so well...i have noticed that when i clean at home with eagle one chrome cleaner,it does not have the same shine as the wheels that are just cleaned at the dealer. what are they using...

 

MB of Laguna Niguel told me they use simple green. IMHO, it doesn't work for my baked on issues.

FWIW,

EDJ

 

~One mans opinion / observations~

Chrome Wheels:
Remove imbedded brake dust with detailer’s clay, use a 100% acid-free wheel cleaner (P21S Wheel Cleaner) to remove surface brake dust, agitate with a boars hair wheel brush and rinse off with low pressure water, apply a citrus based cleaner (P21S Total Auto Wash) to the surface, rinse off and dry thoroughly and then apply a polymer (Wheel Wax) for protection

Periodically remove the wheels (one at a time) to enable the back of the wheel, callipers and give better access to the wheel wells. Should the wheel surface have small scratches they can be removed with a mildly abrasive chrome polish. Tar should be removed with a solvent type cleaner, and any bonded contaminants or over spray removed with Detailer's Clay, then wash and dry wheel surface thoroughly.

FWIW: Simple Green is very alkaline and has been known to cause staing on weel surfaces and aluminum

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ Jon

 

I don't think that I have ever owned a car as bad as the E500 for brake pad dust. Early on, I used NXT to protect the wheels and I apply the NXT booster Spray Wax every few weeks at the same time that I apply it to the body paint. I also try to wash the car every week. So far, I've been able to wash off the accumulated dust with regular car wash and a sponge that I use only for the wheels without having to use any of the harsher wheel cleaners.

 

thought simple green was toxic to the chrome....

 

Probably is, I'm just telling you what my dealership uses. The fact that it is contradictory to what is best for the car is demonstrative of typical dealership apathy, IMHO.

I KNOW my dealership uses Simple Green because I was complaining about the baked on specks (I've discussed them here before) that only come off with Eagle AOI for Chrome Wheels. I asked what they used when I was having a one-on-one with the service manager (the guy two levels above the service advisors). He asked the service advisor standing near us, who asked the porter. The porter went and got the bottle they use, and it was Simple Green. He said that is what they use on all the chrome wheels at this particular dealership. I'm sure they dilute it 1:2 or 1:3 or 1:4 because all costs add up in the long run, so they probably don't ruin the chrome until after the warranty period expires.

Anyhow, that's why I'm the weird extreme guy that arrives for service with pieces of paper with "Please do not wash car, Por favor NO llave el coche" scotch-taped to the windshield and both front side windows. I have a standing agreement with my service advisor of which I remind him every time. I raised such a stink once upon a time (see lengthy posts in W211 forum about 2 years ago) with letters written to the GM and dealership owner and sent to their home addresses that I'm on their radar now as a PITA. Fine by me, as long as they don't wash my car. If they do, I have to Dawn and multi-coat Zaino it all over again. Anyhow, we've got a system set up now, so I haven't had the problem the last few times I've been in to the dealership for service/maintenance.

According to the Service Mgr, I'm the 1% that doesn't like to get my car back washed. He said 99% of everyone else raises a stink and b*tches and complains if their car doesn't come back washed. The whole "higher expectations" of a luxury dealership thing.

I refuse to let them wash my car because I KNOW it's the same rag/mitt that has been used on every other car that day, and the porter has likely dropped it a few times, played basketball with it back into the suds bucket and missed, etc. All that dirt it picks up then micro-scratches MY car!

Not to mention that I would be less than surprised to learn that they use the absolute cheapest car wash soap possible, and I'm sure it's like "Dawn-ing" away my Zaino layers every time they wash a car.

FWIW, YMMV, My .02, Etc.

EDJ

 

interesting post joe,,,,let me see, maybe i will spot test on some old chormes i have lying around with the simple green..let see if they really do shine like the way they are supposed to....