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Best protection for my alloy wheels |
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PhilBM
Club Member Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Posted: 29 Mar 2021 at 1:16pm |
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I've recently purchased a second hand 5 year old X5 (F15). The wheels fitted are the 20 inch 469M Style ones and have been refurbished with a diamond cut finish, as per the factory.
What I'd really like to know what is the best way/products available to protect them against brake dust, corrosion etc? As I'm under no illusion that they'll stay perfect forever but wanted to keep them as pristine as long as I can. Thanks Phil
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87 E30 325i Sport
15 F15 X5 40d M Sport 18 420i M Sport coupe |
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rpennington
Club Member Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Location: Leic Status: Offline Points: 978 |
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Hi Phil
What i have used over many years is supagard alloy wheel protector, this is in an aerosol can. It’s what i use on my bmw 403 alloys that are also factory finished, you could also apply a wax on the wheels like the meguiars metal polish. Regards rich
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1999 E46 323i se Saloon - sold
2011 E90 325d msport - sold 2014 F30 335d xdrive msport plus pack |
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PhilBM
Club Member Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Thanks for the recommendation Rich, I'll give it a try.
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87 E30 325i Sport
15 F15 X5 40d M Sport 18 420i M Sport coupe |
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Mike Fishwick
Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2742 |
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If you are willing to have diamond-cut alloys, you just have to accept that in the salt-laden UK they will soon corrode! You could always coat them in Waxoyl for the winter. If you do not have such a sense of humour, the only real answer is to have them blasted and totally powder-coated. I guess it depends on whether you have an unhealthy fetish for originality. You could always move to BMW's home country - California . . . As someone once said - if you want rubbish, and will pay for rubbish, you will get rubbish! Unfortunately too many current BMW owners continue to put up with such things.
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A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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PhilBM
Club Member Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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I'm not sure how to reply Mike.
As I said I'm under no illusion they'll stay perfect, but I like so many in the club like to keep their cars in tip top condition. I was only after some advice on what products other members had used and had good experience with. Thankfully I posted on another forum and did get some useful suggestions, I'd also like to thank Rich again, for taking his time to reply in a positive manner to this post. Maybe it's why I'm reluctant to talk about any of the of the BMWs I've owned in the last 25 years, it's just a shame that if people can't say something positive then shouldn't say anything at all. Anyway enough said, I'm off to polish my X5's alloys to the point where they do shine like diamonds And for the record do have a sense of humour!
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87 E30 325i Sport
15 F15 X5 40d M Sport 18 420i M Sport coupe |
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Mike Fishwick
Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2742 |
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Well, failing to be gushing and positive about something which is obviously unsuitable for purpose should be encouraged rather than frowned on! The uncritical acceptance of anything BMW do is one of the reasons why BMW do not take this club seriously. You can polish your wheels for ever, but you cannot change the fact that - if you use the car in the UK - the diamond cut area will deteriorate quickly. It is the same with the multi-spoked BBS wheels fitted to the 3 litre Z3, which have polished and laquered rims. It is inevitable that the laquer will become chipped, allowing salty water to spread underneath - again, not fit for purpose, but if owners are willing to accept such cosmetic rubbish . . . Diamond cut wheels have no protection at all, and are only fit for 'garage queen' type cars, not an imitation rough going car such as an X5 etc. If BMW covered such deterioration with their anti-corrosion warranty it would be different, but they try to wriggle and squirm their way out of any warranty claim. The days when BMW had any integrity are over - you may as well buy a Ford. I would never dream of buying a new-ish BMW, but at least my 1998 Z3 will outlast me!
Edited by Mike Fishwick - 01 Apr 2021 at 4:55pm |
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A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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N-Dog
Club Member Joined: 28 Aug 2019 Location: Norwich, Norfolk Status: Offline Points: 103 |
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When I first bought Bessie, my 2005 E46 convertible, the first job I had done was to have the alloys refurbished, as they were absolutely awful. I knew this before I bought the car, and they were easily the worst part of the car.
I took it here.... Alloy wheel refurbishment, respraying, welding and straightening Norwich. (swalloys.co.uk) and they carried out a full refurbishment. On collecting the car, I asked what products should I use to maintain them, as I knew there are many brands of alloy cleaners on the market. Their reply was "None". I probed them on this, and they said that these Alloy wheel cleaners were what caused the corrosion in the first place, with the chemicals that they contain, eating into the alloy. They advised washing the wheels with the same soap/wax as you clean the rest of the car with, which I now do, albeit with a separate sponge.
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**SOLD** E46 325 CI-Sport Convertible auto **SOLD**
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Mike Fishwick
Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2742 |
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Yes - must treat the wheels like any other part of the car. Having said that, I have always found that BMW's wheel cleaner is very good, andalso kind to my hands or eyes. At the other end of the scale, I found that 'Wonder Wheels' was only fit to strip plating from valve stems, though it was very good for removing 'strawing' from stainless steel motorcycle exhaust pipes! Original quality has to be considered though - the original finish on my Z3 wheels began to grow tentacles of corrosion after about ten years. Still, they were made by Chromadora in Italy, so we cannot expect any better - a BMW with FIAT wheels! The refurbished paint seems better, though not perfect. Cheaper cars seem to have a better finish on their wheels, such as the Ford Mondeo etc. My Golf TDI has always worn wheels made in the UK by Team Dynamics - as fitted to the MG ZR etc - which although in need of a good clean remain free of corrosion, even after 21 years and almost 250,000 mileswithout being kerbed - shows what a good coat of paint canl do! We have also run two Golf GTi for 180,000 miles with no wheel problems. None of these car, of course, had diamond cut wheels, and were fitted with serious wheels intended for serious useage. Please do not think I am twisted and bitter, but I am afraid it is a fact of life that if your wheels are finished (unfinished!) in a manner fit only for a 'Garage Queen' it is fruitless to complain if your style of usage does not match . . . in such a case no amount of optimistic treatment will compensate for the original deficiency.
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A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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Nifty50
Club Member Joined: 28 Jun 2011 Location: West Sussex Status: Offline Points: 71 |
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This is such a true state of affairs. This topic would probably be better served under a specific heading but as it has been said here, I shall respond here. BMW may have an underlying integrity but in the UK the dealers do not know how to spell the word let alone promote honesty and decency. Mike is totally correct in everything he says. Just looking back on some old records myself I noticed that between brand new and 33K miles the dealers fitted 48 brand new spark plugs to my V12 engine when a set of plugs should last between 30 and 90K. They were clearly not ever fitted but I was the kind of mug they were able to extract money from. Only last Sunday was I informed by someone that worked for BMW that the 12th plug was never replaced because it took 20 minutes or more to do and time was money. Unless an owner has ever done the work themselves there will be aa good number of 30 year old V12's driving around with an original plug. This is but one example and it is truly disgusting. I have even been told by service managers that they sometimes feel physically sick when they have to present bills for work done (not done!!)
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Nifty50
Club Member Joined: 28 Jun 2011 Location: West Sussex Status: Offline Points: 71 |
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Has this subject ever been properly debated? It would certainly be a great topic if posted under the right heading.
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issus
Region Chair Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 1337 |
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As if Nifty , As if
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E46 320d Sport Myst Blue 054 reg - probably the best BMW ever
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Nifty50
Club Member Joined: 28 Jun 2011 Location: West Sussex Status: Offline Points: 71 |
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Hello Issus, long time no speak! Your comment suggests I am jesting! Believe me, there are a few employees of main dealers who have a conscience, they generally do not stay very long though. This is not only a BMW thing either; it is quite shocking what goes on out there and as Mike Fishwick stated, it is the unwillingness to accept any criticism that is actually perpetuating the problem. Cheers |
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Mike Fishwick
Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2742 |
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A friend's son was taking his MINI to the dealer for a major service, which included replacement of the brake fluid. - I had previously warned him of the habit of simply sucking out the reservoir and then topping it up, so he checked the bleed nipples to see if they were wet, due to the system being bled. Sure enough, only one caliper had a rubber cap on it, and the others were filled with mud! The service manager blamed the technician . . .
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A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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Back to the Alloy wheels. I had my ALPINA specific wheels totally refurbished by Lepsons to a grade called "sparkle". I wash them after every trip and dry them. I use auto finesse mint wheel wax. I do not use the car as an every day driver and therefore salt does not enter the equation. The wax helps repel the brake dust from the large brakes which are the same as the 760i vehicle. I am sure there are many products, but washing salt or dirty or brake dust off the wheels with clean water and a small amount of shampoo will 100% extend the life and condition in my experience of owning BMWs since my first in 1993.
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Rupi
Club Member Joined: 21 Mar 2021 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Hi Phil, I tend to clean mine as frequently as possible, using a product like Meguiars Ultimate all wheel cleaner, don't let the brake dust build up. Try to Youtube ‘detailing wheels’ – there are some good practice tutorials on keeping wheels in good condition including products. Once clean, wax and seal them, it might seem OTT but it tends to work well. Rupi |
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Nifty50
Club Member Joined: 28 Jun 2011 Location: West Sussex Status: Offline Points: 71 |
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Glad you brought us back on topic Norrie.
Like you, I have been driving BMW's since the 70"s and have never known wheels to corrode like the current crop of diamond cut wheels. There is NOTHING you can do to prevent corrosion on diamond cut wheels. I don't even like them and don't get me talking about black wheels! The original wheels on my 1991 e31 are almost as new because they were finished properly. I am fastidious about maintaining my cars but even on my CLS350 shooting brake that has now only covered 16K miles, the finish on my diamond cut wheels is failing. Dare I say that Mercs are the worst I have ever come across. I cannot speak for the majority but these diamond cut wheels do not even seem to be that popular. I recently spoke with a wheel refinishing company and they said that you would not believe how many people bring their brand new diamond cut wheels in to be finished with powder coat. Isn't this precisely what Mike was saying about BMW not taking the car club seriously? We are the end users but our feedback is so unimportant to them! |
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Rupi
Club Member Joined: 21 Mar 2021 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Just remembered, Lepsons were used to refurb mine by the previous owner - althought the lip is meant to be diamond cut they look good in this finish. Agree with frequent wash and wax on wheels.
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