BMW X3 Forum
BMW X3 Forum
Welcome to the ultimate BMW X3 community.
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-06-2012, 02:57 PM   #1
jdg857
Enlisted Member
jdg857's Avatar
9
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: 2012 X5 XDrive 35d
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Santa Fe, NM

iTrader: (0)

Clean Wheels!

Before and after photos of wheels. Lots of elbow grease and then finished with Klasse All in One.
Attached Images
   
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 03:10 PM   #2
n55x3
Captain
72
Rep
876
Posts

Drives: n55 BMWs
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: us - ohio

iTrader: (0)

Wow, they look new. Nice work!!
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 03:37 PM   #3
lbjgh
Lieutenant Colonel
lbjgh's Avatar
Canada
104
Rep
1,511
Posts

Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North of Toronto

iTrader: (0)

jdg857, that is too bloody much work... remove the wheels to clean the inside of the rims??

My car is only two months old but surprisingly the rims don't get very dirty at all from brake dust or road crap.

I'm generally driving at under 100km/h so maybe there ain't enough kinetic energy to burn up the brakes and make a mess.
__________________
2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 03:43 PM   #4
April1
Love All
April1's Avatar
United_States
170
Rep
740
Posts

Drives: X3 28i 2011
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (2)

You get more brake dust while driving on city roads.
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 06:46 PM   #5
jdg857
Enlisted Member
jdg857's Avatar
9
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: 2012 X5 XDrive 35d
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Santa Fe, NM

iTrader: (0)

lbjgh, You're right it was a lot of work, but I bought the X3 used with 6400 miles on it and the previous owner was obviously a heavy brake user. I typically don't have to replace pads until about 120k miles.

I enjoyed every minute of this cleaning process, which took about 2 hours using a floor jack. My wife thinks I'm nuts.
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 07:56 PM   #6
dandanio
The one that drives!
dandanio's Avatar
United_States
22
Rep
187
Posts

Drives: 11 x3 35i/09 Jetta TDI
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New England

iTrader: (0)

Substitute elbow grease with some Sonax Wheel Cleaner. Same results, less work, less time, more $$$.
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 08:05 PM   #7
April1
Love All
April1's Avatar
United_States
170
Rep
740
Posts

Drives: X3 28i 2011
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dandanio View Post
Substitute elbow grease with some Sonax Wheel Cleaner. Same results, less work, less time, more $$$.
+1

I too use Sonax though little expensive and get abs clean wheels.
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2012, 09:06 PM   #8
welkerbrads
Private First Class
United_States
10
Rep
120
Posts

Drives: 2011 white X3
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: cape girardeau mo

iTrader: (0)

I clean mine when I rotate my tires every 5000 miles. I use simple green. Runs right off.
Appreciate 0
      07-08-2012, 10:35 PM   #9
flash3
Captain
68
Rep
654
Posts

Drives: X3 28i
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NC

iTrader: (0)

How does one keep these wheels clean?!?!

I have so much brake dust RIGHT after I wash/dry/wax the wheels!!!
Appreciate 0
      07-08-2012, 10:55 PM   #10
pokerface
Colonel
pokerface's Avatar
Canada
428
Rep
2,522
Posts

Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (1)

it goes away after the first little while.
Appreciate 0
      07-08-2012, 11:28 PM   #11
npcars
Private First Class
npcars's Avatar
United_States
46
Rep
176
Posts

Drives: M4Cx / X3 M40i
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

OP- great looking wheels. What style are they?

To the guys that have used the Sonax wheel cleaner, is it literally spray on, hose off? Or does one have to scrub as well?
Appreciate 0
      07-08-2012, 11:48 PM   #12
faztaz
08 X3 6spd
27
Rep
112
Posts

Drives: 13 X3 35i MSport
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NJ

iTrader: (0)

Try an inexpensive citrus based degreased and a powerwasher.
Appreciate 0
      07-09-2012, 12:57 AM   #13
BMWLVX
Private
4
Rep
81
Posts

Drives: X3 2.0d
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

Inside of rim yes, but back of the spokes?
__________________
So, question about my wife's X3…
Appreciate 0
      07-09-2012, 05:58 AM   #14
khaiql
New Member
Australia
1
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: X3 2012 30D
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Melbourne, Australia

iTrader: (0)

I just use the Gerni (pressure washer) 1-2 times a week. Much easier to keep clean and gets into the innards of the wheels.
Appreciate 0
      07-09-2012, 03:41 PM   #15
degarfs
Private
9
Rep
62
Posts

Drives: X3 2011
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by khaiql View Post
I just use the Gerni (pressure washer) 1-2 times a week. Much easier to keep clean and gets into the innards of the wheels.
Does the paint from the mag wheels comes off using the pressure? the aussie mag wheels seems to have some sort of powder coated and beginning to see it wearing off. Is that norm?
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 07:15 AM   #16
n55x3
Captain
72
Rep
876
Posts

Drives: n55 BMWs
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: us - ohio

iTrader: (0)

I also pressure wash our wheels weekly and the brake dust just rinses away (only the visible dust on the outside of the wheels, unfortunately the inside of the wheels stay dirty). The wheels are painted / cleared with normal car paint from BMW. Not powder coated from what I've read. If your wheels look to be wearing out then there may be an issue with the clear coat.
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 07:25 AM   #17
khaiql
New Member
Australia
1
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: X3 2012 30D
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Melbourne, Australia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by degarfs View Post
Does the paint from the mag wheels comes off using the pressure? the aussie mag wheels seems to have some sort of powder coated and beginning to see it wearing off. Is that norm?
I haven't noticed any loss in sheen on my wheels whatsoever. I do use the long extension to get inside the wheels properly and squirt around. Maybe there is a clear coat over the rims that prevents any paint chipping off?
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 09:13 AM   #18
April1
Love All
April1's Avatar
United_States
170
Rep
740
Posts

Drives: X3 28i 2011
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by npcars View Post
OP- great looking wheels. What style are they?

To the guys that have used the Sonax wheel cleaner, is it literally spray on, hose off? Or does one have to scrub as well?
You got to spray Sonax only, wait for 10 minutes, rinse it away with water jet. Sonax solution is greenish in color but turns rusty after reacting with brake dust.
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 01:19 PM   #19
jdg857
Enlisted Member
jdg857's Avatar
9
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: 2012 X5 XDrive 35d
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Santa Fe, NM

iTrader: (0)

I take them off about once a year to not only clean them but to also inspect the brake pads and calipers, hoses, and also suspension parts. I don't really like spraying chemicals on my brake rotors or pads. I am retired so time is not an issue!
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2012, 04:03 PM   #20
npcars
Private First Class
npcars's Avatar
United_States
46
Rep
176
Posts

Drives: M4Cx / X3 M40i
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Quote:

You got to spray Sonax only, wait for 10 minutes, rinse it away with water jet. Sonax solution is greenish in color but turns rusty after reacting with brake dust.
Thanks April1. I shall purchase a bottle tonight.

And I guess I'll buy some Sonax as well.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:30 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST