First Time Clay Bar, Wax, & Rim Polish!

[pcrcool]

So I posted a few weeks ago in the detailing section about the issues Im having with my dirty rims here: It was established that they are permanent stains on my rims from who knows what. (They are powder coated btw, and supposed to be Satin/Matte black.) Never put anything on them before and they are only 4900 miles old:

.
So here's what I decided to buy: Meguiar's M205 polish to cover up the rim stains. Also, although its not related to the rims, some users convinced me to get a clay bar and Mothers wax while I was at it. Never tried either:

.
1: Washed & scrubbed rims:

.
2: Result after cleaning rims (still looks stained as hell):

.
3: After putting on Meguiar's M205 Polish (Still not great, but Much improved, so Id say it works):

3 (continuation): Side by side before & After 205 polish:

.
4 Wash & Dry Bought this leaf blower to dry the car off:

.
5 Claybar & Wax
So I found the clay bar to be a complete waste of money. I dont have before & after images, as this was a 3 hour car wash, and it got dark by the time I was done. But It was very difficult to use and hold. I watched video tutorials of mike doing it, but it was still very awkward. It was very abrasive also, kept getting stuck, wouldnt rub, gets squished up, etc.. I used the lubricant spray it came with, followed all the rules, just wasnt worth it at all.
Anywho, after that I used the mothers wax, which looked good. Then tire shine, and I was done! Took 3 Hours and 10 minutes to be exact. So now Ill use the 205 polish for the rims from here on out.

 

[davidg]

Perhaps you should clay something bigger to get a feel for it. If it's gummy/grabby and you have ample lubrication then you're removing contamination. Don't press hard and keep it wet.

Most people consider polish to be a brightener. Retailers a polish is a mild abrasive. Over use of 205 would be a bad thing. Get the as clean as possible and then keep them waxed or sealed and as clean as possible.

If you get really desperate you might be able to try iron-X to see if anything comes out.

What kind of soap are you using to clean your wheels with most of the time?


Good looking wheels.:xyxthumbs:

 

[pcrcool]

The Clay bar: I dont think it was difficult due to contaminants coming off, I think my car really didnt need it in the first place. It was pretty ridiculously new & clean looking already. Just thought Id try it incase it did make it look newer, but really didnt. But eh...oh well, it was my 1st time.

Iron-X: Someone else recommend that to me also, I was worried about it being too rough on my powder coated rims, but It seems safe. I will try that next, Because eventually this polish will wear off. Hopefully the Iron-X would work, whatever is on my rims is just SOOO baked in there.

Soap I use: I use Dish Soap & then Armor All Extreme Wheel Cleaner.

 

[AutowerxDetailing]

The Clay bar: I dont think it was difficult due to contaminants coming off, I think my car really didnt need it in the first place. It was pretty ridiculously new & clean looking already. Just thought Id try it incase it did make it look newer, but really didnt. But eh...oh well, it was my 1st time.

Iron-X: Someone else recommend that to me also, I was worried about it being too rough on my powder coated rims, but It seems safe. I will try that next, Because eventually this polish will wear off. Hopefully the Iron-X would work, whatever is on my rims is just SOOO baked in there.

Soap I use: I use Dish Soap & then Armor All Extreme Wheel Cleaner.

0. Great job on the wheels! They look much better now!!!

1. You won't 'see' the difference after using a clay bar to decontaminate paint (unless you're working on a heavily contaminated light colored surface). Mostly you will feel the difference after claying. Trust me, if you have never clayed your vehicle, and it spends ANY amount of time outside, you WILL notice the difference in smoothness after claying the paint.

2. M205 is a very fine abrasive polish. While there are some oils that carry the abrasives that *may* remain on the surface, the product isn't designed to remain on the surface as any sort of protection. You mentioned that it will eventually "wear off" which isn't exactly true. The final results you have achieved are there to stay as long as maintained correctly and with quality cleaners.

3. I'm not sure Iron X will make a difference with the remaining staining on the wheels. As others have mentioned (and as evident in the results achieved with M205) the 'staining' is likely chemical damage or water spotting that is etched INTO the wheel's finish. The M205 polished away a microscopic layer of these defects, revealing a fresh (better looking) surface. More polishing will likely restore the wheels to a new look (provided the etching doesn't go all the way through the clear coat).

 

[rjd598]

Holy crap is that really what the rim looked like after you cleaned them? I thought you accidentally put a before picture in its place

 

[pcrcool]

Holy crap is that really what the rim looked like after you cleaned them? I thought you accidentally put a before picture in its place

IKR! Its bad, you dont actually notice it from a distance, but yeah, its bad.

 

[pcrcool]

0. Great job on the wheels! They look much better now!!!

1. You won't 'see' the difference after using a clay bar to decontaminate paint (unless you're working on a heavily contaminated light colored surface). Mostly you will feel the difference after claying. Trust me, if you have never clayed your vehicle, and it spends ANY amount of time outside, you WILL notice the difference in smoothness after claying the paint.

2. M205 is a very fine abrasive polish. While there are some oils that carry the abrasives that *may* remain on the surface, the product isn't designed to remain on the surface as any sort of protection. You mentioned that it will eventually "wear off" which isn't exactly true. The final results you have achieved are there to stay as long as maintained correctly and with quality cleaners.

3. I'm not sure Iron X will make a difference with the remaining staining on the wheels. As others have mentioned (and as evident in the results achieved with M205) the 'staining' is likely chemical damage or water spotting that is etched INTO the wheel's finish. The M205 polished away a microscopic layer of these defects, revealing a fresh (better looking) surface. More polishing will likely restore the wheels to a new look (provided the etching doesn't go all the way through the clear coat).

1: Ah okay, that makes sense. Then Im sure it did help some. Good to know. Still was rather difficult to use though.



3: Ah so the polish basically already did the job of the Iron X.
-But if "More polishing will likely restore the wheels to a new look", but at the same time it could go through the clear coat and damage it, its hard to know whether its worth using the polish or not. The other user above advised against it.

 

[swanicyouth]

I think I know the problem. I saw Armor All Wheel Cleaner in one of your pics. I bet those wheels are damaged from cheap or harsh wheel cleaners. Get a quality surfactant based wheel cleaner. Leave Armor All at Walmart.

 

[pcrcool]

I think I know the problem. I saw Armor All Wheel Cleaner in one of your pics. I bet those wheels are damaged from cheap or harsh wheel cleaners. Get a quality surfactant based wheel cleaner. Leave Armor All at Walmart.

I actually only got Armor all wheel cleaner a few weeks ago as as solution to the staining. So it was long after the damage, but it didnt help anyways.

 

[swanicyouth]

What do you think caused this issue? That looks like damage from letting an acidic wheel cleaner dwell and dry on the wheel. If not, after 4900 miles you should ask the powder coater to re-do them, or you should get a refund if you bought them PC'ed.

 

[pcrcool]

What do you think caused this issue? That looks like damage from letting an acidic wheel cleaner dwell and dry on the wheel. If not, after 4900 miles you should ask the powder coater to re-do them, or you should get a refund if you bought them PC'ed.

No idea...I think its just brake dust and road grime. As far as why it stuck into my wheels, perhaps its the material/coating my rims are made out of? I guess theyre just very sensitive and easily get dirty...

 

[pcrcool]

What do you think caused this issue? That looks like damage from letting an acidic wheel cleaner dwell and dry on the wheel. If not, after 4900 miles you should ask the powder coater to re-do them, or you should get a refund if you bought them PC'ed.

Oh sorry, didnt see the rest of your post.... I didnt have them powder coated, that's how they are made, made by Tenzo: TENZO-R® TYPE-M V.1 Wheels - Black with Red Stripe Rims

They are 2 years old though, past warranty. (the low miles is cause I just dont drive the car much)

 

[The Guz]

I bet those wheels are damaged from cheap or harsh wheel cleaners.

I am going to have to agree with this. What wheel cleaners have you used in the past?

 

[chrislorl]

As far as the clay bar I recently did this for the first time too. One rule in life: You can never have too much lubricant rops:.
Did you try Mike sandwich bag trick?
If not take your hand and feel the finish, then slide you hand into a regular sandwich bag and slide it across the paint again, then let me know if you feel a difference.

 

[swanicyouth]

Oh sorry, didnt see the rest of your post.... I didnt have them powder coated, that's how they are made, made by Tenzo: TENZO-R® TYPE-M V.1 Wheels - Black with Red Stripe Rims

They are 2 years old though, past warranty. (the low miles is cause I just dont drive the car much)

Just an FYI, powder coat is pretty hard and tough. In fact, it tends to be tougher than the factory baked on paint on your car. Ever notice you don't see many swirled out wheels? What your looking at on those wheels is a classic case of someone using a harsh acidic wheel cleaner ( or possibly basic wheel cleaner) incorrectly.

Thousands of high dollar exotic wheels and even tons of non exotic wheels have had finishes ruined by these products. The thing is, the acidic products aren't "bad", people just use them incorrectly. They are for severely neglected filthy painted or chromed wheels not uncoated aluminum. Acids wheels cleaners need to be used on cool wheels, and the mixture needs to dwell no more than 15-30 seconds until it's 100% rinsed off.

I don't see how else those wheels could have become that way in 4900 miles. You personally may have not cleaned the wheels with this stuff, but I'd bet someone did. Guys use them at the attended drive through car wash all the time. I'm just posting this in the hopes of educating people to not use these products unless you know all the ins and outs and to choose your wheel cleaner wisely.

If I save 1 wheel, it's all worth it.

 

[pcrcool]

I am going to have to agree with this. What wheel cleaners have you used in the past?

None! I swear, its the weirdest mystery to me also. No one else has ever cleaned my car either, so It couldn't have been some car wash place or detailer. Up until about 2 months ago, the only thing Ive ever done to my car & rims; is soap and water.

I ran into someone about a year ago with the same rims, and he told me he had to plasti/paint his over, because they faded bad over time, so maybe this is what hes talking about.

 

[pcrcool]

Just an FYI, powder coat is pretty hard and tough. In fact, it tends to be tougher than the factory baked on paint on your car. Ever notice you don't see many swirled out wheels? What your looking at on those wheels is a classic case of someone using a harsh acidic wheel cleaner ( or possibly basic wheel cleaner) incorrectly.

Thousands of high dollar exotic wheels and even tons of non exotic wheels have had finishes ruined by these products. The thing is, the acidic products aren't "bad", people just use them incorrectly. They are for severely neglected filthy painted or chromed wheels not uncoated aluminum. Acids wheels cleaners need to be used on cool wheels, and the mixture needs to dwell no more than 15-30 seconds until it's 100% rinsed off.

I don't see how else those wheels could have become that way in 4900 miles. You personally may have not cleaned the wheels with this stuff, but I'd bet someone did. Guys use them at the attended drive through car wash all the time. I'm just posting this in the hopes of educating people to not use these products unless you know all the ins and outs and to choose your wheel cleaner wisely.

If I save 1 wheel, it's all worth it.

Yeah, I dont know man. No one else has ever cleaned my car though.
- But Good to know. If I ever get a new pair of rims, Ill be sure to only use Sonax wheel cleaner. That stuff seems to be the safest.

 

[pcrcool]

I know this thread's now a couple days old, but after taking my car out for its first drive since cleaning it w/ these new products, its shinier than ever!!! And the rims look so good after the 205 polish. I havent had people staring at the car this often since I first bought it. I guess its mainly the wax I used, but Im sure the clay bar did some help to. Thanks everyone who had made those product recommendations. 8)
If only the cleaning didnt take 4 hours, I'd do it every weekend!

 

[KillaCam]

If I were you I would go to walmart, pick up some Meguiars ultimate compound, and try a test spot. Those look better but I think the UC would make them look new again.
Also, don't forget to clean those barrels!

 

[Pinpoint_Precision]

I have seen some similar wheels having the same issues. The problem with this finish is that sometimes water along ( from rain or house water ) will leave water spots and within time, this will happen. I know this might sound crazy, one of my customers what he does since he had the same kind of finish before and it got damaged due to not taken care of the wheel properly I told them to bag them. Yes i know it might sound crazy but it worked, his wheels look perfect until today. So to me is just the finish that is hard to maintain properly clean. Polishing will help so will clay but not that much.