Wheel lip polishing.
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From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
Wheel lip polishing.
IS there anyone who is knowledgable about maintaining the shine on polished wheels? I have a polished lip (non painted) on my Brabus Monoblock VI rims but each year with the salt they put on the roads it errodes the laquer so I take them off and put stock wheels on the car until spring time.
Do you think I could polish them back to a shine by removing the flaking laquer and then re-seal ? Whats is the toughest laquer you can get that wont chip or flake? I have seen genuine Brabus Alloys and they dont have any flaking so there must be better quality products out there.
The second option is not to laquer them and just keep them polished but does this need to be done often to keep them shiny?
thanks
Do you think I could polish them back to a shine by removing the flaking laquer and then re-seal ? Whats is the toughest laquer you can get that wont chip or flake? I have seen genuine Brabus Alloys and they dont have any flaking so there must be better quality products out there.
The second option is not to laquer them and just keep them polished but does this need to be done often to keep them shiny?
thanks
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
Yes, you can strip the laquer off, polish and re-laquer them. One of the biggest issues with rep wheels (by the wording of your post it sounds like you have reps right?) is the poor paint/laquer jobs. After you get them re-done, keep them clean and use a good thick paste wax to keep them sealed.
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
I'm not sure but the reps and cheap wheels apply it very thin. Call an autobody shop, explain what you want to do and the reasons why, they can probably steer you in the right direction.
Nothing makes a nice set of wheels look crappier than flaking laquer and white spots of corosion.
Good luck!
Nothing makes a nice set of wheels look crappier than flaking laquer and white spots of corosion.
Good luck!
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From: Los Angeles
2013 FIAT Abarth 500
Or, I'm sure a wheel repair shop could point you in the right direction for the best clearcoat to go on your wheel lips.
I would advise you keep a coat of clear on there at all times; if you don't, corrosion becomes a much higher probability (esp. with the road salt) and not to mention it makes polishing the lips that much harder.
I would advise you keep a coat of clear on there at all times; if you don't, corrosion becomes a much higher probability (esp. with the road salt) and not to mention it makes polishing the lips that much harder.
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clk430 cab advan
whats a good brand of metal polish that can get rid of light scratches from the lip. mothers has two , mag and alum. polish and the other is billet, whtas the diff. obviously one is more expensive than the other. btw i would be using the power of manual labour, dont have a power polisher or drummel tool.
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From: Nebraska
99CLK320,
a polish will not remove a scratch, it will only brighten a rim by removing discoloration or oxidation of the coating or the bare metal itself. if your rims/lips are aluminium and there is no clear coat on them I would recommend Mother's Aluminum polish to shine them up. I am sure there are plenty of other metal polishes out there as well. If you have scratches you are going to have to buff them out of have a shop do it for you.
Last edited by dlbehrns; Feb 8, 2011 at 03:05 PM.
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clk430 cab advan
that's what i was thinking, buff it out with the polish? then what does the shop guys use to buff out fine scratches? maybe i'm a bit ****, but the scratches can only be seen when you shine a light on it. that why i thot a little elbow grease can get rid of it.
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From: Nebraska
99CLK320,
scratches are usually too deep for a polish to remove. polish is for polishing. to buff out I mean you have to start with a fine sand paper around 1000 grit then move to finer 1500, then 2000 and finish off with polish. Polish is not abrasive enough to remove scratches. Try paint buffing compound if you have a clear coat or good old Bon Ami. Its a non chlorine kitchen cleanser. See how far that will get you.
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clk430 cab advan
yes, i was searching on youtube and saw diy videos, basically its a total refurb. i can live with it for now, the rims are only 1 month old. i'll wait till i do something stupid like curbing it
. then that'll give me a reason to take it into the shop or diy. for now i might just try out the paint buffing compound.
thanks
. then that'll give me a reason to take it into the shop or diy. for now i might just try out the paint buffing compound.thanks
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clk430 cab advan
it seems like "lip polishing" is a very popular topic. there's a thread in the C-class forum and it has lots of pointers. dlbehrns' idea was spot on, went down to the shop (OCD, just needed to work on the car) and picked me up some 1000 and 2000 grit and go to work and after some mothers polish did the trick, looks better for sure.
also the reason i thought you can polish out fine scratches with polish is b'cos they sell a cream/paste where you use a dremel for watches and jewellery.
also the reason i thought you can polish out fine scratches with polish is b'cos they sell a cream/paste where you use a dremel for watches and jewellery.
Last edited by bigwill; Feb 10, 2011 at 08:10 AM.
