An Answer to BMW Brake Dust?

mjlinane

My name is Mike
German cars, in general, and BMW, in particular, have notoriously heavy brake dusting. My buddy, Jason AKA MugelloM, 2013 BMW 335i seems particularly bad. Literally, 3 days of daily driving after a thorough cleaning and they look worse than my Sonata would after a month of similar driving (not saying I have ever allowed such a travesty :redface:). So, about 6 weeks ago, we decided to try Permanon Platinum on them. The claimed properties along with the high temp resistance seemed to point to an excellent match (exhaust tips, too).

Prep
Sonax FE Wheel Cleaner
2x IPA wipe

Applied with a Harbor Freight Mini Detail Paint Gun attached to my Porter Cable compressor. Diluted to a 10% solution and consumed about 0.25oz of Permanon (~2oz diluted).

I'll let you decide. Two weeks have passed since the last cleaning. They were worse than they appear in the video and pics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exqSIePwPY4

About 45 sec of pressure wash (1700psi Powerstroke unit). Followed it up with about a minute of agitation with Daytona brush, grout sponge, 1" round boar's hair brush and nothing but water.

Pics - before
Permanon_Before_01.JPG

Permanon_Before_02.JPG

Permanon_Before_03.JPG

Permanon_Before_04.JPG


Afters
Permanon_After_01.JPG

Permanon_After_02.JPG

Permanon_After_03.JPG

Permanon_After_04.JPG


IMHO, the answer to the title is "yes." Permanon will definitely used when I get a German car. ;)
 
Hmmmmmm

In 2010 BMW changed their pads to a "less dusting" pad. I've had a lot LESS dusting with this one than any in the past. I was thinking about hitting it with permamon just to see if it helps, but really I've had soooo much less. I've used spray and rinse and never had a problem.

But I do wonder if you have to hit it with pressure and brushes is it really helping?

One other thing about bimmer brakes, during the rain, they "pulse" to keep a dry braking surface.
 
Amazing review, Mike!!! I need to try Permanon stuff.

I can't believe how fast the brake dust is cleaned off with just the pressure washer. I wonder how it will do on a wheel with similar brake dust without the Permanon.
 
Just watched the video,,,,, It looks like it was just water pressure, no brushes etc.

Ok, I got some permanon, and now I know where ima gonna use it..

Thank you
 
Thanks Ron and Marc.

I believe Jason did order the extra heavy dusting option. Most of the 2011s I have done have dusted badly too but a 2012 5-series is behaving much better.

Before Permanon, it would be 5-6 minutes per wheel. Guessing is saving 15 minutes overall - not to mention wheel cleaner. Seems like even more.
 
Thanks Ron and Marc.

I believe Jason did order the extra heavy dusting option. Most of the 2011s I have done have dusted badly too but a 2012 5-series is behaving much better.

Before Permanon, it would be 5-6 minutes per wheel. Guessing is saving 15 minutes overall - not to mention wheel cleaner. Seems like even more.

I'm lazy, so me try
 
I didn't watch the video but you can always try low dusting pads. I been using cool carbon pads on my M3.
 
Thanks DKumarm3 and sprocketser.

Jason has talked about upgrading the brake system but, until he does, Permanon will definitely make the maintenance easier. The plan is to reapply a 5% solution after the next wash.
 
True dat....nice job.....retired from BMW corp after 22years in 2010...we xxxxxed about it for years..(and cup holders,LOL) .changed in 2010... Much better.... 2014’s should get harder MB-like clear cost too.

I get good fly off results on BMW wheels with 2 coats of UPGP too..
 
True dat....nice job.....retired from BMW corp after 22years in 2010...we xxxxxed about it for years..(and cup holders,LOL) .changed in 2010... Much better.... 2014’s should get harder MB-like clear cost too.

I get good fly off results on BMW wheels with 2 coats of UPGP too..

:lol2:
 
Great results Mike. Have you tried Carpro Hydro2 on the wheels? I am curious to see how it compares to Permanon.
 
Do you normally clean your wheels that close with your PW.

I Used to.....until I would find the occasional wheel weight missing when swapping between summer/winter and vice versa.

I not back of the PW and use a little bit more manual labor due to this...
 
Thanks Todd and Glen.

Great results Mike. Have you tried Carpro Hydro2 on the wheels? I am curious to see how it compares to Permanon.

Thanks Pat. Haven't used Hydro2 yet. That's the plan is for this weekend.

Do you normally clean your wheels that close with your PW.

I Used to.....until I would find the occasional wheel weight missing when swapping between summer/winter and vice versa.

I not back of the PW and use a little bit more manual labor due to this...

Generally not so close - rarely closer than a foot or so. Good safety tip though - especially if you have a PW stronger than mine. As a teen, watched my cousins catch a rock chip wrong and peel paint off of cars.
 
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