Help with stains on wheels

Try hand polishing them out first with a medium polish... you can probably get that at Pep Boys. Then, do yourself a favor and pick up some Liquid Glass while you're there and slap about 3 layers of that on the rims afterward... that stuff will get harder than diamonds after some heat!
 
Hmmm...not good. Found a post on the Infiniti forums discussing these same black stains an owner with a G35 has. Those wheels have same kind of paint finish as my rims.



The stains are stains, but rather lack of paint. The paint is not durable and has been removed, probably by some wheel cleaner. You are seeing the black primer underneath. The only solutions are to refinish or replace the rims.
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GAH :(
 
Do the prep work yourself and just have the wheels repainted. Should knock the cost estimate down quite a bit. Have you looked into powdercoating?
 
Powdercoating was something I also thought about but the local estimate I got was double the re-painting price IIRC. What are the benefits of powedercoat vs. repaint? Durability of paint? Better look?
 
Often times when you are dealing with stubborn stains and you can't clean them, the next step would be to polish them out. I would go with the acid wash from a detail shop first. What wheel cleaners have you used by the way? There is a variety of wheel cleaners out there that vary in pH.



If you don't want to go the acid wash route, you may be able to polish it. Most factory wheels these days are clear coated.. so maybe a good plastic polish might work.
 
The only thing I've tried so far is claybar and diluted Automotive Simple Green. Would Meguiar's Scratch-X be considered a good plastic polish?
 
Why are we talking about plastic polishes? This is paint!! Sure, try Scratch-X, try something, I'm dying to know if you can get the stains off!
 
Hank3 said:
The only thing I've tried so far is claybar and diluted Automtive Simple Green. Would Meguiar's Scratch-X be considered a good plastic polish?
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The only thing less effective than what you've already tried is rubbing a dry paper towel over the stains lightly....why not try that?



Scenario-



Jimbob- "Dr. Smith, i think my leg is broken"



Dr. Smith- "Well Jimbob, heres some Codine, and a cast, and a wheelchair..."



Jimbob- "No thanks Dr. Smith, I'll just take some of my wife's Midol after the walk home, that should fix me right up."
 
That's all I had at home. I haven't had a chance to work on the rims yet nor have I purchased anything to try. Are you recommending anything other than an acid wash?
 
hank, you are one careful guy...or something! i think what Altered - Image is saying (he'll probably let you know if i get this wrong) IS JUST TRY SOMETHING AND GET ON WITH IT
 
I was merely trying to get as much input before I had the chance to get to the rims this weekend. My intention was not to frustrate any member on here, and my apologies if I did. We can close this thread or whatever, I feel like I've gotten enough ideas to move on. Thanks to everyone who chimed in.
 
No man, we want to hear what happens. Get some Scratch-X or one of those new Meg's OTC hand compounds at Wal-Mart and at least rub a spot so you know whether it's on top of or thru the finish.
 
I agree. I would prefer we find a solution.



I suggested a plastic polish because often times manufacturers today advertise some aluminum alloy for oem wheels that is actually anodized or clearcoated, or (..) for easier maintenance. Clearcoated wheels can be polished using a plastic polish. As opposed to a metal polish, it is typically not as aggressive and won't damage the clearcoat if used properly.



Just my two cents..
 
aixab said:
I agree. I would prefer we find a solution.



I suggested a plastic polish because often times manufacturers today advertise some aluminum alloy for oem wheels that is actually anodized or clearcoated, or (..) for easier maintenance. Clearcoated wheels can be polished using a plastic polish. As opposed to a metal polish, it is typically not as aggressive and won't damage the clearcoat if used properly.



Just my two cents..
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you do know that clear coat is just paint....

clear paint so use the same polish you use on the clear coat on your car
 
you do know that clear coat is just paint....

clear paint so use the same polish you use on the clear coat on your car
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yes. and also the clearcoat on wheels is a different type of paint than clearcoat on body paint.
 
aixab said:
yes. and also the clearcoat on wheels is a different type of paint than clearcoat on body paint.
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Well, it has been discussed here that it may be different (thicker or more durable) but the advice that has been given here for at least 5 years is to use paint polish on clearcoated wheels. IMO plastic polish isn't going to do squat...usually it doesn't even do anything on plastic :p
 
Hank3 said:
I was merely trying to get as much input before I had the chance to get to the rims this weekend. My intention was not to frustrate any member on here, and my apologies if I did. We can close this thread or whatever, I feel like I've gotten enough ideas to move on. Thanks to everyone who chimed in.
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The frustrating thing is that people are suggesting refinishing. I listed somthing i know from experience will work.



Others are making suggestions and saying they might or might not work. So far all of the mights and might nots have been considered, yet the definitive solution is being brushed aside.



If you lived near me and had 20 minutes to spare i'd have them fixed. No repainting or lemon juice required.
 
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