How I Got My FIKSE Wheels Clean.

[reesestewww]

I was looking for something that could assist me in cleaning my wheels, when I came across a Meguiar’s product. It read “spray on and rinse off” yea right, what ever, but I’m a sucker for Meguiar’s products. So I tried it, and was impressed. It even left a clean circle spot in my drive way. The pics you see are with NO scrubbing. It really helped and worked. I recommend it.

This is what I used
http://meguiars.dailyshopper.com/index.aspx?pagename=moreinfo&uniqueid=1049619

Before


After

[PDACPA]

reese- I was a Meguiers user too (liked the quick detail as a quick once over before taking a little ride) until I went to the Porsche Parade. The Zymol guy offers to demo his product. As I am driving the car under the tent he says I bet you are using Meguiers. I replied yes and he proceeded to go into detail at how their products use some silicone and you end up with a sort of fog look on the paint. The car looks great and the shine is nice, but after he did one of the fenders with the Zymol cleaner and Carbon wax, the difference was extremely noticeable.

I have used the P21 wheel cleaner and had good results too, but would be willing to try that Meguier one (even though I am switching wax!).

[pbs911]

Looks great. I also use a very soft paint brush with the spray on cleaner. The paint brush allows you to get into the nooks and crannies and makes the wheels look new.

[bento]

i too am always looking for a better way to keep my fm10s clean. the meguirs stuff looks good for the spokes and the nooks and crannies, i'll have to check it out.

anyone know what the best way is to get little caked up specs of brake dust off of the outer. i've scrubbed at it pretty good with the zymoyl wheel cleaner and it wasn't budging. i know that ultimately you should try to not let it build up, but unfortunately, it's a bit late for that.

thanks

david

[tchanson]

I'm a little leery, in general, about using any of the spray on/spray off type wheel cleaners. Some of them can be pretty caustic on uncoated rim lips such as Fikse uses.

Meguiar's sounds like they've been using gentler cleaners, but that wasn't always the case. Some of the previous versions of their Gold Class cleaners may still be on the shelves and were not intended to be used on polished or uncoated aluminum such as Fikse rim sections. There was a Rennlist thread last year showing the truly nasty etching that resulted when one of those cleaners was inadvertently used on a set of FM10's. Photos are no longer up, but it wasn't pretty.

Fikse themselves recommend Wenol Red or Blue for polished rim lips,(although I think Simichrome works better). Additionally, FWIW, for the centers (or at least the Satin Anodized centers) Fikse recommends only a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and cold water, applied only to a cool wheel surface. I like the regular P21S cleaner too, though. Paul's right about the paint brush. A stiff natural bristle brush does a great job of getting into the corners and the lug recesses.

Good luck,
Tim

[RickM]

I've found that an inexpensive grocery store metal polish works remarkably well on polished and chrome wheels. I'ts called Noxon. I'ts very easy to applyt and remove. I typically use it to attack the tough to polish areas and use another more expensive polish afterwards. I also like simichrome as it leaves a protective layer after use.

I've yet to use the jar of "Wheel Wax" in my garage.

[dtfastbear]

Paul,

The paint brush is a good idea! All the "wheel brushes" sold at auto parts stores are both too big to get into the FM-10 nooks and crannies and are also too abrasive, IMO.

Now I have a project for Saturday morning!

Thanks,

Dean

[IceBlueSC]

Great looking wheel! I am always careful when dealing with wheel cleaners and definitely read the fine print.

Case in point, if you look at the link above: "...*Not intended for use on anodized wheels." Fuchs beware.

[Moses]

Here's how I clean my Fikse FM10's.

I clean the spokes and lug areas with Simple Green and a paintbrush. It's easy and doesn't take any time.

The outer rims are cleaned with Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish with a soft cloth. AMAZING stuff. Again, easy to do. A few gentle wipes around the wheel produces a brilliant shine and the wheels look new.