Steve Brown

My 1989 928 S4 has the wheels it came fitted with when new, the PO stored the car for extended periods in a factory building situated in an industrial area here in Hong Kong.

The bad news is that the wheels have what looks like bleached fluid stains running down them. I've tried scrubbing with detergent and polishing with metal polish. No improvement at all. Can anyone offer any sort of solution to this? The wheels spoil the look of the car right now.

The good news is that the car has less than 14,000kms on it!!

Regards,
Steve

Old & New

If they originally had the open-pore matte finish forged wheels like my 81, you should try *phosphoric acid*. It's nasty stuff - wear gloves & goggles - but boy, does it do a nice job!

Erik - Denmark

Steve,
I think you better ask a professional car painter to polish them.
That's amazing to see what a car painter can do with this professional 3M polishing products - As I remember the 3M brand name is 'Finish-it'

dr bob

I'll echo Erik's recommendation. My car came with the same stains, thanks to wheel cleaners used by the PO's dealer and detailers. I spent the best part of a day carefully polishing using a sequence of abrasives, starting with Simichrome and ending up with paint cleaner and wax.

I WOULD NOT USE ANY ACID PRODUCTS on the wheels. The original surface is anodized, so even the mild abrasives were done carefully to preserve that coating. Phosphoric acid will eat through that in a heartbeat, and start corroding the aluminum underneath.

Pro detailers have tools that you and I don't, plus some hands-on experience. Make them aware of the anodizing and make sure they understand that you want to preserve it. If you 'burn through' that layer with either abrasive or acid, you are doomed to a life of wheel polishing just to keep the car looking decent. Maintain the anodizing, and your wheel maintenance is the same as what you do for the paint-- a little occasional cleaner and a regular coat of wax.

Good luck with your new car!

dr bob

I'll echo Erik's recommendation. My car came with the same stains, thanks to wheel cleaners used by the PO's dealer and detailers. I spent the best part of a day carefully polishing using a sequence of abrasives, starting with Simichrome and ending up with paint cleaner and wax.

I WOULD NOT USE ANY ACID PRODUCTS on the wheels. The original surface is anodized, so even the mild abrasives were done carefully to preserve that coating. Phosphoric acid will eat through that in a heartbeat, and start corroding the aluminum underneath.

Pro detailers have tools that you and I don't, plus some hands-on experience. Make them aware of the anodizing and make sure they understand that you want to preserve it. If you 'burn through' that layer with either abrasive or acid, you are doomed to a life of wheel polishing just to keep the car looking decent. Maintain the anodizing, and your wheel maintenance is the same as what you do for the paint-- a little occasional cleaner and a regular coat of wax.

Good luck with your new car!

Drewster67

Before, you get stessed out about your wheels appearance. Try doing this -

Go to a Wheel Shop or Auto Detail Store (If they HAve them there) - Find some Chrome Polish, and a polishing rag - Not cotton, but this synthetic material.

Buy a polish adapter for your variable high speed drill - and go to work.

First Polish ,by Hand. The work it in with the drill poilishing pad. Repeat the steps - then by hand, use the synthetic polishing rag.

As far as polished -

I used Blue Corral Aluminum and Chrome Polish - Man did they come clean.

My two cents ..............

Thom1

Thom’s Aluminum Wheel Polishing Essentials:

This applies to wheels without a surface coat. My wheels are the seven slot nearly flat original equipment for the 1986 928 versions.

For periodic maintenance, I go to the self -serve car wash. Pre-treat wash, high-pressure wash, brush, and rinse. Be sure to spray the calipers, and as much of the inner wheel surfaces as possible to remove brake dust.

Every few months, after the above step dries, I use Duragloss 870 Aluminum Polish. It contains felt that you tear off, and rub onto the wheel. Remove with a towel. Buff with polishing wheel, or buffing wheel attached to a drill. Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish is good, but it requires more towels. If desired, finish with car wax.

For major renovation, I used various abrasives including scotch brite, and sandpaper. I don’t recall the grades, but fine, then extra fine is safe enough. Use medium or course grade as first step for deep gashes. I did most of mine by hand, but a palm sander, or rotating disk will speed up the process. Just don’t create gouges that will take too long to blend back in. Then, proceed to the polish phase above. BTW, if there was ever a surface coating on my 1986 wheels, it was long gone before I started my renovation.

The wheel crests, I painted like the original. I used a dental pick to scrape paint off the fine edges right down to the horse’s hooves. I then painted over the entire crest with clear aerosol enamel. I also repainted the lug nut holes and edges. I repainted the slots on my 7 slot wheels too.

There are polishing systems involving rubbing, cleaning, and/or polishing compounds and an orbital buffer that would provide less time-intensive, and higher gloss results. Eastwood and J C Whitney also have polishing kits. See:
<a href="http://www.eastwoodcompany.com" target="_blank">www.eastwoodcompany.com</a>
<a href="http://www.jcwhitney.com" target="_blank">www.jcwhitney.com</a>

Brake dust will accumulate, and dull that finish. Now that I have installed AXXIS Metal Master brake pads for low dust, the wheels require much less maintenance.
<img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

Carlos

Here's an old airplane tip. The easy way to rub off that black residue when polishing aluminum is by dipping your rag in flour. Yep, regular old baking flour. it gets that black off in one wipe.

Old & New

If the wheels are open-pore matte finish forged wheels, then there is nothing wrong with using phosphoric acid. Its easy-on, easy-off with the garden hose and makes 'em look like new. It only takes a few minutes & works very well for me. I originally tried the acid on an inconspicuous spot on the backside to be sure it was safe. If they do have a finish coat of some sort, YMMV.

Old & New

No, wait. Make that, "IF THE WHEELS ARE OPEN-PORE MATTE FINISH FORGED WHEELS, THEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH USING PHOSPHORIC ACID.".

I guess bold caps makes it more authoritative.

Steve Brown

Thanks everyone for taking the time to give me your in-put. There's quite a range of remedies given, so I'm starting with the polishing and working up the list to the somewhat more startling of the cures!!
Cheers