Best way to clean style 135 wheels

[330i Lover]

I'm 34 years old and I've owned quite a few cars but our style 135's are quite the PITA to clean, especially the fronts because of the extra brake dust. Has anyone come across a cheap tool that's best for getting inside all the spokes on the style 135's? I'll attach a pic so everyone's on the same page of the exact design. In narrow sliver between the spokes are what kills my fingers when using a rag with soap & water.

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g472/garrett141us/IMG_3522_zpsdyf4a2xo.jpg (http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/garrett141us/media/IMG_3522_zpsdyf4a2xo.jpg.html)

[hcbeck2689]

I have been using one of those foam paint brushes, but it's not the best way. I am going to try to find some sort of long brush with soft bristles. Something like a giant pipe cleaner.


-Holden

[Vas]

Something like this maybe?

https://www.detailersdomain.com/collections/wheels-and-tires-1/products/wheel-woolies-bundle-3-piece-kit

[330i Lover]

Something like this maybe?

https://www.detailersdomain.com/collections/wheels-and-tires-1/products/wheel-woolies-bundle-3-piece-kit

Yes, but just the smallest one for something about 10 or 20 bucks?

[BMWCurves]

I've been just using an old toothbrush, but it's still a PITA.

[KevinC]

I was thoroughly dismayed at how quickly the 135's got dirty and the difficulty in getting them clean, back when I first bought mine in 2012. When I needed rear brakes shortly thereafter, I knew what to do - go with Akebono ceramic pads, which are virtually clean as a whistle. Yes, their stopping power is slightly less than the dirty stock pads, so a slight amount of additional pedal pressure is required - but other than that, they stop fine, and wheel cleaning issues immediately become a thing of the past. I now have them at both ends so I've been driving clean wheels for years. I can go 2-3 months between cleaning them, and they stay spotless.

Might not be a practical solution in the near term, but definitely worth a switch next time you do brakes.

[BCS_ZHP]

For the ceramic pads, they are hard and don't bite into the blank rotors as well as the OE pads. To keep the relatively same braking effect, when you swap to ceramic pads also swap to slotted/drilled rotors. The extra edges of the rotors help the harder ceramic pads bite, the braking effort will be the same with the same results. The source, our own Ray at BrakeYourself.com.

If you're a track or autocross enthusiast, the ceramic pads will fade quickly once you heat up the brakes, the harder ceramics can't dissipate the heat fast enough. For your couple of times a year at these performance driving events, swap your ceramic pads to track pads before the event and you'll be fine.

[Johnmadd]

That's my setup, low dust but a bit of noise/hum in the car...but definitely a good trade off.

[wstr75]

This brush works well for washing the wheels and getting into the narrow slots on our wheels:
http://www.chemicalguys.com/Body_Wheel_Flagged_Tip_Short_Handle_Brush_p/acc_g09.htm

[330i Lover]

Interesting, with that brush looking so wide I wouldn't think it would work well on the 135's. Do you use it personally?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[wstr75]

Yes. Does a good job for me and quickly, too. I find it also helps to slosh mass quantities of soapy water onto the wheel slots via repeated brush dunking immediately followed by brushing vigorously. The bristles are quite soft so no concerns regarding wheel abrasion, etc. It being a wide bristle intensive brush enables the transfer of a goodly amount of soapy water onto the wheel which helps in transporting the removed brake dust, dirt, etc. off the wheel. It also does a good job on our Acura RLX wheel which has numerous spokes: http://www.acura.com/RLX/2016/Photos#2016-rlx-exterior-with-advance-package-in-graphite-luster-metallic-hanger-10

[330i Lover]

Sounds like I'll be adding this to my wish list. Santa also wants my 135's clean. :)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[KevinC]

For the ceramic pads, they are hard and don't bite into the blank rotors as well as the OE pads. To keep the relatively same braking effect, when you swap to ceramic pads also swap to slotted/drilled rotors. The extra edges of the rotors help the harder ceramic pads bite, the braking effort will be the same with the same results. The source, our own Ray at BrakeYourself.com.

Perhaps for a track/HPDE/autocross car, but overkill for a street-driven car, IMHO. In my purely street application, my brakes are 100% as effective as with the dirtier, bite-ier factory pads, with the only difference being a slight amount of additional pedal pressure required, and they don't bite too well on the first stop of a cold morning, then immediately fine from there. But then we don't really have many cold mornings here in Phoenix. :)

[3ZHPGUY]

I've been using this method for years and it works out great. Will say, before I start. I'm currently running with Hawk 5.0 pads and find the braking to be fantastic and the dust is minimal.

I use simple green full strength in a spray bottle. First I wet the wheels with the hose. I then spray simple green on each spoke, the back dish area between each spoke and finally the entire wheel and tire. I spray two tires at a time. Next, I take my Griot's Garage sponge swabs, wet them in my soap bucket then cover them in simple green. Once covered I clean each spoke center, rotating the swab constantly. When finished with the spokes, I do around the lug bolts continuing with the rotation and lastly the 5 small holes between the lugs. Note; the swab gets rinsed and recoded with simple green for each wheel.

Next, I use the blue micro tool shown below to clean the dish on the back side. This fits tightly between the caliper and the wheel but not to tight to damage anything. Fingers work the best for the small area behind the spokes.

Last, I finish off the remanded of the wheel with a micro fiber or sheep skin mitt. Once complete, rinse and go.

Blue Micro Tool

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/01/43fdd12436431f4c7b58ba2fb3c17ad8.jpg

Griot's Garage sponge swabs (may be discontinued)

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/01/7a77dafd36a48ca771be61094daf0822.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/01/4c168bb416ebdc6b3d3ff6ad9a7767be.jpg


Sent from my iPhone 6S using Tapatalk

[330i Lover]

Jackpot, thanks Guy! BTW let me know when you'll be near Nashville or Bellevue. Our imolas look sexy together.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[3ZHPGUY]

I will. Maybe we can do an Imola photo shoot, when the weather gets nice.


Sent from my iPhone 6S using Tapatalk

[ELCID86]

I use this one. Just got it and used it over the weekend. Works very well as the bristles are long and limp (not wise cracks...)

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/01/af249cb18d908a3f4165930877c5df06.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hcbeck2689]

Here are a few options I found on Amazon. The water powered turbine looks like a good concept.

Sonax (417541) Wheel Rim Sponge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0024WU1UG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_ZhUxwb7B5H39A
Griot's Garage 15736 Long Reach Wheel Brush - Set of 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00469L32A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_6eUxwb39T5KJ8
Brush Hero- Wheel Brush, Premium Water-Powered Turbine for Rims, Engines, Bikes, Equipment, Furniture and More (2 Brushes) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013TK3EMS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_UfUxwbQ03GH48
Griot's Garage 15704 Micro Fiber Wheel Wand, (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YMRIC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_5gUxwbYNGPPDS


-Holden

[330i Lover]

Cool, i'm glad I wasn't the only one with impossible fingers to get inside those tight slivers.

[Stewbie]

I just slip a wet soapy microfibre cloth in the gap and use it like floss. Need to reach one hand thru the large gap to grab the other end of the cloth. They are easier to clean if you take the wheel off the car. Armour All Wheel Protectant also helps slow the buildup of dust (there's a thread on here somewhere on this product).

Sent from my XT1064 using Tapatalk

[johnrando]

And don't forget the Sonax wheel cleaner stuff. :)

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Johnd]

I had DS2's on my old M3 and M-technic. I use to pull each wheel once a year and clean the front and back. For the spokes I would run a towel through each one to scrub out the tops and bottoms of the spokes. After I would apply a coat of good wax which helped minimize the brake dust sticking

[330i Lover]

I use this one. Just got it and used it over the weekend. Works very well as the bristles are long and limp (not wise cracks...)

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/01/af249cb18d908a3f4165930877c5df06.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I used this brush for the first time today and I was amazed on how well it did, especially in between the spokes. I doused them in simple green for a few minutes prior and with soap and water they cleaned up exceptionally well. Thx for the recommendation.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/5e37e8aecd15c31b42452f4ca759cb7a.jpg

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[ELCID86]

I used this brush for the first time today and I was amazed on how well it did, especially in between the spokes. I doused them in simple green for a few minutes prior and with soap and water they cleaned up exceptionally well. Thx for the recommendation.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/5e37e8aecd15c31b42452f4ca759cb7a.jpg

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Yeah. It's not perfect but does do a pretty good job. I also have a long cone shaped one for the barrels.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[Vas]

I used this brush for the first time today and I was amazed on how well it did, especially in between the spokes. I doused them in simple green for a few minutes prior and with soap and water they cleaned up exceptionally well. Thx for the recommendation.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/5e37e8aecd15c31b42452f4ca759cb7a.jpg

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Love your car

[330i Lover]

Thanks brofessor.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[ELCID86]

Love your car

Don't we all?!


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[danewilson77]

Thanks brofessor.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Sure thing Teddy Brosevelt.

Sent from an S6 Edge

[330i Lover]

Sure thing Teddy Brosevelt.

Sent from an S6 Edge
You got it brotato chip! [emoji106]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[danewilson77]

You got it brotato chip! [emoji106]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
No! You got it brotein shake!

Sent from an S6 Edge

[ELCID86]

:rofl


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[Vas]

Lol

[johnrando]

Love it, bro-heim.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk