Protecting Polished Fuchs

Jacob · Feb 26, 2006

What do you guys do out there to keep your polished rims looking like new?

Use metal polish
or
Use wax
or
Use Vaseline

Over winter, polished rims are a pain in the backside [

]

Guest · Feb 26, 2006

Accepted wisdom appears to be Vaseline, but boy can it get messy!!!!!!!!!

Andy Tims · Feb 26, 2006

If you still want to drive about & have the wheels looking OK, you can use WD40 regularly applied.

911sse · Feb 26, 2006

Use Autoglym Alloy Wheel cleaner, then Speedy All Metal Polish from the States first. You will not believe how well this stuff finishes off the wheels.

I then used to use the Silicon Spray over the finished rims. Like mirrors they were.

Jacob · Feb 26, 2006

I currently use speedy metal polish. Very good results, with little effort. The problem is that on a day like today, you have to clean the rims before your car gets tucked up for the night, otherwise you run the risk of getting the rims tarnished.
I've never tried Vaseline, but think it must be worth a go for extra protection.

jasonld · Feb 27, 2006

I use Meguiar's NXT All Metal Polysh![

]

It cleans, polishes and protects the wheels, removes built-up oxidation, tarnishing and staining.
I'm really please with the results....

-J.

Richard Savage · Feb 27, 2006

Jason

Good lookin' wheel, but I've done some more work on it for you. Free of charge!

R.

jasonld · Feb 27, 2006

Hi Richard

I hope you are well, long time no speak! [

]
....and I thank you for concourse look sir [

][

]

J.

Richard Savage · Feb 28, 2006

Jason

You're welcome! Believe it or not, that missing locking wheel nut cap is available, as a separate item. One of mine was missing when I bought the car but it turned up amongst bits and pieces when I was cleaning up under the hood. It had lost it's 'snap', so it's held on with double sided tape!

R.

lesworth · Mar 1, 2006

So let me get this right, you can use metal polish on the silver rims? I always thought that this was anodised as well, albeit without colour. Did I get that wrong? I've held off using polish all these years as I was worried I would make them worse. I hope I was wrong!

911sse · Mar 1, 2006

Speedy All Metal Polish is the way to go!

twinny · Mar 1, 2006

ORIGINAL: lesworth

So let me get this right, you can use metal polish on the silver rims? I always thought that this was anodised as well, albeit without colour. Did I get that wrong? I've held off using polish all these years as I was worried I would make them worse. I hope I was wrong!

Nope - you're correct. You shouldn't use any product with an abrasive (polish), like for example Autosol on anodised wheels. Anodising is a treatment that should look great for years and will stop the wheel oxidising.

I suspect the other guys, like me, have had their wheels stripped, polished and then the centre painted. The outside rim will then oxidise and will require polishing and waxing to keep it looking good. Sometimes the polishing is then lacquered, but this often goes milky if water gets in through a stone chip. I had the same problem so had it stripped off, polished and then waxed.

You should only use wax on anodising. This will also reduce attack from brake dust.

twinny · Mar 1, 2006

ORIGINAL: 911sse

Speedy All Metal Polish is the way to go!

Do you guys buy this stuff from the States or is there an outlet over here? The results are amazing.

Jacob · Mar 1, 2006

I used to buy mine from essintial styling, but they no longer carry the product. This time around I got it from the highway shine company in the states. I bought the 32oz bottle and I reckon it will last me for at least 3 years.

911sse · Mar 1, 2006

I bought 3 bottles the last time direct from the USA after Simon stopped selling it as Essential Styling.

http://www.speedymetalpolish.com/products.html

They are very easy to deal with and I think P&P was about $12 for the 3No bottles. You get about 20+ applications from a bottle.

However, the Highway Shine website above looks slightly cheaper, all down to the shipping and taxes then!

twinny · Mar 1, 2006

Thanks guys, I'll get on to it. I've been trying different things with degrees of success. "Brilliant" off the Internet have some pretty good products, but the results don't last too long this time of the year. The speedy product results look very good.

Guest · Mar 2, 2006

ORIGINAL: twinny

ORIGINAL: lesworth

So let me get this right, you can use metal polish on the silver rims? I always thought that this was anodised as well, albeit without colour. Did I get that wrong? I've held off using polish all these years as I was worried I would make them worse. I hope I was wrong!

Click to expand...

Nope - you're correct. You shouldn't use any product with an abrasive (polish), like for example Autosol on anodised wheels. Anodising is a treatment that should look great for years and will stop the wheel oxidising.

I suspect the other guys, like me, have had their wheels stripped, polished and then the centre painted. The outside rim will then oxidise and will require polishing and waxing to keep it looking good. Sometimes the polishing is then lacquered, but this often goes milky if water gets in through a stone chip. I had the same problem so had it stripped off, polished and then waxed.

You should only use wax on anodising. This will also reduce attack from brake dust.

I disagree (slightly), there is no reason why you cannot use an abrasive like Autosol on the anodised silver outer rim. If you have stubborn stains or marks that you cannot remove with a good rub of wax or vaseline then hit it with Autosol. I have done this a plenty of times and it brings the anodising up a treat. Then maintain the finish with wax or vaseline. The anodising is plenty hard enough to cope with many many Autosol applications.

I don't know whether I am using the Speedy Metal Polish incorrectly, but I found it to be pretty useless compared to say Autosol. I bought a bottle after hearing on this forum how good it was and have tried it a few times and always been totally disappointed. It didn't even touch my engine fan whereas the Autosol showed an immediate improvement. Tell me what I am doing wrong!

Richard

jasonld · Mar 2, 2006

ORIGINAL: Richard Savage

Jason

You're welcome! Believe it or not, that missing locking wheel nut cap is available, as a separate item. One of mine was missing when I bought the car but it turned up amongst bits and pieces when I was cleaning up under the hood. It had lost it's 'snap', so it's held on with double sided tape!

R.

Hi Richard

Thanks for the info, I'll look in to that!!

cheers

-J.[]

twinny · Mar 2, 2006

ORIGINAL: Richard Bernau

ORIGINAL: twinny

ORIGINAL: lesworth

So let me get this right, you can use metal polish on the silver rims? I always thought that this was anodised as well, albeit without colour. Did I get that wrong? I've held off using polish all these years as I was worried I would make them worse. I hope I was wrong!

Click to expand...

Nope - you're correct. You shouldn't use any product with an abrasive (polish), like for example Autosol on anodised wheels. Anodising is a treatment that should look great for years and will stop the wheel oxidising.

I suspect the other guys, like me, have had their wheels stripped, polished and then the centre painted. The outside rim will then oxidise and will require polishing and waxing to keep it looking good. Sometimes the polishing is then lacquered, but this often goes milky if water gets in through a stone chip. I had the same problem so had it stripped off, polished and then waxed.

You should only use wax on anodising. This will also reduce attack from brake dust.

Click to expand...

I disagree (slightly), there is no reason why you cannot use an abrasive like Autosol on the anodised silver outer rim. If you have stubborn stains or marks that you cannot remove with a good rub of wax or vaseline then hit it with Autosol. I have done this a plenty of times and it brings the anodising up a treat. Then maintain the finish with wax or vaseline. The anodising is plenty hard enough to cope with many many Autosol applications.

I don't know whether I am using the Speedy Metal Polish incorrectly, but I found it to be pretty useless compared to say Autosol. I bought a bottle after hearing on this forum how good it was and have tried it a few times and always been totally disappointed. It didn't even touch my engine fan whereas the Autosol showed an immediate improvement. Tell me what I am doing wrong!

Richard

It has nothing to do with the hardness per se. Most industrial anodising is only around 0.1 to 0.2 microns thick. Any abrasive will gradually wear the anodising away. Remember unless refurbished, most of the anodising on 3.2 wheels will be 18-20 years old at this point. Just be careful with abrasive polishes and use them sparingly if you have to. You should use the following to clean anodising in this order:

Plain water - Mild detergent - Solvent (white spirit etc) - Non etching chemicals - Wax based polish - Abrasive wax - Abrasive cleaner.

Autosol should be a last measure.

RB - Interested to read your experiences with the Speedy polish. Are your rims polished or anodised?