THSCC Forums

I was stumbling through Tischer BMW's online catalog and stumbled across Wheel Wax and it seems like a great way to avoid extra scrubbing of brake bust during every wash, that is if it actually works.

Anyone used this stuff before?

http://www.wheelwax.com/default.aspx

no, but the guys at Leith's parts counter recommend it.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

Matt,

Stuff like this works "okay," but it's not a silver bullet. With a BMW, especially one that's going to see some hard driving, you're still going to be cleaning your wheels. BMWs are kind of famous in detailing circles for always, always having badly dusted wheels.

Majestic Solutions, off New Bern Ave. in Raleigh, has a product called Enviro-Shield, which I've found to be a little more effective. During a car wash, you basically just spray some on, let it dwell for about a minute, and rinse it off. It doesn't keep dust from clinging to your wheels, but it does make cleaning them later a lot easier. The effect is as though you've Rain-X'd your wheels. I recommend this stuff not because it's "better" than Wheel Wax and others like it, but because the application and removal process is so brain-dead easy. You mix some up with water in a spray bottle, so 16oz. of ES lasts forever. Great on glass too, and no haze to clean off your windows either (like Rain-X has).

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

And while you're at it, buy a gallon of this stuff and throw every other car wash soap away. It's that good.

http://www.majesticsolutionsinc.com/extpro.html

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Yeah, I've tried countless soaps, and this (Ultra Gloss) is the one to get. It's like washing your car in a bucket of high end quick detailer. I'm glad you liked it.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Matt,

If you want to reduce your dust output by about 95% (seriously), then switch to Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads. They have a max op temp similar to the stock pads (i.e. these are street use only like stock), but they will amaze you with the reduction in dust...think 2 weeks of driving = 1 day of current dust.

The main drawback to them is a reduction in brake torque for a given level of pressure, but that is easy to adapt to. I've used them on the M5 for over 5 years now, on my old Volvo for as long as I can remember, on the E46 since I bought it, etc. They work fine for typical autocrossing too.

The best part of the deal is that they are cheap to try out. $94 buys both front and rear pads from Dave Z: http://www.zeckhausen.com/BMW/E46_M3.htm for your M3, so if you don't like them, you're not out what many other pads would cost.

Off topic, but for track use, I love the PFC01 pads and HT-10s are pretty decent too.

As far as wheel wax, I've not ever used the one you showed, but I do use Rejex on wheels. It creates a super slippery surface that is easily cleaned.

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

Wes, do you mean this stuff?:



I'll have to check this out next time I visit Jeff over there. I've been using the wash-n-wax for a couple years and it's great but I'll surely try the Ultra Gloss when it runs out.

Chuck, that's actually a great deal for under $100 for those pads. I though those days were over when I sold the Integra.

I actually wouldn't mind a little less initial 'bite' around town, plus it would probably help my braking style at the auto-x's.

Thanks for all the recommmendations guys.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Even better...

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http://www.greywinds.com

Yep. Forget the Zaino boyZ, I'll use what the guy that gets paid to do it uses.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

More on wheel maintenance, for Matt and everyone else...

Avoid the temptation to buy "Spray on, rinse off, walk away" wheel cleaners at auto parts stores. Most of them don't work very well. And those that do rely on very harsh chemicals to attain their "magic" cleaning ability. I've worked on at least one vehicle - an E39 M5 - where prior use of a product like this badly stained the outer lip of the car's wheels. And one of the wheels on my Mother's MR2 Spyder is discolored now, almost certainly as a result of her using stuff like this. These cleaners will also strip whatever wheel wax you've got on there right off.

Think of wheels like hand washing dishes. Simply rinsing the dishes off doesn't get them truly clean - you need to take a brush, or a sponge, to them, and agitate the food off. The same applies with wheels, or anything on a car.

The best, safest wheel cleaner available is: P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel. It's very expensive. Chemical Guys also has their Citrus Sticky Gel Wheel Cleaner, which isn't quite as good, but is a lot more affordable. Finally, a good substitute for the P21S stuff is their companion motorcycle line, S100. It's often the same, or very similar, and costs about half as much. What's more, you can usually find it at the local Harley dealer.

As for what I use? Depends on the wheels. Often it's Meguiar's Wheel Brightener, a highly acidic product that I buy in bulk and cut 4:1 (water:product). It's the strongest stuff on the market, and misuse will ruin the finish on a set of wheels very quickly.

Before: http://www.esotericdetails.com/images/j ... G_2029.jpg
After: http://www.esotericdetails.com/images/j ... G_2060.jpg

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Wow that first pic is nasty. I guess I'm too anal, but I've never let a wheel get that nasty. Something like that wold take 6 months of not cleaning with the deluxe plus pads!

I've never had any problem just cleaning wheels with regular car wash (usually use Zaino or Meguiars) and my wheel mitts. I just use a different (and smaller) wash bucket. Oh, and I usually use VERY warm water (have a hot/cold outside faucet) for what that's worth.

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

How acidic is it? I wonder if you could cut vinegar into a soap solution and make that work.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

I'm not entirely sure, but that's not a bad idea. How would I go about doing this? Just mix up some car soap and dump some vinegar in? The chemistry of how a lot of this stuff works escapes me. I do know that if the wind catches Wheel Brightener the wrong way, and you inhale it, you'll regret it. I've only done that once - I cover my face with my shirt now.

I know white vinegar is a commonly used thing for getting water spots off glass.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Matt, we sell the Wheel Wax at my store. It seems to work ok. I get better results with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish on machined wheels. On painted or chrome, the Wheel Wax seems to work fine.

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1993 Crystal White Miata ST 27 - Slow, but always finishes
2006 Flint Mica Metallic Lexus LS430 - Pure luxury
2005 Toyota Sienna XLE - The "new" Mobile Closet, Sandbox and Grocery Getter

Hey if you need tires, I know a guy....