benzboi3

Hey guys, I trashed my new wheels this winter since the TT has been out of commission and I am without my stocks. I was getting ready to have them sent out for either powdercoating or polishing. I decided to give it one last shot myself. They lips were horrible from the salt and snow and I thought they'd never be the same. Wasn't sure how this was gonna come out but with a little common sense and elbow grease I couldn't be happier with the results. Don't have before pics but the insides of the barrels should give you a pretty good idea. I'll be polishing the insides when I get a chance to take the wheels off. This was very easy and not too time consuming. Here's the process for those interested

Supplies:

2 buckets (one with alot of dish soap, one with just water)
lots of microfiber
and these:


1. Put the padded and non padded scotch brite pads in the bucket with soap (use lots of soap for lubrication, seriously lol)
2. Clean off the lips with the softer padded scotch brite pad to get off the surface dirt.
3. Get the rougher pad and made sure there is plenty of soap on it. Scrub the lips in a long straight motion. Pay special attention to the minor nicks and if you have any curb rash, you can get rid of some of it. You will see the suds starting to turn dark grayish, that means its working! Keep doing this, adding more soapy water as you go. USE LOTS OF SOAPY WATER! When the suds stop turning dark greyish, you're just about done. Make sure to do this in a uniform pattern. Repeat with softer pad.
4. Clean off the lip with a clean microfiber towel and water, then dry.
5. Apply Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish in the same motion you scrubbed, this stuff basically evens out the lines, the wheels look like freshly brushed aluminum at this point.
6. Use the Nevr-Dull in the same motion, this is the part that really makes the wheels shine, you might want to do this a few times
7.

outaurleague

pics ?

benzboi3

posted pics, did they not show up?

rlee02135

great info! my wheels still look like this, I only polished them:

Shake

Thanks for posting it up, looks good.

kevincao

was there clear coat on the lip or is it bare metal?

benzboi3

no clearcoat, the lips were polished not chromed

AMGfan

I know it may be overkill, but I like to jack up the car and take the wheel off and wash and polish the inside of the wheel (once a month), too. I just did it last night and you could eat off the inside of the wheel !

OK......I have too much time on my hands. I can't be the only one...

benz_addict

you're not the only one I'm going to do this tomorrow since it's going to be a little warmer

I have done this several times before and I'm sure others have too

benzboi you did a good job you should do the inside too

cklass240

so will this work if there is a clearcoat or no?

anthuny85

those dont look polished, they look like a machined finished lip.... here are my old wheels after i polished them, more reflective

benzboi3

was thinking about wet sanding with a 2000 grit to get the look you have in your pic, but decided i liked the less blingy look better. might do it in the future tho...

wingless

A right angle die grinder and woven abrasive discs will make metal shine like chrome.

cklass240

I tried this and it it did make my wheels shine but im trying to get some of those salt spots out and this didnt work what else can i do to get it out?

Jay9722

STOP!!! Don't touch those with any grit sandpaper...they are definitely a machined finish with clearcoat. You will never have that same mirror finish if you do it. Just use the Never Dull and they will sparkle. You can use the scotch brite pads on the inside or sandpaper all day long...just not the outside lip. They look brand new anyway!

rlee02135

Iforged rims are not clearcoated on the lip...

Jay9722

Who said anything about Iforged? I thought Benzboi had MMR's on his car? Are those Iforged? Am I mistaken here?

cklass240

what about my question?.....

Jay9722

Have you tried CLR? Calcium, Lime, Rust remover? A 50/50 solution with water might work. Wear latex gloves cuz it's harsh. I have big water fountain in my home and it gets out all the hardwater stains, rust, and calcium buildup out with no trouble.

rlee02135

yep, he's got IForged wheels...

cklass240

will that damage the finish on the wheels? they are polished wheels?

Jay9722

I cannot honestly say...and wouldn't want to say they won't. Test a small area and see.

tanktube67

Thanks

benzboi3

yup no clearcoat here, theyre iforged aero's

rlee02135

tried your method today Dino...came out great! under $10 in materials gets you this:



BTW, I tried a small part of the inner barrel, with enough time, you can make it shine like the lip!