HRE 549 R's ... Help me keep them PERFECT!

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D&D Auto Detail said:
Sounds like you may be using the wrong amount, or trying to layer it?



It was with the foam applicator on bare surface and I'm only referring as compared to what you'd be used to applying a sealant/wax (since not many people have had much experience with the new nano coatings).
 
DetailBurger said:
Thanks.



Time to nit-pick.



1) Which do you think is less abrasive on a soft finish: the brush or a microfiber towel?



Neither oughta be too abrasive for the aluminum, the problem is from the [stuff] you're cleaning off; moving that stuff across the wheels under pressure *can* cause problems.



I second the "BHB followed by dedicated sheepskin wash mitt" approach.



As noted, the issue with BHBs (which I use) is that, *used properly*, they're sooo gentle that they don't always get things perfectly clean, at least not with just one/two tries.





2) Do you really feel that spraying the foam, and rinsing with water (even twice) will get the brake dust completely off?



I would not expect that to work. Not in a million years. OK, I've been wrong before :chuckle: but probably not this time :grinno:



I have found that I absolutely *have* to use something to wipe off the dust, even after double rinsing and foaming.



Right.



I would hate to dry the wheel with dust still on it. That's a great way to cook the stuff into the finish.



And a great way to *grind* it into the finish, causing marring.





OK..just gotta ask- Is all this worth it to you?!? Black car, ultra-high-maintenance wheels...I mean, gee.



I had my HREs refinished with mil-spec anodizing, cost a bit but my life's too short to spend forever on some car's wheels.
 
Accumulator - I agree with you. I am one to appreciate the best tlooking cars around, and certainly, the 6 series and the HREs have a great lineage as well as looks. But I would seriously go off the deep end if I had to deal with the likes of that combo. Especially teh wheels... while their looks are killer, so it seems is their maintenance...scratch a finish permanently with a paper towel wipe? Seems like the wrong material for wheels - they are, after all, subjected to significantly greater terrors than the wipe of a paper towel on a daily basis. Perhaps I don't get it..? Sorry I don't have more positive suggestions to offer.



Jeff
 
i have billet aluminum wheels that are highly polished. i have heard good things about zoop seal, but i think i would use opti coat. i'll have to try it on some polished alumium before i put it on my wheels. i don't use any coating on my wheels at this time. i do use metal wax quick shine to maintain the shine (Metalwax Products). i wash the wheels with onr usually but have used car wash soap. i think griots wheel cleaner is also safe for bare aluminum (but i would ask them first). if the wheels need a full polishing i like to use english custom polishes or mothers billet polish.
 
Simple.



Cover in Opti-coat, which will be harder/more scratch-resistant than the aluminum. Also, Opti-coat will resist stains too. For maintenance, give it a daily wipe-down with a microfiber, ONR in a spray bottle, and no pressure. That seems to be the best option by FAR to me.



Best of luck :)
 
I have a similar problem. I love my CCW LM20's but the polished lip is a PITA. I've given up on trying to get them perfect. At one time I was looking into a product called sharkhide. Anyone ever try it?
 
If my wheels fresh out of HRE are mirror finish with zero microabrasions or swirls ... and they tell me they are "bare aluminum with HIGH POLISH" ... does that mean anyone can polish them and get them back to that same mirror finish?
 
DetailBurger said:
If my wheels fresh out of HRE are mirror finish with zero microabrasions or swirls ... and they tell me they are "bare aluminum with HIGH POLISH" ... does that mean anyone can polish them and get them back to that same mirror finish?



"Anyone" who has the right equipment/experience/ability/time/inclination.



Realistically, I'd be mighty surprised if anybody were really able to keep them looking nice on a daily driver. Well, unless that were life's big priority or something.
 
I have DPE with a mirror polished lip/barrel. I found the best polish is Mothers Billet, hands down nothing comes close for bringing back the mirror shine if the aluminum is not too badly scuffed up and only has micro scratches. If they are in a little worse shape with lots of hazing or staining then I use a product called Heavy Metal Polish, it comes in 3 stages red green and blue. I only use the green and blue and it does wonders to removing all the oxidation, nice thing is that you can use it by hand and it cuts fairly quickly. For protection I have been using Blackfire Wet Diamond All Metal Sealant, seems to provide a good layer of protection that lasts for a month or so, longer then anything else I've tried included wheel wax, wheel guard, Z2, Z-CS. For a cleaner I use P21s gel with wheel wollies. Don't use the bristle style brushes they will mar the aluminum. I used to use a sheepskin rim brush but they didn't last too long, in about 2 months they would fall apart.
 
If they truly are "mirror finish", then the surface is perfectly uniform, or on the same level. If they get scratched, you can polish out that one area in order to make the scratch disappear, but then that particular area will have a slight dish to it. It would be barely perceptible, but the only way to make it absolutely perfect again would be to sand the wheel, like by lifting the car up and using sandpaper on a rubber block and then having someone else spin the wheel while you polish it, like a lathe or a potter's wheel, to achieve a truly uniform finish. Preferably, you would remove the wheel and put it on something like a spin balance machine to do this. You of course follow with the finest polish. THAT is how you get perfection. Of course, you have to take into consideration the fact that gravity tends to ever so slightly cause the bottom end of things to droop down, so you will need to hitch a ride into outer space to do this in zero G. That is how you make the most perfect bearings. At what point do you stop striving for perfection and accept a practical approach?
 
I'm going to be having "Dave" (from this site) polish my wheels before applying Opti-coat to them.



Your post scared me though - if Dave is going to be polishing them, he's going to be doing it by hand, and you're saying he will cause a bunch of little "indentations" ???? in the areas he hand polishes?



They are about 3 weeks old now and they are just starting to get barely noticeable microabrasions.



I almost want to just leave them as-is (at 95% perfect) and seal it, if he's going to cause strange "concave" things all over the wheel, from his manual hand-polishing ????
 
DetailBurger said:
I'm going to be having "Dave" (from this site) polish my wheels before applying Opti-coat to them.



Your post scared me though - if Dave is going to be polishing them, he's going to be doing it by hand, and you're saying he will cause a bunch of little "indentations" ???? in the areas he hand polishes?



They are about 3 weeks old now and they are just starting to get barely noticeable microabrasions.





I almost want to just leave them as-is (at 95% perfect) and seal it, if he's going to cause strange "concave" things all over the wheel, from his manual hand-polishing ????





You were talking about PERFECTION, which is an absolute. I was just nitpicking in a joking manner. Trust me, you won't notice any waviness once he polishes by hand. Hand polishing is more than satisfactory to achieve a concours show quality finish. I think you will be quite happy with the results. The wheels will look outstanding, I am sure.
 
Detailburger- Heh heh, gotta watch out for Autopian humor, it can be hard to tell when people here are being facetious since we're so off-the-deep-end about this stuff ;)



But seriously, not knowing who "Dave from this site" is, if you have *ANY* reservations about anybody who's doing anything to your car, I'd sure proceed with caution :nervous:



Hope it turns out well (especially long-term), the OptiCoat is a good idea.
 
Accumulator said:
...since we're so off-the-deep-end about this stuff ;)



And lovin' every minute of it! :D Seriously, got to find amusement in it a solid half of the time, otherwise, it leads to issues! Once it starts being not in good fun any more, time to re-prioritize!
 
Accumulator said:
But seriously, not knowing who "Dave from this site" is, if you have *ANY* reservations about anybody who's doing anything to your car, I'd sure proceed with caution :nervous:



Hey! That Dave is me!!!



DetailBurger said:
I'm going to be having "Dave" (from this site) polish my wheels before applying Opti-coat to them.



Your post scared me though - if Dave is going to be polishing them, he's going to be doing it by hand, and you're saying he will cause a bunch of little "indentations" ???? in the areas he hand polishes?



They are about 3 weeks old now and they are just starting to get barely noticeable microabrasions.



I almost want to just leave them as-is (at 95% perfect) and seal it, if he's going to cause strange "concave" things all over the wheel, from his manual hand-polishing ????



No way I'm going to be doing that much polishing to do that level of sculpting! Depending on how bad this 5% loss of perfection is, it may not need more than 1, maybe 2 light steps with either my drill attachment and/or by hand with the wheels off the car.
 
I'll take some pics of their current status. It's about 3 weeks of driving with them (and desperately cleaning ! while waiting for the opticoat/ cquartz application) ...



No oxidation has occurred, but there are microabrasions and I honestly believe that this can even come from swirling road dust.



I once drove through Arizona while sand was whisping across the road on a slightly windy day. After about 5 miles of this, literally the two right side rims on my car were sandblasted. Completely ruined. Nothing had touched them. So on a smaller scale, I think this accounts for most of the "fog" / abrasion streaks I see devlop on these things - over time. Hopefully the seal will take care of that.
 
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