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12-25-2010, 02:03 PM | #1 |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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Industrial strength brake dust remover recommendation?
I just pulled out my winter wheels and hole f*ck. They're black and yellow from brake dust. Soap suds and a brush did nothing. They look ridiculous.
What cleaner to people recommend for this level of carnage? The spokes are bad enough, but the rim itself is thick black. I know clay works but it's so thick I need to clean the top layers off first. |
12-25-2010, 02:40 PM | #2 | ||
There and back again
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 2003 BMW 325xiT; looking for a new fun car
Location: New York
Posts: 2,939
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Quote:
Seriously, mine get cleaned when they come off, since they need to go in "Tire Totes" and then under one of those giant tire-stack condoms. Quote:
There are other cleaners that promise to be more gentle - as long as you rinse the wheel with clear water when done, the BMW cleaner seems to be fine for (at least) BMW and Team Dynamics brand wheels. Though the BMW ones need to get beaten into shape by Wheel Collision every couple years from Joisey potholes. Reply if you need the BMW part numbers. |
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12-25-2010, 03:16 PM | #3 |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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Yeah I know. I can't believe I put them away like that. I didn't use them for the last 2 winters either so its been on there almost 3 years now. gulp!
I'll try the BMW wheel cleaner. Thanks! |
12-25-2010, 03:32 PM | #4 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
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Meguiar's Wheel Brightener. But wear a mask and use the thick yellow gloves. That stuff is BAD for you.
__________________
2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo |
04-10-2011, 12:26 PM | #5 | |
Mugwump
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
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Quote:
But oh dear lord. The warning on the back about how bad this stuff is for you was AWFUL. |
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04-10-2011, 12:38 PM | #6 |
older fart than ZBB
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: On the road again
Posts: 8,900
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Mequiars does make some good stuff. My Volvo has huge plastic headlight covers, and their headlight restorer (W/ drill ball) worked very good in making them look like new.
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2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium |
04-10-2011, 01:15 PM | #7 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
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Yeah. Ammonium bifluoride. Not good for brushing your teeth. Apparently, it decomposes to a meaningful percentage of hydrofluoric acid when mixed in water.
__________________
2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo |
04-10-2011, 05:58 PM | #8 |
swinging for the fences
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 5,037
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Awesome. I need to get some of this stuff to clean Matt's old wheels.
I wonder if it's ok to use this stuff on the LTWs I use in the summer...they have some baked on brake dust that I'd love to get rid of. Nick, do you think that's too risky? |
04-10-2011, 07:22 PM | #9 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
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I think that it's not all that risky to you or the wheels as long as it's used correctly. Wash your car after you use it just in case you got any on the paint. The key is that this can *only* be used on clear coated wheels.
__________________
2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo |
12-25-2010, 08:44 PM | #10 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
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I usually do a wash just before switching to avoid this... But it's happened to me as well. I just spray the bmw cleaner gel thingie a few minutes before the hand wash I go to... Seems to come out just fine.
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