you know after the initial process then you gotta move the car to get the areas covered by the brake calipers next.
I know not to use any chemicals on them.
Anyone have any suggestions or methods they reccommend to quicken the process?
I also beat the shit out of my knuckles and hands even with the brush.
I know from my 3 series once you let the rims go there's no comming back. Gotta keep em clean or seems they are hopelessly dirt ridden. Feel like a slave to my rims.
Thanks again for the advise.

[oldman]

I use one of these on the inside of the wheel, but from the outside together with Meguiars wash..

http://www.microfiber-products-online.com/noname1.html

Reaches all the way through to the inside of the wheel.

I use it every time I was the car (once a week) and because the handle is soft plastic, it does not damage the outer parts of the wheel scrubbing back and forth. The outside of the wheel I do with a soft sponge. My wheels look like new and it takes less than 2 minutes per wheel and certainly does no damage to my hands.

[Linoleum87]

Do you have a good sealant on your wheels? I use poorboy's world wheel sealant, and the brake dust comes off extremely easy.

Clean them up really well, put a couple of coats of sealant on them, and then you'll cut your cleaning times drastically after that.

[1013mm]

geta brush it makes it wayyyyyy easier.

[Endre]

Swissvax - Autobahn! The dirt just fall off.

[Greg@DetailedImage]

Originally Posted by Midgad

Why does it take longer to clean the rims than it does to clean all other parts of car combined.?
Shoot, only takes half hour to wash and like 15 minutes for each rim!
I currently wash rims with car wash solution on rag, then get all over with a rim brush.
Sure you know after the initial process then you gotta move the car to get the areas covered by the brake calipers next.
I know not to use any chemicals on them.
Anyone have any suggestions or methods they reccommend to quicken the process?
I also beat the shit out of my knuckles and hands even with the brush.
I know from my 3 series once you let the rims go there's no comming back. Gotta keep em clean or seems they are hopelessly dirt ridden. Feel like a slave to my rims.
Thanks again for the advise.

You are correct that some regular maintenance is going to be needed to keep them looking top notch. I have two products that may help you work a little quicker. The E-Z Detail Brush helps you get into tight areas and break up contaminants. Another product that may really hep you is a wheel sealant. After you clean the wheels apply a thin coating of sealant. A product like the Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant will bond to the wheels and provide a clear barrier between your wheels and the environment. This helps prevent brake dust and road grime from bonding to the wheel. This makes future cleanings much easier and should save you some time.

Let me know if you have any questions about these products or anything related to detailing.

Greg @ Detailed Image

[jmcgraw013]

+1 Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant - you can practically spray off the brake dust. I also wipe the wheels off with a dry MF every couple of days between washes.

[mchaskell]

AutoZone sells the Microfiber Wheel Cleaner Brush, part #AZCOCC. It runs about eight bucks and cleans great. It is the only one I found that fits between the rear caliper and rim and you can clean all the wheels in about 5 minutes.

[IndyMike]

I've been using the brush at this link for the past 6 years on all of my rims. Since I'm a sucker for double spokes I've used it on the Type 68M (E46 SP Wheel) and Type 135M (E46 ZHP wheel).

It's really cheap ($4.95) yet pretty durable (I can go 6 months with one during 2 a week washings).

5" handle extends all the way to the back of the wheel (18" rims). Since I've been using these I only draw blood on my knuckles from the rotors when I'm not paying attention. Considering I'm OCD with my rims and it usually takes me 30 minutes to do all four that still happens every other week (my scabs have scabs).

http://www.topoftheline.com/supspokslotb.html

[vanbmw]

I bought a microfibre wash mitt for my wheels and use my car wash. I find the mitt can get most of the areas to clean and my nuckles don't get killed. I have been keeping them waxed and find that makes a big difference.

[Midgad]

Thanks for all the advise!!
Will def try some of you tips.
Hopefully Ill have more time now for driving.

[chloeelvis]

all of the advices are all great. i can learn too much from these good advise.

[thez99]

Chemical Guys is the ONLY site you need for all your washing and detailing chemicals, period. They have a wheel deep cleaner, its orange. Im too lazy to link it right now but search for it. You spray it on with the wheels wet, let it sit, itll change color as its working. I use a longer bristled brush for in between the spokes and around the inside, then a shorter bristled brush for the faces and sides. Takes me bout 1 min to wash each wheel. Then I detail it a bit after all is dry.

[rsjean]

Is there an 'attach-it-to-a-drill' version of the E-Z Detail Brush?

Originally Posted by Greg@DetailedImage

You are correct that some regular maintenance is going to be needed to keep them looking top notch. I have two products that may help you work a little quicker. The E-Z Detail Brush helps you get into tight areas and break up contaminants. Another product that may really hep you is a wheel sealant. After you clean the wheels apply a thin coating of sealant. A product like the Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant will bond to the wheels and provide a clear barrier between your wheels and the environment. This helps prevent brake dust and road grime from bonding to the wheel. This makes future cleanings much easier and should save you some time.

Let me know if you have any questions about these products or anything related to detailing.

Greg @ Detailed Image

[Greg@DetailedImage]

Originally Posted by rsjean

Is there an 'attach-it-to-a-drill' version of the E-Z Detail Brush?

There are several different products that you can use with a drill. My only concern is that if you are using a drill you can be adding tons of micro-marring to the wheel. If contaminants get caught in the foam pad used with drill based products you can repeatedly grind it in to the wheel which will not look good. This is why we choose to not carry this type of product. The E-Z Detail Brush I recommended is not fool proof either but I do think it's a lot safer since you can rinse it out as you go and you don't generate nearly as much direct force on the wheel as a drill will. If you have any other questions please let me know.

[rsjean]

Thanks Greg.

With all the knooks and crannies in my wheels my hands are exhausted by the time I've done 4 wheels. Then I get lazy and don't want to wheel-wax them. But you are probably right and I just need to tough it out....

Originally Posted by Greg@DetailedImage

There are several different products that you can use with a drill. My only concern is that if you are using a drill you can be adding tons of micro-marring to the wheel. If contaminants get caught in the foam pad used with drill based products you can repeatedly grind it in to the wheel which will not look good. This is why we choose to not carry this type of product. The E-Z Detail Brush I recommended is not fool proof either but I do think it's a lot safer since you can rinse it out as you go and you don't generate nearly as much direct force on the wheel as a drill will. If you have any other questions please let me know.

[KingOfJericho]

I use P21S and let it sit for about 15 min then blast it off with a power washer (from far away). Give a quick once over with microfiber mitts from Griots and I'm on my way.

[thez99]

Dood please dont go to the trouble of getting some shit for ur drill...

Here, i am less lazy today, here is my wheel cleaning setup...

Spray the wheel after u rinse it, let it sit a minute or so..
http://www.chemicalguys.com/Sticky_W...p/cld_105c.htm

Brush the outsides and whatever u can reach as well as the calipers with this..
http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-wheel-brush.html

Get in between the spokes and the insides of the rim, just move it around and twist...
http://www.chemicalguys.com/Gerbil_S..._p/acc_b01.htm

[Greg@DetailedImage]

Originally Posted by rsjean

Thanks Greg.

With all the knooks and crannies in my wheels my hands are exhausted by the time I've done 4 wheels. Then I get lazy and don't want to wheel-wax them. But you are probably right and I just need to tough it out....

I also suggest checking out the:
DI Accessories E-Z Detail Brush


Full Size Price $21.99
Mini Size Price $14.99

It definitely helps clean the wheels quicker. Also if you want a faster way to apply durable protection I highly recommend the Optimum (OPT) Opti-Seal.You buff on this protection and it dries clear so there is no removal necessary. I use it on my wheels, glass, paint, etc. It's the fastest way to get solid protection by far.

[eleven11]

I agree with what everyone has suggested:

-sealant after a perfect clean
-don't wait too long between cleans - a gentle wipe every few days
-I like P21s Wheel Cleaner (Gel Version) - cost a bit more, but works well and is
less harmful