Cleaning (not polishing, not refinishing) Fuchs?

[jdbunda]

I am not ready to send them off to Al Reed, and I don't want to change the color, or turn them into gleaming works of art (just yet, anyway) I just want to clean them up!

I have searched without finding anything, apologies for asking what is apparently an obvious question? My just-acquired '86 Targa has some funky neglected Fuchs, the anodized parts are yellowed and crusted with brake dust, and the black parts are charcoal grey.

I need to try Vaseline on the black centers, but the lips need some serious attention. I bought some Mothers' polish, which seemed to work well on a small section, only to read here somewhere that it will take off the anodizing, which is further than I want to go. I tried some "safe for all wheels" Meguiar's wheel cleaner that created spots and left a whitish residue (oops). I see the Porsche wheel cleaner offered by our host in the wheel cleaning kit - for $60 it must be miracle stuff?

So the noob gives up and asks - what should I be using on these things?

[TubbyAZ]

Vaseline on the black nee charcoal centers? Is this really something that will help?

That's the only problem I have with mine, the polished rims look pretty good still.

[m110]

Remove the wheels
place face up
spray with P21S gel:

Pelican Parts.com - Add to Shopping Cart

get a soft bristle hand brush, dunk in water and lather the wheel up, let it sit for a while and rinse

repeat and for stubborn areas add some mechanical action with a mild scrubber foam pad...like scotch brite but milder (detailing places have them, foam covered in a nylon material)

try some isopropyl alcohol for stubborn spots

repeat the P21s

you can try some lacquer thinner but I wouldn't let it set for more than 30 seconds as you work it, rinse

vaseline is ok, I prefer a cleaner/wax

should work