Question for you BMW lovers

[Troy@Protekt]

I posted this question on my favorite car to detail poll and I think it got over-looked. I will start a new thread and hope that I'm not stepping on BMW lover's toes here.

I also want to add that I know it is not a unique problem just to BMW's, they are just the ones I notice it on most. Here's the question -

I have a question for you guys who like to detail BMW's. I find these among my least favorite cars to do for one reason, their factory wheels are a pain in the butt to clean and polish in a lot of cases. They make these intricate wheel designs and make the surface of the wheel fairly delicate to chemicals. I see soooo many BMW's with damaged wheels because someone used something too harsh on them, probably because they didn't want to take the time to go through and clean all the intricate areas by hand.

That doesn't bother you?

An added note - It has also always bugged me that it seems like the more expensive the wheels the more you have to baby them. IMO

Troy

 

[audiboy]

I've only had the chance to detail one and it was a '04 535i. I didn't find that the paint was too hard to work with and the wheels were fairly easy to clean. I do know what you're talking about with some of the wheel designs though Troy. BMW comes out with some really intricate designs and the drawback to that is that they're usually hard to clean.

 

[The Chee]

Mine's a 320D(iesel)...the paint's a pain to work with:wall :wall . As for the wheels, I use insulator wax on them and no harsh cleaning chemical needed, just car shampoo is enough

 

[jaybs02]

I think your question leads into the "does the manufacturer give any thought..." poll.
My 90 cutlass wheels had a design so tight I can barely get my pinkie into the area to try and clean. The previous owner must have used a harsh chemical or just ignored it and the clear failed making the wheels look horrid.

Trust it's not just BMW that is out to make life difficult. That and some of the newer pads seem to dust more than anything, making matters worse.

"J"

 

[Troy@Protekt]

Trust it's not just BMW that is out to make life difficult. That and some of the newer pads seem to dust more than anything, making matters worse.

Yes the brake dust these new "better" pads give off is a bit ridiculous if you ask me. Keeps me in business though so I will try not to complain.

They have had those brake buddies out for a long time to shield brake dust from landing on the wheel, but you are just shortening the life of your brakes by using them because the brakes can't cool off as easy.


Troy

 

[audiboy]

That and some of the newer pads seem to dust more than anything, making matters worse.

If you want to see bad brake dust, you should come over and look at my big brake kit with performance ceramic pads. Between washings(usually about a week) they turn the inside of my wheels black. I'm not talking about a dark gray, but a nice coat of black soot.