[ej_cricket]

Need to know what wheel cleaner to use for 699m wheels. So many choices??

[pritchd]

As you will discover, there are many, many products available to clean wheels. I'm sure someone will suggest just to get them coated and be done with it.

All that aside, my personal preference is Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus and Sonax Rim Shield. That and washing the wheels when I wash the vehicle.

[7thGear]

Are you talking about chemicals or tools?

[HollyM]

+1 for Sonax. I have the same wheels. I had them ceramic coated, but still use Sonax. Amazing stuff. The brake dust is horrific coming off these pads.

Can't wait for Akebono to make a pad for this car!

[BuddhaTB]

I use Meguiar’s Ultimate All Wheel Cleaner and also wash the wheels when I wash my car.

[Louda0801]

Bilt hamber is all you need for wheel cleaner. So good and safe

[Supa Koopa]

Originally Posted by Louda0801

Bilt hamber is all you need for wheel cleaner. So good and safe

+1 Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Cleaner is great stuff. I use diluted bilberry cleaner as an in between cleaner when the wheels aren't too bad, but as soon as the dirt builds up, they look grubby or I want to give them a proper clean out comes the BH.

[X3M40i_Nev]

+1 on BH and Bilberry.

How is the M40i Craig? Any pics?

[Supa Koopa]

Didn't want to hijack someone's thread but it's good so far. Coming from an S3 it's surprising how much bigger it is as it takes way longer to clean. The engine is very smooth and more comfortable than I was expecting with the big wheels.

I wasn't going to post pictures as your cleaning and coating was much, much better than mine.

[Neo1130]

I like Griot's HD wheel cleaner (the clear stuff, not the green.) Follow that up with some Wheel Guard MAX from Chemical guys and most of the brake dust will just rinse away on future cleanings.

[nvestr]

My wheel cleaning regimen:

Note my wheels are ceramic coated but it wouldn't change my regimen...

I use Chemical Guys Diablo wheel cleaner when they are not too dirty (using a foaming spray head) - smells amazing. I use CarPro MultiX diluted at 10:1 when wheels are a little dirtier. I don't feel the need for cleaners that stray far away from pH balance as that tends to remove coatings and be harsh for no reason. A lot of wheel cleaners are acidic and can be dangerous.

For tools, I use a 1 inch or so boar's hair detailing brush to do the deeper and harder to reach nooks and crannies. Works very well as it's ultra soft and won't scratch. It also suds quite a bit.

Use a soft wheel brush to do the easy to reach spots.
https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys...-1-spons&psc=1

Use a EZ Wheel Brush to do the inside of the wheel and behind the spokes.
https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Products-F.../dp/B002LOP5IA

Followed by a slightly stiffer brush for the tire. I use CarPro MultiX to degrease the tires as well. I have all four of these brushes in a 5 gal bucket with a grit guard in the bottom. Hang the 2 spray bottles off the edge of the bucket. Works well and doesn't take as long as it sounds. Always wash wheels before washing car and dump the water after.

[X3M40i_Nev]

Looks very good to me Craig, I do like that colour, would happily have gone with that as an option. I guess I was used to the size coming from Q5, but does take awhile to clean.

<Thread hijack over>

[shemazar]

I did a ceramic coating on mine and I pretty much just pressure wash them clean. I dont use any product but soap and a microfiber towel. Honestly, after the coating pressure washing them gets me ~90% clean and I just quickly detail the rest with my cloth. Super easy.

[b.guggenmos]

Originally Posted by HollyM

+1 for Sonax. I have the same wheels. I had them ceramic coated, but still use Sonax. Amazing stuff. The brake dust is horrific coming off these pads.

Can't wait for Akebono to make a pad for this car!

I emailed Kirby Pruitt head of product development at Akebono about brakes for our cars. This is the answer I received. Great company. We use their brakes on all of the police cars in the fleet that I manage.

Brian

Hi Brian
I currently do not have pads for your application. I have not identified the front pad shape. We have the OE#, but have not purchased. The rear is identified in FMSI as a D1850. We are currently trying to change plate suppliers. With this big project the best I can see us getting to it would be next year. Sorry I could not help with all the dusting issues you are having. Thank you for looking to Akebono for your pads.

Thank You

Kirby Pruitt, Product Development Manager
Akebono Brake Corporation
310 Ring Road., Elizabethtown, KY 42701
O: 270.234.5541 | C: 270.401.7814
Kirby.pruitt@akebono-usa.com |akebonobrakes.com

[HollyM]

Brian,

My hat is off to you - good work! That is way further than what I garnered after talking with some Regional Sales Manager for NE U.S.

I'm saving this information and will inquire again early next year. Can't hurt to keep asking. I've run Akebono pads on my Z71 Suburban for the past 12 years and my previous X5 4.4i, which I sold when purchasing my X3 M40i. The pads are amazing and put forth zero dust.

Thank you again for your investigative efforts. Much appreciated!

[london_v]

Originally Posted by Louda0801

Bilt hamber is all you need for wheel cleaner. So good and safe

This. I've used BH on all my cars with the same excellent result every time

[Supa Koopa]

I didn't realise we were talking about tools as well.

So for the faces of the wheels I use a detail factory soft brush. It's very gentle and doesn't scratch

https://www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/coll...ng-brush-large

I then use a Microfibre Madness Incredibrush to clean the inners

https://www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/coll...redibrush-flat

and then a wash all over with a Microfibre Madness Incrediflair

https://www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/coll...s-incrediflair

All nice and clean with no damage at all.

[X3M40i_Nev]

Nice "tools" :-)

I use similiar, but also love my set of Wheel Woolies:

https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk/wheel-woolies.html

[Supa Koopa]

Originally Posted by X3M40i_Nev

Nice "tools" :-)

I use similiar, but also love my set of Wheel Woolies:

https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk/wheel-woolies.html

I have a set of those as well, I'd forgotten about them...!

[X3M40i_Nev]

Originally Posted by Supa Koopa

I have a set of those as well, I'd forgotten about them...!

Brilliant! I didn't want to admit I have a MF Madness wheel brush still sitting in it's cardboard tube box :-)

The EZ Detail brushes great to get to part of alloy by caliper

https://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/ez-d...Lw_wcB#180=330

[electron]

Just what I’m looking for.
I have the 696 and there are 20 spokes on each wheel to clean!
Looking for something to make it easier to clean

[SROC3]

This rocks......completely cleans all the grime off
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1