Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Wheel Coating

Sizzle Chest

Sizzle Chest

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2011
Messages
6,065
Reaction score
207
This is the third time I've used this product and will say my experience has been the same since the first application...easy, straight forward and offers great protection and some good looking results as well!

Had a customer drop off a new to him set of wheels for his BMW 5 series. (I will be doing a complete paint correction of the car at the end of the month).

He is going to replace his factory 'nightmare to clean or coat' 11+ spoke wheels with these very nice looks M series wheels.

They came to me in good shape and relatively clean. The wheels have been previously repaired as I could see some areas that had been repaired and the finish 'blended'. I wanted to be as gentle as possible with them due to the unknown factory involved with what was done and used during the repairs.

Process: Wolfgang autobathe, microfiber chenille mitt, Adam's green wheel cleaner. Daytona speedmaster brushes, misc brushes, Tarminator on some built up tar spots. Clayed and used Dodo born slippery as lube.
Applied the Pinnacle Black Label Surface Cleansing Polish by hand. Wiped with an edgeless microfiber.

Applied the wheel coating with the supplied foam applicators.

From my past experience, the coating(s) in my environmental conditions (90+degrees F and 80%+ humidity) tends to make them flash VERY quickly.

I started with the interior barrels and coated and knocked down any high spots. Then I flipped the wheels over and coated the faces/spokes/etc.

Even with the quick flash time, the high spots wiped off/down very easily.

The wheels darkened ever so slightly after application and took on a very nice shine/candy look. The very small metal flakes in the paint popped nicely after application.

I will be doing the 2nd application tomorrow and will let them cure. Again, from previous experience, I expect them to take on an even more shiny/candy look to them after they have cured 100%.

Thanks for looking and stay tuned for the write-up on paint correction on the vehicle...and pics of these wheels installed!

PICS:

Before:




After:






 
Gotta love wheel coatings! Makes cleaning up BMW rims a breeze. Thanks for sharing Sizzle.
 
AGREE! I have had much luck with the DP WHEEL COAT. Went thru a PA winter and in spring they still looked new. Not to mention not buying wheel cleaner. Soap & water cleans them right up.
 
Has anyone compared Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Wheel Coating with McKee's 37 Wheel Coating?
Big difference in price for the same size bottle, but people seem to swear by the PB product. Its for my DD and I would use them on my stock rims from April until November each year (winter treds on steel rims for snow/slush/salt)
 
brad911 said:
Has anyone compared Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Wheel Coating with McKee's 37 Wheel Coating?
Big difference in price for the same size bottle, but people seem to swear by the PB product. Its for my DD and I would use them on my stock rims from April until November each year (winter treds on steel rims for snow/slush/salt)
Click to expand...

They are more or less the same product. PBL will offer the longer life compared to McKee's. You can't go wrong with either one.
 
So if you're looking at the kits (PB Wheel & Glass vs. McKee's Wheel & Glass) and for almost the same price would you rather have the PB? Any significant difference in performance over the short-term?
I would likely just reseal the rims each spring regardless of which product. Is there a huge difference in performance between the two glass products?
 
Just did the wheels on my wife's car. I'm new to detailing and very new to coatings. The AG application guide says that two sprays are adequate for one wheel. This stuff flashes so quickly I don't see how that's possible. It's very hard to see on a light colored wheel, and I added spray when I could no longer see it going on the wheel or see any product on my gloved finger. I likely used far more product than I should have - probably 20 sprays per wheel.

Is there a trick to know when you need more product? Can I just assume 2-3 sprays will be enough and do an entire wheel even though I can't see it being applied? Also, not clear what the cure time or re-application time is. I'd like to get a 2nd coat on to cover and spots I missed. Is 2 hours adequate for a 2nd coat? 12? Do I need to wait 24 hours after the last coat before they see any water?

Two year old car that's new to us. Not sure the wheels were ever cleaned other than the surface. Barrels were filthy. This would have been a lot easier had I taken the wheels off to clean and coat. Wife had some heartburn with me doing that much work to her new car.

Will try to add some before/after pics. Currently too large.
 
Last edited:
^Can't edit any longer so will adding a reply to my own post. Going to forego a 2nd coat. The point was to hit any spots I missed. Will live with any missed spots and see how it performs. Still curious about how to get 2 sprays to cover the whole wheel.
 
RippyD said:
Just did the wheels on my wife's car. I'm new to detailing and very new to coatings. The AG application guide says that two sprays are adequate for one wheel. This stuff flashes so quickly I don't see how that's possible. It's very hard to see on a light colored wheel, and I added spray when I could no longer see it going on the wheel or see any product on my gloved finger. I likely used far more product than I should have - probably 20 sprays per wheel.

Is there a trick to know when you need more product? Can I just assume 2-3 sprays will be enough and do an entire wheel even though I can't see it being applied? Also, not clear what the cure time or re-application time is. I'd like to get a 2nd coat on to cover and spots I missed. Is 2 hours adequate for a 2nd coat? 12? Do I need to wait 24 hours after the last coat before they see any water?

Two year old car that's new to us. Not sure the wheels were ever cleaned other than the surface. Barrels were filthy. This would have been a lot easier had I taken the wheels off to clean and coat. Wife had some heartburn with me doing that much work to her new car.

Will try to add some before/after pics. Currently too large.
Click to expand...


Flash time will be different for your climate/humidity in your area. I too typically 'over use' product in order to 'know' that I am getting coverage and just factor that into my details. This also helps me with light colored wheels to see the product being applied.

As far as the wait time between coats and use/time before water, I stick with the manufactures recommendation, I don't remember what PBL's recommended wait time is.

Hope this helps you!

And, yes, if you removed the wheels it would have been much easier for you! Just re-assure her that you've got it handled!

Keep us posted!
 
Thanks much for the reply. Car is too new to her to re-assure her and not worth her stress.

Glad to read that you use more as well. When I read two sprays for each wheel I thought that was great. In practice, I get one 1 or 2 spokes covered with 2 sprays and then the pad is dry. If not dry, the product is invisible to my crappy eyes. I know it went on heavy in some spots - I just smoothed it out and spread it around. I was in wet weather at about 70 degrees. It still flashed within 15 seconds or so. Heavy spots longer, so I could easily get rid of them.

Nothing on Pinnacle's site about cure time or 2nd coat. Autopia's instructions dubiously say 24 hours for a 2nd coat to get more protection.

First time sealing or coating wheels for me. Crazy amount of work to get wheels prepped. Huge respect to people who do this for a living.

Before
View attachment 52491

After cleaning and clay
View attachment 52492

After polish and coating
View attachment 52493

Some unfortunate road rash. Concerned about how they'll look in a few more years.
View attachment 52490
 
Trust me, it will be worth all the work. Especially with how your Porsche will dust the wheels. It's terrible! You will love the ease of cleanup from now on. As far as the road rash, it's unavoidable. Just keep the wheels cleaned and coated and you will be fine!

Judging from the pics: Boxster?
 
Believe me,trust Scott (SIZZLE CHEST), one of the best in the business:)
 
Sizzle Chest said:
Trust me, it will be worth all the work. Especially with how your Porsche will dust the wheels. It's terrible! You will love the ease of cleanup from now on. As far as the road rash, it's unavoidable. Just keep the wheels cleaned and coated and you will be fine!

Judging from the pics: Boxster?
Click to expand...
Yes. 2014 Boxster S. We were looking for an older Boxster. I got educated on the engine issues and and friend was selling this one. And the wife decided to give up her beloved 4Runner. So now she drives that. :)

I'll get some car pics up after I get the paint corrected and coated. Should get it polished in the next week and then coated before it gets cold.
 
Sicoupe said:
Believe me,trust Scott (SIZZLE CHEST), one of the best in the business:)
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that. Just have to comment on how fantastic it is to get all the great advice and feedback here. Most of you guys don't have to be here. All the help is appreciated.
 
Sicoupe said:
Believe me,trust Scott (SIZZLE CHEST), one of the best in the business:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Kyle! Much appreciated!!!



RippyD said:
Yes. 2014 Boxster S. We were looking for an older Boxster. I got educated on the engine issues and and friend was selling this one. And the wife decided to give up her beloved 4Runner. So now she drives that. :)

I'll get some car pics up after I get the paint corrected and coated. Should get it polished in the next week and then coated before it gets cold.
Click to expand...


Sounds great! Yes, would like to see it after you get done with it! Big change for her from a 4 Runner...a lot lower...faster and handles a heck of a lot better!!!
 
Update: paint is still a challenge. Wheels are better with coating, but still a pain.

Not sure what German brakes are made of. I'm guessing 50% glue. No way this stuff comes off well with a hose, even after coating.The back wheels get better with a hose. The fronts it barely makes a dent. Besides having brake dust clinging to the wheels, there are little pebbles that seem to get stuck to the barrels. It's crazy. Weekly I wrap a "wheels only" MF towel soaked in no-rinse solution around a wheel woolie. The good news is that they look great afterward. Coating makes it easier to clean them. The fact that it's started raining doesn't help.

Still struggling on the paint. Thought I was 90% there. Then went to a parking lot with brighter, whiter, higher lights. Whole new world of scratches appeared. May need to hit each panel with 2000 or 3000 grit wet sanding. Considering my options. 101 with an MF pad gets a lot of scratches out. Also leaving a lot. Already did a 3000 grit test spot - worked very nicely. Maybe I'll do one panel at a time - sand, polish, and coat. Downside is all the additive waiting time for coating cure vs. doing the whole car at once.

Or maybe I do DG 601/111 (or something else) now and coat in the Spring. The advantage to 601/111 is that I have it had have used it before.
 
Euro brake pads are for the most part: horrid. They dust so bad. It's tough to keep the wheels clean and dust free. (Ceramic pads are a huge help, so look into them).

As far as your paint, it's obviously difficult to comment or recommend a plan of attack without seeing the car in person. I will say that if you find a process that is working for you go with it...BUT, remember the golden rule: least aggressive method first. (And invest in a paint thickness gauge-it could be a lifesaver in the long run.

Keep us posted!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top