Rim issues on Jeep Cherookee SRT and BMW 135

Here is what I say. Regardless whether your car wash employee's did the damage or not, fix their wheels with m105 and m205 and a 4in spot buffing pad. Try 205 with a white pad first, you always want to start with less cut than more.
 
Tell us more about the wheel types. If they are powder coated I could see a problem. Alkalines stain/bleach some surfaces pretty readily depending on the substrate, if not diluted properly and allowed to dry on a surface you could be causing a minor etching similar to a type 2 water spot and need to polish the wheels to remove it. Some polyurethanes will undergo hydrolysis pretty readily with alkalinity and will lead to a change of the surface (possibly what you described.)

The surfactant and water softener in the msds are not the problem, but the cosurfactant (R-ethanol) and pH modifier (KOH) could lead to a problem.

Probably better off switching wheel cleaners to something pH balanced.
 
I have been speaking to this gentlemen through e-mail. Here are the photo's he sent me. Seems Staining is the issue......

BMW135Rims.jpg


BMW135Rims2-1.jpg
 
Looks like runoff after the vehicle is driven and maybe not all of the cleaner was rinsed away. That plus high temperature will cause water spotting. I would hit it with a mild polish first such as Meguiar's M205 as suggested before, then move up from that point. I would also switch to a pH neutral wheel cleaner. Just my opinion on the matter and I could be wrong.
 
They don't look to bad except that one spot in picture 1. IMO most all of that can ge polished out. Probally have to do most of it by hand though
 
I told the gentlemen to start with the reconditioning creme because he said that is all he had as far as a light polish (a little more cut than 205)........He also has m105 so I suggest he only use that if he absolutely needed to.....but to follow with the creme or if he could get 205.
 
I just pray for his sake that his employee's didn't try hitting it with a rotary on full blast.... we shall see.
 
Ok conclusion... right now I am set to try 105 from Meguiars, Paint Reconditioning cream and/or Never dull. Customer for Jeep Cherokee will bring their car in next week.. BMW will do next as well .. will keep you posted on how it goes. Just a note Pine Sol and bleach has warning doesnt mean it is acid:) I'd like to thank all who have posted.
 
Just be sure to try the reconditioning creme first, as it is less abrasive than the m105.
 
mechanixgear said:
Just a note Pine Sol and bleach has warning doesnt mean it is acid:) .
Click to expand...

You are correct about the bleach not being acid; it has a pH in the 12-13 range making it alkaline.

On the otherhand pine sol has a published pH of 3-4; so pine sol is acidic. :props:
 
I know this is an old thread and all but I would like to know what the end result was.

I have a 2010 Jeep SRT-8 and they (the wheels) came with a special coating from Alcoa called the Durabrite finish. I swear with these wheels if you look at them wrong, they'll spot. Anyways, if the customer has a 08 (late build)-10 SRT Jeep, they will come with that coating and if he/she came into the car wash with the car running for a while, the wheels were hot, and I guarantee you that played a factor in the wheels staining. Plus on that coating of wheels, I really wouldn't use anything but Car Wash soap and water or Sonax/Griots wheel cleaner. If the car wash owner tried using Never Dull on the rims, he probably induced more spotting. The coating on those rims are really delicate.

And even if the owner had the 06- early 08 SRT Jeep, using Never Dull would not work either and damage it as well because the rims are clear coated. Using 105 and then 205 on the 06- early 08 rims would work. On the late 08- 10 Jeeps, I would advise against that. JMO
 
I stayed in contact with the OP, but he hasn't gotten back to me in months about the outcome.....I've emailed him numerous suggestions, but he stopped responding months ago, so I gave up. We can only issue our help and hope it is used......experience is the best stepping stone for learning.
 
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