M826 wheels are pain in the butt to clean. Help.

LuvMyE92 · 09-20-2021, 03:28 PM

You think the 826 are bad? The wheels on my wife's E46 were the worst, especially since she is a typical driver and I didn't have the opportunity back then to wash the car weekly (before we married) and so it was quite a chore.

The only upside was that all of the slots between the spokes were the same size. So once I found a brush that worked, it went fairly quickly.

jailonacs99 · 09-20-2021, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bri1042

I think BMW should just start doing all their wheels in brake dust color. Our lives will be easier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTM3

Wonder if 825M are easier to clean

They kind of sort of have! I have the 825Ms in Orbit Grey, and they don't show dust nearly as bad as my old black wheels did.

They are still a PITA to clean because there are so many spoke crevices. I got in there yesterday with a flat and a long brush, and I mostly got them clean. I need to get a longer brush to reach the barrel though.

Because of the color, they stay "normal" looking for longer. It's now that I have them cleaned but have little missed spots that it was clear how dirty they were. I do have a set of black 826Ms coming to be my winter set, so I'm sure getting salt and dust off those will be an absolute joy.

NightWriter · 09-20-2021, 05:50 PM

Could be worse

JMU_BMW · 09-20-2021, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gfit

Good point. It's pretty gentle and I'm careful with the spray and rise and haven't had an issue on the last few cars

I may give that a whirl. One thing I keep forgetting to try is simple green. Simple Green is stronger than one would figure. When I worked on F-16s, we used to use SG to clean the anti-seize off of the wheel bolts. And then we would send the wheel bolts to NDI to get x-ray'd. Well we had to stop using simple green, because it was puddling around the head of the bolts, after we dried them, and cracking the bolts. Although, now, I think its turned into more of a water based cleaner.

Very cool, I worked on F-15s. Didn't really expect to find another crew chief on here

Limegrntaln · 09-20-2021, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMU_BMW

Very cool, I worked on F-15s. Didn't really expect to find another crew chief on here

Definitely a small world. I run into fellow crew chiefs in the weirdest places. 2A373B, for life!! I believe the 15 guys were 373A.

Alvinmark12 · 09-21-2021, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanm4

That's great. Do you have any picture of your wheels after wash?

When I wash my car this weekend I will. Problem is your drive the car 5 minutes and they are dirty again HAHAHA

aford · 09-21-2021, 07:58 PM

+1 for Obsessed Garage.

While I don't have these wheels yet I've found that P&S Brake Buster in a pump sprayer. EZ Detailing brush. Separate wheel bucket for rinsing. It's close to what Matt does.

If you can get your wheels ceramic coated it'll certainly help with the process but that's an investment.

vetteflier · 09-28-2021, 03:58 PM

You can get the right stuff to clean them--spray, brush, etc. Bottom line is mine--M25 flame 2 tone, look fantastic! Grips on pistols and wheels on cars are my 2 hot buttons for esthetics. These are the best looking wheels I've ever had on a car. Worth the effort. I haven't seen anything in the aftermarket that can touch them. Others look good, as well, but the 2 tone on a black car with red calipers is top of the heep.

Pantagathus · 09-28-2021, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aford

+1 for Obsessed Garage.

While I don't have these wheels yet I've found that P&S Brake Buster in a pump sprayer. EZ Detailing brush. Separate wheel bucket for rinsing. It's close to what Matt does.

If you can get your wheels ceramic coated it'll certainly help with the process but that's an investment.

I have my car, including wheels, ceramic coated and I don't think the ceramic coating on the wheels does much at all. I'm hanging out for after market brake pads, that's what's going to Kane the difference

fvfvsix · 09-28-2021, 05:48 PM

For BMWs, I find a wheels-off coating to do the trick. Once the barrels are coated with a good product, the brake dust comes off super easy. That said, OP’s wheel maintenance routine needs the right products and tools.

pikcachu · 09-28-2021, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanm4

That's what I used.

This is the best

beachBmmr · 09-28-2021, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Quote:

Originally Posted by GixY2K

Lots of patience, blue paper towel and WD40 once a week. The more weeks you skip, the harder it will be to clean it.

For me, the barrels are the worst part. The wheels arent even clean, to me, unless the barrels and tires are spotless. All of that browning on the tire, is all contamination, and fallout from the suns rays. The sun, and road chemicals, turn the tire brown. I take my wheels off, about once a month, to make sure I get them really good.

Bingo, only proper way to clean wheels is off the car.

Jproos · 09-29-2021, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyBrand

Keeping these wheels clean are the worst part of owning this car for me. It's a BMW trait and it sucks. I scrub a dub dub and 2 days later there trashed. You just have to do the work and scrub and or buy a really good wheel cleaner solution to help which I have yet to find one that is 100% and it gets expensive. Hopefully we'll start getting some low dust pads soon we can swap. Oh third world problems lol.

Gyeon Iron seems to work very well. I used Sonax for a long time. Gyeon seems to be even better.

floating.spirit · 09-29-2021, 09:51 PM

You haven't lived until you've tried wheel woolies!

jailonacs99 · 09-30-2021, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachBmmr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Quote:

Originally Posted by GixY2K

Lots of patience, blue paper towel and WD40 once a week. The more weeks you skip, the harder it will be to clean it.

For me, the barrels are the worst part. The wheels arent even clean, to me, unless the barrels and tires are spotless. All of that browning on the tire, is all contamination, and fallout from the suns rays. The sun, and road chemicals, turn the tire brown. I take my wheels off, about once a month, to make sure I get them really good.

Bingo, only proper way to clean wheels is off the car.

When I do my winter/summer swap is definitely when my wheels and tires get their best clean.

LTJohn · 10-03-2021, 07:37 AM

ceramic coat the wheels. Makes washing easy for about 6-7 months. Won't stop tar tho......

nathanm4 · 10-10-2021, 11:31 AM

Update:

This is my update from the last time. I can see the improvement. I washed the wheels twice with two different wheel soaps. It definitely helped!

Next time I will wash them three times and see what happens.

In conclusion: these wheels take patience but still are pain in the butt to wash!

M3GALLY · 10-10-2021, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

First of all, I wash my car weekly (it's my daily) so the wheels never get too terribly bad.

Second, I don't bother with the barrels. Too much trouble and if I don't look closely, I can't see that far in.

Third, I use a sponge. I've got or had every tool known to man, and the sponge seems to work best. I went to Ace Hardware and bought a tile grout sponge, and cut it in half. Perfect. Nice and soft, easily squeezes smaller to get into the smaller spoke spaces, but with enough pushback to clean well.

I use Griot's wheel cleaner, and I buy it by the gallon.

I can clean all four wheels in less than 15 minutes.

Does ceramic coating the wheels help a lot?

MarineRaider · 10-10-2021, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanm4

Update:

This is my update from the last time. I can see the improvement. I washed the wheels twice with two different wheel soaps. It definitely helped!

Next time I will wash them three times and see what happens.

In conclusion: these wheels take patience but still are pain in the butt to wash!

Is that a AFTER wash picture?

nathanm4 · 10-10-2021, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarineRaider

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanm4

Update:

This is my update from the last time. I can see the improvement. I washed the wheels twice with two different wheel soaps. It definitely helped!

Next time I will wash them three times and see what happens.

In conclusion: these wheels take patience but still are pain in the butt to wash!

Is that a AFTER wash picture?

Yes

AndroidRobot · 10-10-2021, 12:32 PM

I rinse mine first, then hit them with sonax wheel cleaner and let it sit for 3-5min. Afterwards k gonij with a wheel brush through each spoke quicky and rinse again. It's not that tedious and the cleaner + rinse helps a lot.

I should also note mine are ceramic coated

modat · 10-10-2021, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanm4

Yes

Did you just spray and rinse?

09-20-2021, 03:28 PM	#45
LuvMyE92 Occasionally frequent poster 3086 Rep 2,773 Posts Drives: CT5V-Blackwing Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: RTP NC, USA iTrader: (0)	You think the 826 are bad? The wheels on my wife's E46 were the worst, especially since she is a typical driver and I didn't have the opportunity back then to wash the car weekly (before we married) and so it was quite a chore. The only upside was that all of the slots between the spokes were the same size. So once I found a brush that worked, it went fairly quickly. __________________ Current inventory: F22 G29 Supra Past: E24,E28(3),E34,E36,E37,E38(2),E39(4),E46,E89,E92 (obviously),F01,F06,F10,F30,F87,G12,G30(2),G82(2)
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09-20-2021, 05:50 PM	#47
NightWriter Colonel 4868 Rep 2,744 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Pure Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Could be worse __________________
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09-21-2021, 07:58 PM	#51
aford First Lieutenant 269 Rep 317 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Competition Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	+1 for Obsessed Garage. While I don't have these wheels yet I've found that P&S Brake Buster in a pump sprayer. EZ Detailing brush. Separate wheel bucket for rinsing. It's close to what Matt does. If you can get your wheels ceramic coated it'll certainly help with the process but that's an investment. __________________ Current: G80 Competition Past: X4M Competition
	Appreciate 1 mcjohnsonsg384.50 Quote

09-28-2021, 03:58 PM	#52
vetteflier Captain 483 Rep 609 Posts Drives: 2021 BMW M4 Competition Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	You can get the right stuff to clean them--spray, brush, etc. Bottom line is mine--M25 flame 2 tone, look fantastic! Grips on pistols and wheels on cars are my 2 hot buttons for esthetics. These are the best looking wheels I've ever had on a car. Worth the effort. I haven't seen anything in the aftermarket that can touch them. Others look good, as well, but the 2 tone on a black car with red calipers is top of the heep. Last edited by vetteflier; 09-29-2021 at 04:50 PM..
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09-28-2021, 05:48 PM	#54
fvfvsix Private First Class 268 Rep 143 Posts Drives: '22 M3 \| '22 X3 M40i Join Date: May 2010 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	For BMWs, I find a wheels-off coating to do the trick. Once the barrels are coated with a good product, the brake dust comes off super easy. That said, OP’s wheel maintenance routine needs the right products and tools.
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09-29-2021, 09:51 PM	#58
floating.spirit Captain 1040 Rep 848 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Washington state iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 X3MC [0.00]	You haven't lived until you've tried wheel woolies!
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10-03-2021, 07:37 AM	#60
LTJohn First Lieutenant 142 Rep 309 Posts Drives: 2019 Porsche GT3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	ceramic coat the wheels. Makes washing easy for about 6-7 months. Won't stop tar tho......
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10-10-2021, 11:31 AM	#61
nathanm4 Captain 696 Rep 738 Posts Drives: Aston Martin Vantage Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Salt Lake City, UT iTrader: (0)	Update: This is my update from the last time. I can see the improvement. I washed the wheels twice with two different wheel soaps. It definitely helped! Next time I will wash them three times and see what happens. In conclusion: these wheels take patience but still are pain in the butt to wash! Attached Images __________________
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10-10-2021, 12:32 PM	#65
AndroidRobot Major General 4353 Rep 6,118 Posts Drives: 2022 Porsche Boxster GTS Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] 2022 Porsche Boxste ... [0.00]	I rinse mine first, then hit them with sonax wheel cleaner and let it sit for 3-5min. Afterwards k gonij with a wheel brush through each spoke quicky and rinse again. It's not that tedious and the cleaner + rinse helps a lot. I should also note mine are ceramic coated __________________ 2022 Porsche Boxster GTS Gentian Blue 2023 Porsche Spyder Python Green (on order) 2022 BMW M3 Comp AWD IOMG/Kyalami Orange (SOLD) 2018 BMW M2 Mineral Grey(SOLD) 2019 BMW X5 50i Carbon Black/Tartufo (SOLD)
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