MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

robert hodor · #1 10-17-2005, 05:59 AM

what are best products for cleaning s spoke wheels?

fasn8n · #2 10-17-2005, 07:07 AM

Eagle One All Finish (A to Z) wheel cleaner. Safe on all wheels and does a great job. I have used it for years and have no complaints.

blitz64 · #3 10-17-2005, 08:23 AM

is that the orange color bottle one?

L8RG8R · #4 10-17-2005, 08:37 AM

I use the MINI wheel cleaner sold at the dealer. It might cost a buck or so more, but it works great.

Hammer · #5 10-17-2005, 10:32 AM

My experience with the Mini wheel cleaner from the dealer was horrible. It did nothing.

L8RG8R · #6 10-17-2005, 10:37 AM

sorry to hear that. i use a tire brush to help the cleaner, but i've always had to use one and have never found a cleaner that worked without one.

Shazam's white lightning · #7 10-17-2005, 12:11 PM

That stuff is like a wonder drug for wheel cleanin'! I found it at Lowe's for 5 bucks in a spray version.

BradB · #8 10-17-2005, 12:29 PM

What I have had excellent luck with:

Mothers All Wheel version
Rim Brite
Eagle One All Wheel version
EF Hi Intensity
P21S But you rarely need the Gel version
And if you wash them regularly you can simply use regular shampoo...the safest. And be sure to wax your wheels inside and out. It makes them MUCH easier to clean.

kyriian · #9 10-17-2005, 12:34 PM

i use the sonus wheel cleaner, ive tried also griot's garage wheel cleaner and the eagle one all wheel cleaner

honestly, if its really bad, ill use the eagle one... othewise for my weekly wash, the sonus does the job with power to spare... the griot's garage maybe very nice to the wheel, and smells nice, but it takes a bit more effort to use

whovous · #10 10-17-2005, 07:50 PM

The guy who buffed my bonnet today suggested using Soft Scrub. Just might be a good idea!

**lotsie** · #11 10-17-2005, 09:15 PM

I wash my WHITE wheels at least once a week, and just use shampoo. But I also wax them with Nu-tone wax about once a month. Seems to last the best, and it is so easy to keep them clean.

The MINI/BMW brand wheel cleaner works ok. Just make sure you rince it off really well. Everything sticks to it if you don't. Found out that the hard way,once

After 40k miles

Bilbo-Baggins · #12 10-17-2005, 09:32 PM

I just use Mothers car wash and a scrub brush. Does a great job. I should wax them but don't usually.

bolar · #13 10-18-2005, 04:00 PM

I use micro-fiber gloves. I wash the wheels last and just use the soap/water I used on the car. With the gloves it's easy to get in the wheel and behind the spokes. Waxing also helps the process go quick.

I've only been able to find them on-line at this place: http://www.topoftheline.com/tolae/mi...er-gloves.html . They don't seem as popular anymore

.

agranger · #14 10-18-2005, 06:55 PM

Like Brad suggested, you probably won't need wheel cleaner with the S-Lites unless you let them get really, REALLY nasty! Just keep a good coat of sealant (recommended: Zaino or Klasse), NXT, or wax on them. Wash weekly with shampoo (after you wash the rest of the paint).

You might want to switch to EBC Greenstuff pads... much less dust, but there's a different forum for that mod...

fairmont · #15 10-19-2005, 05:45 AM

Strange as it sounds, the best wheel product I've found costs only a buck or two. It's the sponge strip type dish washer. With any wheel cleaner it's great getting all over the wheel, into little tight spots and won't scratch. Better than any brush.

Absorbine_Sr · #16 10-19-2005, 04:51 PM

Early last summer at Costco I bought a huge bottle of Meguiars Car Wash (gold color) for $7. I mix this 50/50 with water in a spray bottle, spray it on, let it soak a little and then scrub with these from Griot's. Cleans up the Kosei's quick and easy.

A_Sr.

BradB · #17 10-19-2005, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairmont

Strange as it sounds, the best wheel product I've found costs only a buck or two. It's the sponge strip type dish washer. With any wheel cleaner it's great getting all over the wheel, into little tight spots and won't scratch. Better than any brush.

I know what you mean. I use one of these to get the tightspots and inside my wheels.

paul_ · #18 11-16-2005, 08:54 AM

Can I still wax my wheels even if I have a bit of road rash

already?

Boondox · #19 11-16-2005, 10:55 AM

One of the first things I did when Nugget came home was to remove, wash, and apply Griot's Paint Sealer to all four wheels. It lasts a long time and makes removing crud exceptionally easy!

BradB · #20 11-16-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul_

Can I still wax my wheels even if I have a bit of road rash

already?

Absolutely.

J0kER · #21 11-16-2005, 12:17 PM

i've only used soap & water & light wax on mine and 33k miles later wheels still l00k/clean like new.....i also use vaseline on the inside of my wheels for brake dust ...werks NiCE!

***this i will try..... "Absorbine_SrEarly last summer at Costco I bought a huge bottle of Meguiars Car Wash (gold color) for $7. I mix this 50/50 with water in a spray bottle, spray it on, let it soak a little and then scrub with these from Griot's. Cleans up the Kosei's quick and easy."

A_Sr.

***+souds like an excellent idea

Red Ryder · #22 11-16-2005, 12:49 PM

I put NuFinish on when I first got the car. Now all I have to do is lightly dust with an old T-shirt. It looks like new. Additionally, since NuFinish makes the wheel so slick, most never attaches to the wheel.

William Courant · #23 11-16-2005, 04:33 PM

I've tried a lot of different cleaners/brush combos since owning my Mini. What works best for me is automotive simple green and a bug sponge. You know, the kind with the mesh bag around it. I don't wax my wheels and they still come out looking like new. In fact, the Simple Green seems to loosen and lift the dust and grime better than the dedicated cleaners. And the bug sponge gets into all the nooks and crannies easily and doesn't scratch!

LagunaSol · #24 11-22-2005, 11:02 PM

I've been happy with P21S (the spray, not the gel), but it's flippin' expensive.

Spray it on, let it sit for a minute, and the brake dust just rinses away. Good stuff.

But I need to find something cheaper that works just as well...

J0kER · #25 11-22-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LagunaSol

I've been happy with P21S (

is this an acid based product?