Wheel Cleaning/Maint. Tips

[Leigh Anderson <leigh_anderson@MENTORG.COM>]

Hi Listers - Here's some tips I've never seen before for wheel maint.
Sorry about mention of that other german marque.

Leigh Anderson,
QUATTROS UBER ALLES!
'85 4KQ, '91 200TQ

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Preparing your Wheels for new Tires (Wheel/Tire Maintenance)

     If you've just picked up a set of used wheels or you've got new tires to be mounted on your existing wheels, take some time to
     clean and prep them before going to the tire shop. I've found the following steps to be very effective in making your wheels &
     tires look like new:

          (1) I use BMW's wheel cleaner (works well for much less than the P21 product) and a pressure washer or hose to
          remove most of the light brake dust, road film, tar, etc. Besides, if I see that the cleaner is removing the paint from
          my BMW wheels, I have direct recourse through my dealer.

          (2) I follow with Oil Flow Safety solvent to safely and effectively remove the caked on brake dust, especially from the
          back of the wheels (Dupont 3812S might be a little too strong for this application). Use a set of 4-ply wipes (2-ply
          towels will fall apart too easily) to loosen the dirt & grime. Make sure to wear a set of rubber gloves to protect your
          hands and work outdoors or in a well-ventilated workshop. You should remove the old wheel weights at this point.
          The adhesive from the weights will come off with the Oil Flow solvent (3M adhesive remover, available through most
          parts stores, will also work but is not as strong as the Oil Flow product). Hose the rims with water to remove the
          loosened brake dust and dry.

          (3) Next I use 3M Hand Glaze to thoroughly clean the paint. Examine the wheels for scratches and chips. If you need
          to do some touch up, prep the area with Dupont 3812S enamel reducer and spray with a touch up paint (Wurth
          "Laquer Spray Metallic Silver" wheel paint is a perfect match for most BMW and BBS rims). Follow with a clear
          coat (eg, Wurth "Laquer Spray Clear").

          (4) After the new tires are mounted and balanced, repeat step 3 and follow with a coat of Blitz wax (Zymol lasts
          about as long as it takes to put on) to give long lasting protection and make future cleaning a bit easier.

          (5) For regular cleaning, repeat step 1. Use Dupont 3812S to remove any mold release compound from the new
          tires and follow with a coat of Black Again and Meguiars 42 to sustain the deep black look.

     You should do a thorough (off car) cleaning and maintenance at least 2-3 times a year to protect your investment and ensure a
     "like new" appearance for many years to come. 

          3M Imperial Hand Glaze (32oz).......................................................$15.00 
          3M Adhesive Remover (32oz).........................................................$ 9.00 
          Wurth Laquer Spray Metallic Silver (400ml)...................................$12.50 
          Wurth Laquer Spray Clear (400ml)..................................................$10.50 
          BMW Wheel Cleaner (32oz).............................................................$ 8.50 
          Oil Flow Safety Solvent & Degreaser (16oz)..................................$12.00 
          Blitz Wax (10oz paste).......................................................................$17.00 
          Black Again (8oz)...............................................................................$ 8.00 
          Meguiars #42 Rubber Treatment (16oz)..........................................$ 8.50