Wheel Polishing

[E30SIX 0]

I have a set of mags which have a semi polished outside rim edge. I gave them a wee bit of a buff and the seem to shine up all right.

Just wondering if anyone has a good step by step process for wheel polishing and products I could use? I want to really bring out the shine

I dont' really want to take them to a specialist since I am just doing the outide rim edge.

I found a post a while back in which one of the members on this forum had repainted a set of rims black and polished the outside rim lips up really nice.

Thanks again.

[bravo 35]

If you just want to restore the original finish use some good quality car polish.

If they are painted alloy and you want to make it polished you will have to fine sand the paint back, then polish the baremetal use an emery cloth then a buffing disc on a dremmel or similar then to avoid oxidisation you'll have to get it clear coated.

[Carl 3]

If you're polishing metal use Autosol - works a magic treat if you can handle the elbow grease required.

[DCEIVN 0]

what do you use? cloth? toothbrush (lol) or a small scale buffer?

[bravo 35]

you can buy sanding and buffing attachments for a dremmel or powerdrill.

[petone 0]

doing the same thing on mine, getting the curbing out then polishing. pretty good guide here:

http://www.turbobricks.com/mods.php?content=art0030

[bem-on 0]

it was hard work getting the rims like that but you said that they are semi polished? should be alot easier, i had the task of polishing from the acid dip. which ment that i had to start with 60grit, 80, 120, 240, 400wet, 800wet, 1200wet and 2000wet then just rub the polish on with a cloth. use a mouse sander and for you, you might only have to start at 800wet.

good luck. the hard work was 400wet and under

Edited June 12, 2006 by bem-on

[my_e36 43]

You can treat it like a normal car paint finish in many cases.

i.e. Clay bar, polish then wax.

This will clean off any tarnish, break dust build-up, etc... after the wax, it will protect from break dust make them easier to come off when washing.

For the wax part, go for synthetic (Meguiars NXT and the likes) as carnuba will break down quickly by the heat

[petone 0]

I'm still not sure whether or not to clear coat the polished lips. If i do it will stop the oxidising, but have also heard stories bout it going yellow and cracking, then its a real bitch. waxing could be something to think about.

[bumpstop325 0]

make sure the apropriate prep work is correct and you cant go wrong.

[E30SIX 0]

I'm still not sure whether or not to clear coat the polished lips. If i do it will stop the oxidising, but have also heard stories bout it going yellow and cracking, then its a real bitch. waxing could be something to think about.

Yes, at this stage I think I will not clear coat the finish product. I have given the rims a light buff and the shine is starting to come up well. But oxidation is a concearn.

I am considering a bit of annual leave so I can really put in the hours to acheive the show room shine :bowdown: .

Thanks for the feedback, it's been a great help.

[B.NOR.T 0]

autosol makes break dust stick to your rims and it makes it harder to clean next time around.

if you used autosol make sure that you give you rims a wipe after each time that you drive it...