How to clean BMW ZHP E46 330 Performance Package style 135M wheel

[Marcus-SanDiego]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4253216850706595672#

[danewilson77]

Haven't seen very many zhp's that color...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Mystic blue. I'm a big fan.

[danewilson77]

Yeah....color is nice....

[Hacauce]

Man, these wheels are a pain to clean but it's worth it. I am so anal about keeping them clean that I use Q-Tips to clean around the bolts.

[danewilson77]

Q tips.....das creezy mon...

[Hacauce]

It gets the job done :). It's Qtips and a compilation of 20 other different brushes ranging from scrubbers- to fine tip paint brushes... I know I am anal when it comes to keeping cars clean.

[Daddyoh]

I'm getting ready right now to clean mine so this post is great for my. I probably would not have considered the butter knife.
But these do look easier than my AR1's. Cool!

[jjcools]

That is the same color as my car. Looks nice up there!

[MrMaico]

Foam paint brushes also work great for getting between the spokes. I'll spray one with window cleaner to get the brake dust out then another one to finish the job. The knife and rag method is probably better though on seriously dusted wheels. The wider ones also work good for applying wheel wax to the whole wheel.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=zhpcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B001BF6MDM

[az3579]

Nice. I'll definitely try the butter knife method; I've always just folded a microfiber in half and tried to stick it in there hoping to reach every nook and cranny, though it doesn't always work.

[Maximus57]

The Meguiars wheel cleaner in the bright pink bottle works better than anything else I have ever used. Meguiars makes some wheel cleaner in a black bottle, but doesn't work as well. I also use a soft cotton sock to get between the spokes. Just pretend you are making a sock puppet. haha. I know what you're thinking you sick bastards!

[pyreguy]

The pink bottle is what I've been using. It does a good job and cuts my wheel cleaning time down by a ton.

[SC4ME]

Im also partial to powerwashers. Does a great job on the wheels if done weekly, too much longer and its the soap n towels routine.

These wheels are very distinctive and aesthetically pleasing, but cleaning them is a PITA.


(and I see my favorite emoticon is now avail! :roundel )

[az3579]

OK. My search for Style 71's in good shape at a decent price is failing, so I'm gonna have to suffer on cleaning the 135's for a few more months.

My huge issue is the amount of "inside spokes" there are on this wheel. There are so many tiny little slots in each of the spokes that it takes a solid 5-10 minutes a wheel for a decent cleaning. This is far too long.

I have the Detailed Image EZ Detail Brush, but it is far too large to truly comfortably fit in between the spokes. When I used this brush on the Ronals I had for the E30, the brush didn't really do anything; I still had to stick a rag in between each and every spoke to clean it, making the brush useless to me.

Are there any brushes you guys recommend to use to cut my wheel cleaning time down to *maybe* 2 minutes each wheel tops?

[kayger12]

I use a butter knife wrapped with a microfiber cloth.

Works like a charm. Quick and effective.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[M0nk3y]

The EZ Brush isn't ment to get your wheels sparkling clean.

You use P21s or other similar on the wheels, sit, then scrub and it loosens it up

[spencers]

I believe our very own KrisL did this:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4253216850706595672#

[kayger12]

Great call, Spence.

Knew I got it from somewhere, and that's exactly where.

[az3579]

I use a butter knife wrapped with a microfiber cloth.

Works like a charm. Quick and effective.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

It's that video spence posted that I originally got this idea from. The result is some scratches in between my spokes. I was piiiiiiiisssed when I found the scratches from using this method. The butter knife was very well wrapped in Microfiber; if I wrapped it any more, I wouldn't have been able to fit the knife in between the spokes anymore. I can't use this method anymore or my wheels will end up really bad eventually. :(


The EZ Brush isn't ment to get your wheels sparkling clean.

You use P21s or other similar on the wheels, sit, then scrub and it loosens it up

I can't just use a spray-on hose-off product; I don't have easy access to a hose. Currently, I ONR the wheel and then wipe it dry.

[3ZHPGUY]

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/wheels+%26+tires/wheel+tire+cleaning+tools/five+foam+swabs.do

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss351/3zhpguy/Stuff/IMG_5953.jpg

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss351/3zhpguy/Stuff/IMG_5954.jpg

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss351/3zhpguy/Stuff/IMG_5955.jpg

[az3579]

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...+foam+swabs.do

Uh oh, are you posting illegal URLs?!?!?!

"The request contains an illegal URL."

[3ZHPGUY]

Fixed

[az3579]

That thing is sweet!
Is it multi-use or do you need a new one every time? Looks pretty flimsy to last a while...
Don't really care though; I think I'm going to pick up a set in a little while.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I took it off another thread I had posted, I never read the Law!

It just means that it's a broken link. :biggrin

Bp is pulling your chain.


iPad. Tapatalk. Bi-winning.

[lilcdkey]

I use a butter knife wrapped with a microfiber cloth.

Works like a charm. Quick and effective.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

Great idea! Thanks for the tip Kayger.

[brettbimmer]

+1 for the Griots giant Q-Tip! Works like a charm on the 135's tight spokes.

[brettbimmer]

Sorry - they are usually good for a few washes, (somewhere in the 3-5 range), and they work well for the small holes in the wheels that are excellent at collecting brake dust...not that this is a problem on a Bimmer. :roundel

[Johnmadd]

I modified the butter knife method with a plastic putty knife/scraper.

[az3579]

Sorry - they are usually good for a few washes, (somewhere in the 3-5 range), and they work well for the small holes in the wheels that are excellent at collecting brake dust...not that this is a problem on a Bimmer. :roundel

Do you think there's a way to clean them? Griot's stuff is usually pretty expensive. I haven't looked up the prices on this "Q-tips" yet, but I Imagine it's going to add up quite a bit with all the washing that's going to go down during the summer.

[3ZHPGUY]

Sorry - they are usually good for a few washes, (somewhere in the 3-5 range), and they work well for the small holes in the wheels that are excellent at collecting brake dust...not that this is a problem on a Bimmer. :roundel

I treat mine very gentile and well lubed, I use Simple green on the wheels full strength. I spray 2 wheels at a time and wash the wheels with a soft brush or a washing mitt. Then I make sure the swab is wet and do the inside of all of the spokes, 5 holes and walk it around the lug studs. I found if I push it in to fast and hard when it's dry the stick breaks thru the sponge and kills it.

hmm, "well lubed and slow"

[az3579]

I treat mine very gentile and well lubed, I use Simple green on the wheels full strength. I spray 2 wheels at a time and wash the wheels with a soft brush or a washing mitt. Then I make sure the swab is wet and do the inside of all of the spokes, 5 holes and walk it around the lug studs. I found if I push it in to fast and hard when it's dry the stick breaks thru the sponge and kills it.

hmm, "well lubed and slow"

I've been seeing that Simple Green when undiluted could eventually cause your finish to wear over time. Not sure how true it is, but thought you should know.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy these then. They cost a bit for what they are, but if I can make them last, then it won't be a problem at all. ($9.99 + S/H)

Thanks for the tip$, all.

[brettbimmer]

I treat mine very gentile and well lubed, I use Simple green on the wheels full strength. I spray 2 wheels at a time and wash the wheels with a soft brush or a washing mitt. Then I make sure the swab is wet and do the inside of all of the spokes, 5 holes and walk it around the lug studs. I found if I push it in to fast and hard when it's dry the stick breaks thru the sponge and kills it.

hmm, "well lubed and slow"

Exactly - well lubed & slow is critical for making the sponge last and not having the wooden handle break through. I use Simple Green also - full strength - and have been using it on other vehicles and wheels (including older BMW wheels) for 10+ years, and I have not seen any damage to the finish on the wheels. I do rinse thoroughly, but don't find Simple Green to be a particularly corrosive cleaner. Works great for stubborn bugs too...though jury is still out as to whether it does remove a bit of wax in the process.

[3ZHPGUY]

I picked this up last year from Autozone, it works well to get to get the inside dish "the rim behind the spokes" of the wheel.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss351/3zhpguy/Stuff/WheelBrush.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Kris's video is an oldie but a goodie on our site. It's been on the site since the site was seven days old.

Thanks, Kris.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?177-How-to-clean-BMW-ZHP-E46-330-Performance-Package-style-135M-wheel

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I am merging this thread with our other thread about cleaning the wheels.

[danewilson77]

I am merging this thread with our other thread about cleaning the wheels.

Good idea Boss.

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[JohnnyGraphic]

I've tried the butter knife method and it didn't really work out that well for me. I also used the foam paint brush method and that seems to work better. But, the foam winds up falling off the wood handle fairly easily. So, I'm back to using the green brush. Nice sturdy bristles and I use a wheel cleaner that works very very well. I really hate those wheels though...

Johnny

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I've been putting a rag through the spokes and been doing a back and forth movement.