For cleaning, I used to use Griot's garage wheel cleaner (the green stuff) on my BMW and it worked really well, but very expensive. But after I switched my brake pads to Hawks, I was getting very little brake dust, so I bought Meguiar's Hot Rims, but it doesn't work nearly as well as Griot's.

 

Hydro is great stuff for the car body. You just spray some on before you dry the car. Wiping it down to dry it spreads the Hydro around. Much less effort required than other waxes. Seems to hold up well.

I've found that MINI brake dust comes off easily when washing the car. The same soap and a wheel brush takes it all off. I've stopped using wheel cleaning sprays.

Last I heard, Hawk was supposed to have pads for the R56 by spring. Tire rack doesn't show any yet, but TopBrakes.com claims to have front HPS, Ceramic, and HP Plus.

 

Good thread. Our MINI is a month old and has white wheels, so we quickly discovered the brake dust problem. What a PITA. But it sure looks nice when they're clean. We try to stay on top of it, 'cause we've already discovered that if you don't, the dirt likes to embed itself.

We'll wax the wheels soon and hope that helps, and maybe look into the ceramic pads.

 

My first LY/W MC had white wheels also. I put brake dust covers on them and it helped 98%. I'v never had trouble with my breaks over heating, but I don't ride my breaks either. On my second LY/W MC it came with silver wheels and put the covers on them also. It is a round metal disc that snaps onto the inside of the wheel (you have to have the wheel off the car for the snapping into place) The disc has holes or slots in it to release the heat. That is my solution. When I had my tires rotated I asked them to snap them on before putting them back on.

 

My rims are black so I don't really see the brake dust

 

All the waxing stuff is good, but like raceface said, the way to go is ceramic brake pads.

 

I use Wheel Wax on my white wheels, makes cleaning easy. In between washes I dust them off with a California Duster (it's only used for the wheels). I have a another one for the car. They're about 1/2 price at Big Lots.

 

Hi, I'm glad that I came across your thread about the dust covers. My MY08 S has 1000k on it and I find myself cleaning the dust off my wheels much too often. I want to buy the Kleen Wheel covers but was reluctant as many people talk of overheating and the looks, but it seems as though you are very satisfied with yours. I drive my mini normally...no racing or AutoX so heat would seem to be no issue and I don't see how they can be ugly as they are black and would appear to be invisible.

 

They cover the brake calipers and disks and make it look like you have old school hub caps.

 

Hi...I use Aerospace 303 on my wheels. It seems to be
anti-static so the brake dust doesn't stick much. It hoses
off easily. Try it I think you'll find it works.

 

The solution to the problem is a set of EBC Greenstuff brake pads. They aren't made from the white cliffs of dover with a little india ink thrown in.

 

Almost all German cars have had bad brake dust for decades, its just something you have to expect. My 88 Jetta had it, 03 TT had it and I'm sure my Clubman S will be just as bad when it arrives.

 

I have a DS/S Clubman with the silver web spoke wheels. When the wheels are dirty, they turn from silver to dark silver. . .so they still match the car and look clean!

I still try to clean them once a week (even if I'm not washing the entire car). It just looks better that way. I agree with most everyone else. Use wax. I don't use a special wheel cleaner since it comes off easily with regular car wash "soap" amd a sponge.

 

I even painted the hubs/calipers silver to match the wheels so they all turn the same darker color as they get a light dusting. If I keep the wheels waxed, the dust wipes off with zero effort too.

 

I posted pics of the EBC Reds that are supposed to give off less dust than the factory or EBC Greens but I do get dust even after one day of use. I have a feeling the rotors may contribute to the brake dust. I had a 540i and replaced the pads with akebonos and discs with brembos and no dust. As for the rears I never received a reply from EBC and no one else posted. The rears do not produce as much as the fronts. The fronts really do clamp down with the Reds. Here is the post in the 2nd Gen Drivetrain forum:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=136891

Enjoy,
Gary

 

I just put Carbotech ceramic pads on last week and I have already noticed a BIG difference in the dust! 6 days and 300 miles and the rims are still look great. I haven't had to wipe them down yet. They seem to stop better too. We'll see how they go when they are 100% seated. I hate brake dust!

 

Amen to BMW product!

 

RaceFace,

Can you tell us exactly what model Carbotech pads you got?
Also did you get rear as well as front pads?
Do the pads have the place for the sensors?

Thanks!

 

I've used EBC on my bmw before and it doesn't give off less dust per say, it's just that the dust is a lighter color than the stock pads dust. so it takes longer to be visible.

 

I just put Hawk Ceramics on the front of my 2005 MCSc (rears are still stock pads). I now have less dust on the front wheels than on the rears. The rears will get Hawk Ceramics next week.

 

Hey there! Here's my story: I called Carbotech and told them I wanted ceramic pads because I hate brake dust (and have been very spoiled owning GM products for the last 12 years and having no brake dust). He recommmended the 1521 street compound which has better stopping power, much less dust and 100% non corrosive, and easier on the rotors....and supposedly last longer. We'll see on that one.

I did do the rears at the same time and since I only had 2600 miles on the car, I did not have to wrestle with twisting the rear caliper pistons in and the pads do have cutouts for the sensors. I was able to reuse the sensors (I was told that since they had low mileage on them and they didnt crack due to heat, I would be good)

The only issue I had (my fault) was on the rears, only one inboard pad had the sensor cutaway. Well, as I was wrapping up the last wheel (right rear), I put everything back together and went to pop in the sensor and it didnt fit. I pulled the flashlight and looked in and there was no cutaway. So I pulled the wheel off the other rear, and sure enough, I had put the pad on the wrong side. 5 minutes later, I had the pads swapped and was bolting the rear wheels back on.

I am pretty happy so far. I hope this helps answer your questions.

 

Ohh, now im torn between the Hawks and the Carbotech's! Either way I NEED less dust!

 

Thanks for the good info RaceFace!

 

do you have part numbers for the 2nd Gen Coopers, or are they the same as the 1st Gen? F: CT939 $122; R: CT940/1060 $118

 

I have the Clubman S without the JCW setup. The part numbers I got are:

CT1204 for the front ($131)
CT1309 for the rear ($122)

As I recall, the sales guy did tell me there was a difference in the fronts between the S and non-S....and of course, the S was pricier! Lucky me!