best metal polish for unlacquered diamond cut wheels

[Fal_325i]

As per title guy's need to know which metal polish etc will offer the best possible protection for my wheels. The wheels are diamond cut and unlacquered, and I don't want them to get fcuked up. The guy that refurbed them told me to apply polish, and then apply wd40 to them in order to keep the moisture and crap (dirt, brake dust)off them, does this sound right?

[Pro-detailing]

Unfortunately, no matter what you applied to bare metal it's generally far more difficult to keep on top of than lacquer. My polished style five's needed constant attention and they have still deteriorated from when polished.

As for polish itslef, Jon swears by mothers Billet, saying Autosol would 'destroy the finish' (Correct me if I'm wrong Jon!!) Suggesting it's as fine as metal polishes get..

I don't know for SURE but I suspect wd40 would detract from the finish regardless of how effective it prooved to be as a deterant to the crud.

Protection-wise, I would recommend bilt hamber auto balm for maximum corrosion protection or Zaino Z-CS after Zaino all-in-one for ease of cleaning. If you're prepared to clean them regularly enough you may want a protectant which is sheds dirty exceptionally well? As for the painted stars if you have them AIO is great, and SwissVax 'Autobahn Wheel Wax' lasted brilliantly on my lacquered stars but you'll have to ask Gazza325Cab how it's doing from now on!

Hope that helps

Nick

[Turbo-Brown]

I've been using T-Cut original as a finishing polish on ali for a while now. It works a treat as it's so fine a compound. Can use tooth paste too believe it or not!

Someone recommended using silicone grease to seal out the crap, although I've not tried it myself yet.

[Fal_325i]

anymore ideas guys?

[Fal_325i]

bttt

[aceraf]

I'm going to be using Meguiars NXT Gen Car Metal Polish Shine & Protector to get the shine, and then Chemical Guys Wheel Guard to keep them waxed up between washes.

It repells the water, so as long as you give them a rinse every now and then you should be okay.

Cleaning them will obviously be more of a hassle than normal lacquered wheels though

[aceraf]

Oh, and i did mine myself, they're not diamond cut...not sure if the meguiars will cause you any problems (it's like a t-cut for metal), but the CG should be okay.

I buffed the dish on my wheel with a buffer and the meguiars and nothing else.

[DaveD]

Supagard do a wheel protector

[cliffybabe]

i used Alu Belgom which i got off ebay its a polish thats deisgned just for polished metals and works a treat

[oakey]

Oh, and i did mine myself, they're not diamond cut...not sure if the meguiars will cause you any problems (it's like a t-cut for metal), but the CG should be okay.

I buffed the dish on my wheel with a buffer and the meguiars and nothing else.

Good stuff Aceref

I have fully polished Borbet A's on my car and I polish them once a week with meguirs all metal polish and they have lasted well for about a year

[aceraf]

I'm going to be fitting mine next week. I'm still thinking about spraying the centre's black. I no it's been done, but face just looks so dull compared to the shine from the dish.

I think i'm going to fit them and see how they look for a week or so, and then spray them if i'm not happy.

Meguiars metal polish is good stuff! You can get a good finish by hand, but with a buffer you can really make them bling!!!

[c76jon]

this type of finsh on wheels simply is not practical on wet roads period.

if these wheels are used only on dry roads then you must and i mean must wipe the rim down after every time you drive it and pull up

if you dont then the hot brake dust alone will corrode the polished metal

they are a feckin nightmare to keep mint even if only used in dry weather.if you dont wipe them down just once you will pay the price

my type 5s were mirror finish and they were un marked.not even a light scratch anywhere and it used to take me hours!!!
only use top quality clean microfibre to wipe them or you will introduce swirls/scratches

only apply product with a good quality m/f cloth or applicator pad.

i use two stages of prep

first i use this stuff.really good at marks and any signs of a potential pit in metal

http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/metal-cleaning.html

ALU TECH POLISH

very very good but will not give you the mirror perfection shine you want

look at it like this

the process needs to be done in stages like prepping a surface for paint
you will not get a perfect finsh for paint using 600 grade paper but similarly you wont remove major imperfections with 2500 grade paper

it needs to be worked through in stages

yes most of the products claim to give you mirror finish etc but logically they will either be to fine cut to remove bigger marks or to coarse to provide flawless finish

so after i have used that to remove harsher stuff you will be left with a surface that has very very very fine marks from the previus product

i now use this after

http://motherswax.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=27

MOTHERS BILLET

this is incredible at giving the final mirror finish and will leave surface flawless

i have tried tons of stuff and nothing comes close

but using these two you can maintain them so they are truly like a mirror



but let salt/rain water/brakedust on them and dont wipe it off when you pull up and they will need repolishing seriously
pitting occurs very quickly

bear in kind the finish you want
iam very very fussy and wanted totally zero marks in any light conditions
you get out what you put in

jon

[Turbo-Brown]

Holy shit!

That:



Looks like liquid metal!

[Fal_325i]

this type of finsh on wheels simply is not practical on wet roads period.

if these wheels are used only on dry roads then you must and i mean must wipe the rim down after every time you drive it and pull up

if you dont then the hot brake dust alone will corrode the polished metal

they are a feckin nightmare to keep mint even if only used in dry weather.if you dont wipe them down just once you will pay the price

my type 5s were mirror finish and they were un marked.not even a light scratch anywhere and it used to take me hours!!!
only use top quality clean microfibre to wipe them or you will introduce swirls/scratches

only apply product with a good quality m/f cloth or applicator pad.

i use two stages of prep

first i use this stuff.really good at marks and any signs of a potential pit in metal

http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/metal-cleaning.html

ALU TECH POLISH

very very good but will not give you the mirror perfection shine you want

look at it like this

the process needs to be done in stages like prepping a surface for paint
you will not get a perfect finsh for paint using 600 grade paper but similarly you wont remove major imperfections with 2500 grade paper

it needs to be worked through in stages

yes most of the products claim to give you mirror finish etc but logically they will either be to fine cut to remove bigger marks or to coarse to provide flawless finish

so after i have used that to remove harsher stuff you will be left with a surface that has very very very fine marks from the previus product

i now use this after

http://motherswax.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=27

MOTHERS BILLET

this is incredible at giving the final mirror finish and will leave surface flawless

i have tried tons of stuff and nothing comes close

but using these two you can maintain them so they are truly like a mirror



but let salt/rain water/brakedust on them and dont wipe it off when you pull up and they will need repolishing seriously
pitting occurs very quickly

bear in kind the finish you want
iam very very fussy and wanted totally zero marks in any light conditions
you get out what you put in

jon

Thanks for that jon, really appreaiate it (was looking forward to your response), but will this work on my diamond cut rims which are unlacquered? (bare metal), and when you say wipe them down after every journey, do you mean literally just wipe em down with a m/f cloth or do I have to use a liquid????

[siddiqi1]

Thank god for this thread, just about to get my BBS diamond cut, going to invest in those products

[Fal_325i]

Need soe questions answering jon, where are you

[siddiqi1]

Leave him alone, cant you see that he's polishing his rim.

Some people are so inconsiderate to others activities.!LOL

[Fal_325i]

lol

[siddiqi1]

Just bought the above products on your recommendation Jon.

Hope it works!!!!!

From what i understnad, what you are saying is:

Wip down after every trip
When cleaning the car and typically the wheels
First give them a good scrub
If required, sand with described sand grades
Then apply ALU POLISH
The apply MOTHERS BILLET Polish?

Job done?

[aceraf]

this type of finsh on wheels simply is not practical on wet roads period.

if these wheels are used only on dry roads then you must and i mean must wipe the rim down after every time you drive it and pull up

if you dont then the hot brake dust alone will corrode the polished metal

they are a feckin nightmare to keep mint even if only used in dry weather.if you dont wipe them down just once you will pay the price

my type 5s were mirror finish and they were un marked.not even a light scratch anywhere and it used to take me hours!!!
only use top quality clean microfibre to wipe them or you will introduce swirls/scratches

only apply product with a good quality m/f cloth or applicator pad.

i use two stages of prep

first i use this stuff.really good at marks and any signs of a potential pit in metal

http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/metal-cleaning.html

ALU TECH POLISH

very very good but will not give you the mirror perfection shine you want

look at it like this

the process needs to be done in stages like prepping a surface for paint
you will not get a perfect finsh for paint using 600 grade paper but similarly you wont remove major imperfections with 2500 grade paper

it needs to be worked through in stages

yes most of the products claim to give you mirror finish etc but logically they will either be to fine cut to remove bigger marks or to coarse to provide flawless finish

so after i have used that to remove harsher stuff you will be left with a surface that has very very very fine marks from the previus product

i now use this after

http://motherswax.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=27

MOTHERS BILLET

this is incredible at giving the final mirror finish and will leave surface flawless

i have tried tons of stuff and nothing comes close

but using these two you can maintain them so they are truly like a mirror



but let salt/rain water/brakedust on them and dont wipe it off when you pull up and they will need repolishing seriously
pitting occurs very quickly

bear in kind the finish you want
iam very very fussy and wanted totally zero marks in any light conditions
you get out what you put in

jon

I've ordered both of those and look forward to seeing how good they are.

Obviously as i've done my wheels by hand (stripped paint off using machine sander) they're not perfect like you would get when getting them diamond cut, but i want them to have as much of a mirror shine as possible.

I'll try and get some better pics up now that i have my Digital Camera back.

[aceraf]

Oh, and i did mine myself, they're not diamond cut...not sure if the meguiars will cause you any problems (it's like a t-cut for metal), but the CG should be okay.

I buffed the dish on my wheel with a buffer and the meguiars and nothing else.

Good stuff Aceref

I have fully polished Borbet A's on my car and I polish them once a week with meguirs all metal polish and they have lasted well for about a year

You have PM.