Wheel Cleaning HELP!!

[gr330zhp]

Whats up everyone

So as some of you know, my sister has a 2009 328i xDrive. The car has 46k miles on it and is a very very clean car. When she purchased it, 3 of the 4 wheels had a lot of corrosion on the inner rim. The car sits on 17" Style 157 wheels.

Pic of similar wheels (not our wheels or pic)

http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/livnfresh/photo-85.jpg


The corrosion is only on the inside lip, behind the spokes, along where the air valve stem is. It goes around the whole rim on 3 rims. The 4th wheel appears to have been newer and that is also starting to do the same. I don't know if contaminated water/brake dust sat there for a while when the previous owed had it or what. And I find it weird because the rest of the car is SPOTLESS! not a scratch, ding or even a spec of dirt.


I have tried wheel cleaners and scrubbing by hand, but nothing really gets rid of it, and it is rough textured. The rest of the wheels, both face and inside are perfect. Sorry I don't have a pic to show you guys, I will post one tomorrow.

You can kind of see the wheels on this pic, the inner lip is dark and corroded.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/e92-3.jpg

In this pic, the rear wheel is the wheel that is the cleanest of all
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/e92-6.jpg

I have dealt with a lot of damaged and dirty wheels, but never anything like this, especially on such a new vehicle. Anybody have any idea what I can clean this with without damaging the wheel????

[Hermes]

I would try Sonax (http://www.detailedimage.com/wax.php?id=13407&url=detailedimage.com/SONAX-M49/Wheel-Cleaner-Full-Effect-P525/500-ml-S1/) and a pressure washer first, then if you can't get that to work you need to go hardcore.

Dremel, Bondo, Wurth Silver Wheel and Clear Coat...

EDIT: The real BMW touch up paint is Reflex Silver Metallic #144, comes packaged like this
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139454&stc=1&d=1206310676

BavAuto has it for $31, listed as 51910000000. I've also seen it as 51910427864 but neither come up on RealOEM

[gr330zhp]

Thanks for the help. Can Sonax be picked up at an auto parts store??

Anybody else??

[Hermes]

Look at the sponsors/affiliates at the top of the page. You probably won't find it locally

[jreyes19]

i would try to wax the area if nothing happens at least it will create a small film to help stop the progression of the corrosion till you find something that may work, idk how bad it is but you may have to sand it down, mold and re-paint before they lose any integrity

here is what hermes i think is talking about
http://www.sonax.com/Car-Care/Products/Tyres-Rims-Rubber

[pleasecorrupt]

+1 on sonax like jp said but i'd stay away from pressure washers, might take off clear coat / finish. after sonax, if you put a little elbow grease into it, wheel should be sparkling clean anyways.

[mikeyb74]

P21s GEL wheel cleaner. You know where to pick that up.

[M0nk3y]

Seems like you need to wetsand and polish if you can't remove it already

[gr330zhp]

Okay, here are the actual wheels

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/310130_2173740743242_1238496470_32130117_155219019 1_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/308759_2173739783218_1238496470_32130116_203414730 1_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/308832_2173738263180_1238496470_32130115_10117774_ n.jpg

I should just buy her a set of 197s and be done with it :)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m264/incamera/DSCN1003.jpg

[DetailersDomain]

you may need to clay and polish those out, if that's been there for awhile you may want to consider refinishing them if the sonax, claying, polishing does not work.

video on Sonax Full Effect (this is straight pressure washer, but brushing is required for 100% clean wheels)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lkDF5FxS4&feature=related

[gr330zhp]

Thanks for the help guys! Looks like this is gonna be some work :(

[danewilson77]

Yeah....those are jacked Stathi. Hot brake dust is hell on the finish.

[Hermes]

I was just reading this, maybe it will help

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1288183

[gr330zhp]

I was just reading this, maybe it will help

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1288183

Interesting! Thanks!

[webster]

+1 on the 197s idea, those are my favorite E9x wheels. like our 135s though, they are a bitch to keep clean.

[danewilson77]

+1 on the 197s idea, those are my favorite E9x wheels. like our 135s though, they are a bitch to keep clean.

Just what she needs. Another tough to keep clean rim.

[Rustyh]

Never actually done this myself, but you'd be amazed what a simple chrome cleaner from Pep Boys or Autozone can do, or even better check your local Harley/motorcycle shop. A quality chrome cleaner can work wonders, and at half the effort of some other methods. Certainly won't cause any harm as I've used different brands of chrome cleaner on motorcycle wheels for years w/o any ill effects, and trust me, when you're paying $600 and more for a single motorcycle wheel, you don't take any chances.

No offence to the person that suggested it, but the thought of using a Dremel tool on the wheels seems pretty risky. Or, I'm just not all that skilled with a Dremel and the attachments I've worked with. :)

Rusty

[webster]

Just what she needs. Another tough to keep clean rim.
lol

they do look sexy tho