strategy for cleaning brake dust

poiney · 12-30-2006, 07:15 PM

I did my first car wash having driven car ~ 1000 miles, and was discouraged by how much brake dust there was on the rims and around base off the car. I decided to clean the entire rims as best I could, but not sure I want to repeat this.

Question...

In the future, I'm seriously considering just cleaning the spoke portions (giving a kind of two-tone appearance against the rest of the rim that will turn black). Does anyone have an idea how much the dust that isn't cleaned will migrate to the cleaned outer section and/or side-bottom of my car? If the dust migrates from dirty section to nearby clean sections, then this strategy is probably useless. Otherwise, I like it.

BTW, is there a "break in" period for pads whereby they generate less dust over time.

andrew 330i · 12-31-2006, 08:17 AM

~ i went the dust-free brake pad route... no lookin back for me!

smokin · 12-31-2006, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew 330i

~ i went the dust-free brake pad route... no lookin back for me!

is that possible ?

NFS13 · 12-31-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poiney

I did my first car wash having driven car ~ 1000 miles, and was discouraged by how much brake dust there was on the rims and around base off the car. I decided to clean the entire rims as best I could, but not sure I want to repeat this.

Question...

In the future, I'm seriously considering just cleaning the spoke portions (giving a kind of two-tone appearance against the rest of the rim that will turn black). Does anyone have an idea how much the dust that isn't cleaned will migrate to the cleaned outer section and/or side-bottom of my car? If the dust migrates from dirty section to nearby clean sections, then this strategy is probably useless. Otherwise, I like it.

BTW, is there a "break in" period for pads whereby they generate less dust over time.

Its not only brake dust that will sit on your rims. You need to clean them if you want to prevent the wheels finish from being ruined. Try coating the wheel finish with a sync wax to help keep them protected, it helps clean them easier too.

Joop! · 12-31-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokin

is that possible ?

I think he isn't braking at all....

smokin · 12-31-2006, 09:23 AM

hehe yeh.

in an old car i used to have some protective perspex that stopped the dust going on the wheel. I dont know if these are available for these models yet or even if its a bad idea to use them because of air cooling etc, but that could be an option maybe ?

andrew 330i · 12-31-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokin

is that possible ?

~ damn near...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ighlight=rotex

espo · 12-31-2006, 10:20 AM

Look for "wheel wax". It's been discussed about 10 times before.

Chesmu · 12-31-2006, 12:51 PM

and don't use brake dust shields:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/dustshields.jpg

I hadn wash every two weeks... and my rims look pretty good. I hear wheel wax is good stuff, too.

mmm def · 12-31-2006, 01:43 PM

Use wheel wax like the others said. Tirerack.com has it as well as many other detailing places.

FirstClass · 12-31-2006, 05:46 PM

Wash the wheels weekly and you can get it off with regular car wash soap unless you drive a lot/really hard.

Chesmu · 12-31-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstClass

Wash the wheels weekly and you can get it off with regular car wash soap unless you drive a lot/really hard.

the driving hard isn't the bad part...it's the braking hard that does it.

12-30-2006, 07:15 PM	#1
poiney Captain 36 Rep 798 Posts Drives: 328i coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SJ iTrader: (0)	strategy for cleaning brake dust I did my first car wash having driven car ~ 1000 miles, and was discouraged by how much brake dust there was on the rims and around base off the car. I decided to clean the entire rims as best I could, but not sure I want to repeat this. Question... In the future, I'm seriously considering just cleaning the spoke portions (giving a kind of two-tone appearance against the rest of the rim that will turn black). Does anyone have an idea how much the dust that isn't cleaned will migrate to the cleaned outer section and/or side-bottom of my car? If the dust migrates from dirty section to nearby clean sections, then this strategy is probably useless. Otherwise, I like it. BTW, is there a "break in" period for pads whereby they generate less dust over time.
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12-31-2006, 08:17 AM	#2
andrew 330i it can never be too clean... 165 Rep 1,100 Posts Drives: 2014 F31 M Sport Wagon Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: columbus, ohio iTrader: (1)	~ i went the dust-free brake pad route... no lookin back for me! __________________ '14 328xi wagon / m sport / white / red leather kw v1 coilover kit / 19" staggered 351 M double spoke wheels / upper strut bar / sport line grille & exhaust tips / 50% tint / painted reflectors / debadged / complete clear bra
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12-31-2006, 09:23 AM	#6
smokin Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 228 Posts Drives: BMW 335 Coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London, England iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 335d coupe [0.00]	hehe yeh. in an old car i used to have some protective perspex that stopped the dust going on the wheel. I dont know if these are available for these models yet or even if its a bad idea to use them because of air cooling etc, but that could be an option maybe ?
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12-31-2006, 10:20 AM	#8
espo Captain 12 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sugar Land TX iTrader: (0)	Look for "wheel wax". It's been discussed about 10 times before. __________________ E46 325xi Oxford Green/Sand Leatherette/Myrtle Wood Auto ZCW - Retired E90 330xi Mystic Blue/Black Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/CA - Retired F22 M235i Mineral Gray/Red Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZPP/ZTP
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12-31-2006, 12:51 PM	#9
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	and don't use brake dust shields: http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/dustshields.jpg I hadn wash every two weeks... and my rims look pretty good. I hear wheel wax is good stuff, too. __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
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12-31-2006, 01:43 PM	#10
mmm def Colonel 144 Rep 2,610 Posts Drives: 21 330, 19 ND2 RF, 11 RX350 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Use wheel wax like the others said. Tirerack.com has it as well as many other detailing places.
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