Cleaning only the rims

Alan B · 10-27-02, 07:10

I have a 2002 BMW 325i SP. There are times when I just want to clean the rims, and not the entire car. What's the best method to accomplish this? QD and a shop towel? Windex? Dust-Buster? I have also been using P21s on the rims when I wash the entire car. It's makes the job really easy, but I'm concerned about the long terms effects on the rims and brakes. I'm sure it also removes all the Zaino on the rims. Any ideas?

thevolvoguy · 10-27-02, 07:19

If my rims arent that dirty, maybe just a little brake dust I will use a cotton towel (no MF for this job) and some QD and wipe the dust off.

If they are dirty, with enough brake dust that you can see I always just wash them with soap and water, and usually end up washing the whole car.

Be careful about what you do to dry wash them because your rims are painted too, just like the car. Brake dust is VERY abrassive and if not removed properly it can scratch. Also, if its not removed often enough it will begin to stain the wheels finish.

Hope this helps.

forrest · 10-27-02, 07:49

Try spraying the wheel cleaner on the wheel, then slowly pouring a bucket of water on the wheel, from the top down.

I do this 2-3X a week, and it keeps the wheels clean without getting the rest of the car wet.

Dry afterwards, and you're done. It takes less than 10 minutes to do all 4.

A4 No More · 10-27-02, 08:09

Alan, I have 2002 325XI so I feel your pain. The brake dust is horrible. I wipe down my rims daily with QD and a cotton rag. It helps prevent the dust from building up too much in between washes. One of the reasons I switched to after market rims was the spokes on the OEM's were tough to really wipe down without washing.

Redcar GUY · 10-27-02, 08:17

do you have any sealant on the wheels? That will help them clean alot easier, I use Zaino and have used Klasse both help tons. Every time I try to just wash the wheels I say...hmm I need to do the wheel wells too.. then ... hmmm I mine as well do the whole car.. I can never do just the wheels lol

LowTech · 10-27-02, 08:29

The OEM pads on BMW's stop well, but shed dust like crazy.

Try Mintex Reds or Rotex Kevlars. (Some may say they chew rotors, but i have not found this to be the case...) The stop as well as OEM's and cut down dust by 95%.
_________

FWIW - I use several coats of Klasse SG. I use only polymer/acrylics not wax/carnauba. Wax does not seeem to withstand the heat. Klasse SG does and makes cleanup easy.

I use a coin car wash power-rinse...water-only. It doesn't overspray much and I use QD around any overspray.

Alan B · 10-27-02, 08:34

A4 No More... how long do you use the same cotton rag before washing it? I've heard you should never wash the towels you use on the paint with towels with brake dust on them. Is this really the case?

Forrest... what about the wheel cleaner that gets into the inside of the rim and on the brakes/calipers... does the bucket method rinse thoroughly enough to get all the cleaner off?

RedCar Guy... I had Z on the rims... but I'm sure the P21s has removed it by now. I'm thinking of re-Zainoing and not using
the cleaner.

VolvoGuy... with the BMW, after braking ONCE, I can see dust

LowTech... do the Mintex Reds stop as well as OEMs? I assume they won't void the BMW warranty, correct?

thevolvoguy · 10-27-02, 08:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan B
RedCar Guy... I had Z on the rims... but I'm sure the P21s has removed it by now. I'm thinking of re-Zainoing and not using
the cleaner.

About the Zaino thing, thats what I would do. I find by having Z on the rims the dust is soo much easier to get off, and I havent used any wheel cleaners since I applied it. Just soap and water always does the job.

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan B
VolvoGuy... with the BMW, after braking ONCE, I can see dust

heh, my 850 is like that too. It had been raining all day a few weeks ago, so I decided to wash it really quick, then just get up on the highway to dry it off, because I knew it was going to rain some more, In about 5-8 miles the wheels were dirty again! :scared

RH · 10-27-02, 09:10

Quote:

Originally posted by LowTech
The OEM pads on BMW's stop well, but shed dust like crazy.

Try Mintex Reds or Rotex Kevlars. (Some may say they chew rotors, but i have not found this to be the case...) The stop as well as OEM's and cut down dust by 95%.
_________

I have seen this claim over and over again. Does it just "seem" that they stop as good, or can you point to lab results which "prove" the statement?

I cant see why BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, etc would all use high dust pads when a 95% reduction in dust can be achieved with the same results in stopping power?!?!

Enlighten me, please.

thevolvoguy · 10-27-02, 09:19

Quote:

Originally posted by RH
I have seen this claim over and over again. Does it just "seem" that they stop as good, or can you point to lab results which "prove" the statement?

I cant see why BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, etc would all use high dust pads when a 95% reduction in dust can be achieved with the same results in stopping power?!?!

Enlighten me, please.

They feel they need to make our lives as difficult as possible.

Kind of like some of the new Fords and GMs with the single AC/Stereo unit. Geez that would be a ***** to replace.

thevolvoguy · 10-27-02, 09:23

No, really... I think that would be becasue most of the OEM parts, brake pads included are not manufactured by the car company, they are made by other people and the manufacturer gets a great discount. Then they resell them to us at a jacked up price.

So what may look like the same price to us, would be quite a different number for the car companies.

Just a guess...

LowTech · 10-27-02, 09:33

Quote:

Originally posted by RH
Can you point to lab results which "prove" the statement?

I cant see why BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, etc would all use high dust pads when a 95% reduction in dust can be achieved with the same results in stopping power?!?!

Enlighten me, please.

RH - Can't claim to have the power to "enlighten" anyone. Nor am I motivated enough to do the research or commission a lab to "prove" results.

Since free forum information from a complete stranger on the internet is worth exactly what one paid for it,

I can share the following:

I have been advised by those unbiased experts, whose opinions I trust, that the differences in stopping power (if any) are not material. The issue is in potential damage to the rotors. I have not noticed any such rotor wear damage, and if I did, I am not price-sensitive to replacing rotors.

But to these experts, reduction in dust is apparently at the expense of rotor wear. I would surmise (see my comment to Alan below) that BMW feels that, due to their 100% maintenance coverage, the would not bear the exposure of greater expense of rotor replacement, when pad replacement is cheaper for them.

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan B
I assume they won't void the BMW warranty, correct?

Alan - My BMW guys stated that during the 100% maintenance period, you must stick w/ OEM pads and sensors. Otherwise, during the ensuing general warranty period, Mintex/Rotex are OK.

BTW - Squeal can be an issue w/ these pads. Make sure you use plenty of anti-squeal compound.

I use them on my E38's - They will be available for my E65 within a few months.