Fikse Technipolish wheels

[WCM3]

Hey guys,



So I may be picking up this set of Fikse Technipolished FM/5 wheels for my e36 M3. I wanted to clean them up before it gets nice out and I'm trying to think the best way possible. The previous owner said he just used a little bit of Menzerna on the face and it came up great. Asking for opinions here. I have a UDM, but no Menzerna products.



Here are the cleaning instructions per Fikse's website. I wanted to do a light refinish if possible though.



( First, and most importantly, NEVER let heavy brake dust accumulate on the wheels for an extended period. Frequent cleaning is essential--much like a fine car finish. Most brake pad material becomes highly acidic when mixed with rain or water. This acidic mix of brake dust and water can damage any wheel if left on them too long.



Second, it is important to avoid using off-the-shelf "Wheel Cleaner" products which are typically designed for use on lower quality cast metals. These, too are usually far too acidic for high performance wheels. Fikse recommends a 50/50% mix of biodegradeable cleaner called Simple Green and cold water. Never use hot water on aluminum, and always let the wheels cool to room temperature before cleaning. Use a natural sable bristle paint brush (available in the paint department of most hardware stores) to clean the lug pockets and spoke corner areas.



Third, clean using this process:



1. Spray the wheel with the 50/50 Simple Green/water mix.

2. Let stand for 15-30 seconds, using the soft sable brush to loosen the dirt as mentioned,

3. Rinse with cold water.

4. Repeat this process as necessary to get the wheel fully clean.

5. To dry the wheel, drive the car around the block to fling off excess water, then pat the wheel gently with a soft, dry, cotton cloth.



Fourth, most of our wheels have the center section clearcoated and the rims polished but left uncoated. This means that the outer rim (if the wheel finish is TechniPolish, neither coated nor anodized) can be touch-up polished with a very fine grade metal polish. )



Thanks,

Mike

 

[ZaneO]

If they are typical Technipolish, then the centers should be cleared. You can treat them like paint - degrease, wash, clay, polish, seal. But go easy on them. I would probably hit them with something like Eagle One All Wheel and Tire to work on anything too stubborn. Wash them down good with soap and clay if needed. After that, I would work a couple of coats of an AIO into the centers and finish with a quality paint sealant.



For the lips, something like Mother's will work well. You can seal them as well to help with routine maintenance.

 

[WCM3]

If they are typical Technipolish, then the centers should be cleared. You can treat them like paint - degrease, wash, clay, polish, seal. But go easy on them. I would probably hit them with something like Eagle One All Wheel and Tire to work on anything too stubborn. Wash them down good with soap and clay if needed. After that, I would work a couple of coats of an AIO into the centers and finish with a quality paint sealant.



For the lips, something like Mother's will work well. You can seal them as well to help with routine maintenance.

Thanks. I'll degrease, wash and clay them when I receive them. What AIO do you recommend for the centers? What about sealant. I have Poorboys wheel sealant.

 

[WhiteStripes]

ZAIO seems to be used on wheels a lot. I know some of the heavy hitters here use it.

 

[ZaneO]

Thanks. I'll degrease, wash and clay them when I receive them. What AIO do you recommend for the centers? What about sealant. I have Poorboys wheel sealant.

If they were mine, I would use Z-AIO and Z2 Pro. Doesn't mean it's the only way though.

 

[imported_Detailing Technology]

ZAIO is great on painted wheels. I top it and maintain it with Z-CS.



Try Poorboys Wheel Sealant also.

 

[WCM3]

See these aren't painted wheels though. They are fully forged with a clear coat over the center. NO paint..

 

[WhiteStripes]

The clear coat would technically be paint.... I mean ZAIO is used on clear coat so I think you're in the clear (har har)

 

[GLuXuRy]

^^^ haha



show them darn wheels already .. i love wheels to begin with



but Fikse wheels are sick

 

[ZaneO]

They are fully forged with a clear coat over the center.

That's really no different than paint on your vehicle.

 

[WCM3]

What about with scratches. On the lips I should be able to wet sand the small scratches out, but on the clear coated face, if I wet sand, wouldn't I need to reclear them again?



Will post pics soon.

 

[06c350sport]

What about with scratches. On the lips I should be able to wet sand the small scratches out, but on the clear coated face, if I wet sand, wouldn't I need to reclear them again?



Will post pics soon.

As a two-time original owner of Fikse wheels (one of my cars is on their web site), here's some advice for Technipolish wheels:



1. Never, ever use an abrasive polish on the centers. The inner surface of the spokes are anodized gray, and that finish is very delicate. I wouldn't even wax the centers. You can wax fully polished or painted versions, but not anodized or Technipolish rims. If you insist on a finish I recommend Zaino Clear Seal. I haven't tried Optiseal, but it might be just as good.



2. Use a metal polish on the polished rims occasionally. Never wet sand. Polish only. You may want to have a professional do it. If you try it yourself, fiber tips on a drill with Mother's Mag Wheel Polish or similar stuff works fine. Eastwood and Griots sell thse tips in sets. Since you never want to get polish on the anodizing, even accidentally, I always taped and covered the center when polishing.



3. For general cleaning any high quality paint shampoo works great. So does Griots Wheel Cleaner, but I think wheel soaps are unnecessary. Diluted Simple Green works, but IMO it is overkill. I dry mine with microfiber. Never, ever use those caustic commercial spray cleaners. Never spray-on rubber treatment for the tires either. Spray the treatment on an applicator and then use the applicator to apply the product to the tires.



4. If your car doesn't already have them I'd highly recommend a set of ceramic low-dust brake pads. OEM BMW pads leave acidic dust, and it'll eat the rim finish over time. There's a reason why Fikse race rims are almost always painted. I also recommend zinc-plated rotors, to keep rust from staining the barrels.



5. Fikse wheels are delicate. They look like jewelry, but one errant tap will leave a dent or a scratch. Be very careful when checking the air in your tires, changing wheels, etc. Put tape over the ends of your air gauge and chuck, and buy a protective bolt socket, if you don't have one.



Oh, and one more thing. Be careful who you trust with mounting tires. One good test - ask Fikse who their dealers are in your area.

 

[imported_Puckman]