GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Detailing => Topic started by: monkeytennis on 18 January 2014, 15:26
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Just wanted to check what everyone is using to clean their wheels. I'm used to using Wonder Wheels to clean and Autoglym EGP to polish regular alloys but now I have a GTD with Nogaro wheels I'm not sure what to use. Concerned that Wonder Wheels will be far too abrasive. Any help much appreciated
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On my GTD I use AutoGlym Clean Wheels. Although I have the 19s
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chuck your wonder wheels in the bin would be your first job and then go for something acid free. should really post in the detailing section and you'll get the best response.
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I use a my standard AutoGlym bodywork shampoo with wheel woolies brushes.
I have also sealed my alloys with AutoGlym alloy sealer following up with some wheel wax from the states :laugh:
I haven't started using AutoGlym wheel cleaner yet.
Is AutoGlym wheel cleaner safe, what about Muc Off?
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Autosmart Smart Wheels. You'll need this, and a chemical spray head/generic bottle which should come up on the rhs of the pane.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/autosmart-smart-wheels.html
Used in it's normal 3:1 the dirt literally just washes off with a hose after you've sprayed it on. You can used it stronger if the dirt happens to be caked on but I wouldn't have thought it necessary on new wheels.
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G-Techniq C2V3 is on my wheels and my bodywork. Any muck or brake dust just wipes off during normal cleaning - 4.5 months after application it is still going strong. Any breach on your lacquer coat and that wonder wheels will permanently stain your wheels in much the same way as white-worm can.
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For regular weekly use - Bilberry wheel cleaner
For removal of brake dust etc a few times a year - IronX
For protection - Poorboys wheel sealant
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Mine are sealed with Poorboys wheel sealant and they are cleaned with either bilberry wheel cleaner or autosmart smart wheels depending on how dirty they are.
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Mine are sealed with Poorboys wheel sealant and they are cleaned with either bilberry wheel cleaner or autosmart smart wheels depending on how dirty they are.
+1 on this.
DO NOT USE WONDER WHEELS!!!!!
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Thanks for all the advice, will give the Poorboys stuff a try, the reviews on Amazon look good for this stuff too
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New wheels shouldn't need any more than your regular shampoo providing you keep on top of them. I take mine off and clean the tar spots off the inside after winter and apply a couple of coats of SRP and that's it.
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Has anyone ever considered using or actually used AG SRP on lacquered wheels such as Nogaro's to remove minor scratches etc...?
Surely the lacquer on the wheel is just a slightly softer version of the clear coat used on the bodywork paint and if applied with minimal pressure and sparingly should remove light scratches?
Has anyone experience of this?
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Has anyone ever considered using or actually used AG SRP on lacquered wheels such as Nogaro's to remove minor scratches etc...?
Surely the lacquer on the wheel is just a slightly softer version of the clear coat used on the bodywork paint and if applied with minimal pressure and sparingly should remove light scratches?
Has anyone experience of this?
It won't do any harm although it won't really remove any scratches as SRP is mostly fillers, it'll leave a nice shine but won't last very long.
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Cheers Jimble,
Any suggestions on a mild polish that may be a bit more suitable for this application?
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I'm a big fan of Dodo juice Lime prime, it's easy to use by hand or machine just get a couple of decent hand polishing pads like these:
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/accessories/sonus-sfx-pro-applicators-pkg/2/prod_31.html
You might want to use a sealant after polishing as it makes life easier in the weekly wash, i use Chemical Guys Jetseal109 on mine as well as the bodywork but Poorboys wheel sealant gets a good shout on here.
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:cool:
Top man! Thx.
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With regard to wheel cleaners, unless used with a very weak dilution (10:1), even Bilberry, Smart Wheels etc... are still quite strong. Yes they are acid free, but they are quite strong Alkali which is just as damaging (pH 12-13) to polished faces on the Mk6/7's
My advice would be to perform an initial deep clean by performing the following steps:
- Clean as normal by using Bilberry/Smart Wheels etc...
- Use a tar remover (Autosmart Tardis/Auto Finesse ObliTARate are both excellent)
- Use an iron remover (Dodo Juice Ferrous Dueller is excellent, as is ValetPRO Dragons Breath)
- Clay the wheels as you would the bodywork
- Polish using Auto Finesse Rejuvenate or a similar cleanser
- Seal with Auto Finesse Mint Rims/Bouncers Looking Sweet (on offer at Forum Sponsor Waxamomo at the minute! - http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/Item/BouncerSweet)
I have tried Poorboys Sealant and didn't have a great experience, i.e. didn't see more than a month durability from it. Also, using wheel cleaners will degrade the protective waxes/sealants so once protected, just a normal shampoo dilution would do the job perfectly (in a seperate bucket of course!)
Sorry for the in depth post, just thought I'd try and help as best I can. If you need any more help, please fire away!
Jon
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The polished faces of Monza wheels are laquered the same as any other wheels so the wheel cleaner won't do any more damage to them than any other type of wheel.
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The polished faces of Monza wheels are laquered the same as any other wheels so the wheel cleaner won't do any more damage to them than any other type of wheel.
Agreed, if they weren't they be destroyed within 100 miles of driving on a salty road
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With regard to wheel cleaners, unless used with a very weak dilution (10:1), even Bilberry, Smart Wheels etc... are still quite strong. Yes they are acid free, but they are quite strong Alkali which is just as damaging (pH 12-13) to polished faces on the Mk6/7's
My advice would be to perform an initial deep clean by performing the following steps:
- Clean as normal by using Bilberry/Smart Wheels etc...
- Use a tar remover (Autosmart Tardis/Auto Finesse ObliTARate are both excellent)
- Use an iron remover (Dodo Juice Ferrous Dueller is excellent, as is ValetPRO Dragons Breath)
- Clay the wheels as you would the bodywork
- Polish using Auto Finesse Rejuvenate or a similar cleanser
- Seal with Auto Finesse Mint Rims/Bouncers Looking Sweet (on offer at Forum Sponsor Waxamomo at the minute! - http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/Item/BouncerSweet)
I have tried Poorboys Sealant and didn't have a great experience, i.e. didn't see more than a month durability from it. Also, using wheel cleaners will degrade the protective waxes/sealants so once protected, just a normal shampoo dilution would do the job perfectly (in a seperate bucket of course!)
Sorry for the in depth post, just thought I'd try and help as best I can. If you need any more help, please fire away!
Jon
Some good advice!
Have you any idea what some of these solution would so to the Monza where white worm has appeared or curbed?
I have been reluctant to put Iron X on incase it damaged the rim due to no protectant being where the damage is!
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For regular weekly use - Bilberry wheel cleaner
For removal of brake dust etc a few times a year - IronX
For protection - Poorboys wheel sealant
I agree that Bilberry and Iron X are great products - but I've not used Pooboys as a wheel sealer.
The Mk7 Gti's std 18" wheels are interesting as they've got a diamond cut face but are painted black inside and have deep ridge that goes behind the spokes. Therefore after the wheel cleaner, I would advise using a soft wheel brush and some diluted car shampoo (but more concentrated than you would use on the car bodywork); to wash out this ridge and get in behind the spokes! :)