Zcp wheels are a PITA to clean

[ES_TRADER]

How do you all do it? I use a brush from pep boys but the head is too large to get in between the spokes and I still have to use my hand and sponge to get in between. And then there's the inner part that is impossible to reach by hand......

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by richpuer

How do you all do it? I use a brush from pep boys but the head is too large to get in between the spokes and I still have to use my hand and sponge to get in between. And then there's the inner part that is impossible to reach by hand......

I just tried Mothers wheel cleaner and had great results. Rinse the wheel first and then apply the cleaner. Also a pressure washer doesn't hurt. I would say the biggest key is to wash your wheels a minimum of once a week. That keeps the brake dust from settling in............Phil

[Joonsup]

A lot of detailing sites carry a spray on wheel cleaner where you spray and let it sit for a couple minutes before hosing off. This will get off a lot of the dirt/brake dust so that when you wash the wheels with a brush/towel, it makes cleaning a lot easier. As far as accessing the back of the wheels, you can try using something like the ACE Turbo Stick that attaches to a drill and make it easier to reach the back of the wheel as well as the spokes depending on what type of wheel you have. A lot of detailing sites also carry this product as well.

[dirtyfreebooter]

I thought the same. Then I got Sonax Full Effect wheel cleaner. I spray it on dry (like the instructions say). It turns green to purple and spray off. If brake dust is extremely heavy, I have a mother's wheel brush I just run over. After getting the right wheel cleaner, it became effortless.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by robackja

I thought the same. Then I got Sonax Full Effect wheel cleaner. I spray it on dry (like the instructions say). It turns green to purple and spray off. If brake dust is extremely heavy, I have a mother's wheel brush I just run over. After getting the right wheel cleaner, it became effortless.

i saw the pics of this in work...where do you buy this sonax? pep boys carries it? autozone?

[aznclickster]

+1 they are a PITA to clean

I use this:

http://www.autogeek.net/daytona-special.html

[dirtyfreebooter]

Originally Posted by richpuer

i saw the pics of this in work...where do you buy this sonax? pep boys carries it? autozone?

I buy from detailersdomain.com .. they are sponsors of this site, use "BMW" coupon code and get 10% off any order, they ship fast, helpful, I have only goods things to say about them. I find most products at pep boys and autozones to be lack-luster and more consumer and not prosumer or professional. Plus they have thread in the sponsors forum and usually have 20% codes and more.

I usually buy the 3 pack, because you get one free (a 4th bottle). I am still on the first bottle, but it seems like it will last 6 months or more (the 4 bottles in total), washing once a week. To be honest, I was skeptical at first, but after one use I was sold. (now I keep my car mostly clean, but not OCD, so maybe 6 months of caked on brake dust would need brushing, but I usually don't use any brushes)

[dirtyfreebooter]

Originally Posted by aznclickster

+1 they are a PITA to clean

I use this:

http://www.autogeek.net/daytona-special.html

I have a similar brush, and its really the many, many spokes on the ZCP wheels which make it a PITA to clean in the inside of the wheels. I usually just shoot some Sonax deep inside and spray it clean. Works well for weekly washes, IMHO.

[ScheerSpeed]

Keep them protected regularly and you won't need wheel cleaners! Swissvax Autobahn is the best...

[Fsarc]

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Fsarc

Holy crap I can't believe I can see how clean the inside wall of that wheel is. Just like day 1. Mine look exactly like yours right now except the inside wall is black and grimey. I never thought this was possible unless u took the wheels off.

I'm sold. Where to buy this??

[M3RMA]

Detailersdomain is who I get all my supplies from.. good pricing and great customer service.

[BeeemerMan]

Originally Posted by ///M Ryder

I just tried Mothers wheel cleaner and had great results. Rinse the wheel first and then apply the cleaner. Also a pressure washer doesn't hurt. I would say the biggest key is to wash your wheels a minimum of once a week. That keeps the brake dust from settling in............Phil

Actually, you want a cool, dry wheel -- the cleaner works better that way I've found (plus it's in the instructions).

A strong spray is recommended, but a normal hose should work with a proper nozzle.

I have experienced that a light agitation with a mitt or a wheel brush is very helpful on an extra dirty wheel; often the brake dust is loosened, but simply needs a little help breaking away from the wheel.

This is the easiest to use wheel cleaner I've found, even better than A to Z, and it's safe for coated oem wheel finishes.

[TTG]

I have been using p21s and you still have to go in and brush the brake dust away. I am going to give sonax a try....

I sure can get the wheels look the way they did on day one but it almost takes an hour w/ ZCP wheels

[creepy coupe]

I use a wash mitt, I can get behind the spokes an between the spokes and the groove that runs around the wheel.

[AutoCon]

Originally Posted by M3RMA

Detailersdomain is who I get all my supplies from.. good pricing and great customer service.

Phil actually never sleeps........so your order is sent out in minutes sometimes....no kidding.

[TW0929]

Originally Posted by Auto Concierge

Phil actually never sleeps........so your order is sent out in minutes sometimes....no kidding.

[ES_TRADER]

So with the sonax spray do u even need that blue "ez detail" brush? Cuz I couldnt find it on detailers domain so I only got te spray. I was hoping that I could spray it and wash off without using a brush.

[dirtyfreebooter]

Originally Posted by richpuer

So with the sonax spray do u even need that blue "ez detail" brush? Cuz I couldnt find it on detailers domain so I only got te spray. I was hoping that I could spray it and wash off without using a brush.

I find for almost all the but most caked on brake dust, a brush is not needed. I wash usually once a week and used a brush once on one wheel with sonax.

I don't have a pressure washer but the water pressure straight out of the hose here in fort collins is ridiculously strong, so it definitely helps eliminate the need for a brush.

[ES_TRADER]

Do wheels have to be WET before spraying on SONAX?

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by richpuer

Do wheels have to be WET before spraying on SONAX?

No, but I'd recommend making sure they're nice and cool at the very least. A nice blast of water can also help to remove and loose grime. Of course the downside is potentially watering down the dilution of the wheel cleaner. The good side of it is that usually you'll get the same coverage with less product when pre-wetting the wheels

[TTG]

Originally Posted by robackja

I don't have a pressure washer but the water pressure straight out of the hose here in fort collins is ridiculously strong, so it definitely helps eliminate the need for a brush.

I am going to disagree with no brush comment.

I just tried sonax on my pretty much on my dusty car after only being driven 200 miles or so in sunny weather after a major detail. So the wheels just had minor brake dust.

I tested sonax on one of the front wheels, waited 5 mins or so until it turned red and hosed it off with a normal garden hose which has pretty good pressure....

Even though, majority of the brake dust was gone (which it goes away anyway after an initial rinse) I still had to use a brush the make the wheels look perfect.

So the search still goes on for a non acidic wheel cleaner that is spary on and hose off..... Until then, using soap and water is no different than P21s, Sonax or anything else for my application. At least it does not save any time on cleaning time.