Stained Fuchs Wheels!!! What to do?!

[toreboee]

I did a search in the forum however did not find any photos or with anything as bad as this. Sorry if its a repeat.

I had my SC treated with undercoating and cavity coating/wax at a local shop. They told me to leave the car for a few weeks to let everything set. I drove the car home and when I took it out of the garage today to wash it before storing it for the winter I noticed to my horror that the wheels were stained.

3 out of 4 rims. I reckon some undercoating must have gotten onto the wheels at the shop and they dried it of? I did not notice anything when I retrieved the car and parked it for a few weeks. Badly lit garage.

Its as if the stains are etched into the anodized coating. I tried a bit of polish, and I tried Vaseline, but nothing helped. Maybe I did not try hard enough?

Any advice or is refurb/reanodizing the only option I'm left with?

[McLovin]

Hard to tell from the pictures, but they look like they aren't anodized anymore. Look shiny, like they have been polished out.

If they have been polished out, you can just repolish until they are "clean" again.

If they are anodized and you have that staining, and you want to keep them anodized, I don't think there is anything you can do except get them stripped and re-anodized.

[JoeyD911]

I would be taking a trip back to that shop and asking them what THEY are going to do to clean that up! I hate letting anyone touch my car for just this reason.....they just don't care.

[toreboee]

Now I'm not sure if they are polished or anodized. Here is an older photo.

Yes, I'm going to the shop tomorrow to what they have to say, and do.

[Eric Hahl]

Looks like they have already been polished. Some Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish should do the trick.

[dhagood]

i have stock, anodized wheels. while there is a bit of luster to the anodized portions, they very definitely do not reflect. i'm guessing your wheels have been polished.

[toreboee]

Thanks guys! Thats a bit more reassuring. I'll try the aluminum polish

[McLovin]

Since they are polished, you can get the stains out.

If the polishes that you are using aren't strong enough to get the stains, try wet sanding with some soapy water and 1500-2000 grit paper, then moving to the polishes.

[toreboee]

Noted!

[toreboee]

Can the wheels be anodized at any time or is it like when its gone its gone? Any benefits over a polished wheel?

[McLovin]

Yes, you can get those wheels reanodized any time.

Benefits?

Anodized is no maintenance. Polish eventually fades.

Anodized to many looks better.

Anodized is more unique these days. A really nice, clean set of anodized wheels is not hugely common these days. Most have been damaged, polished out, etc.

It was kind of unique when it came out, not many cars had anodized forged wheels.

Anodize is a very durable finish.

Not sure how many places in Norway have experience reanodizing these wheels, though!

[NewfieMZ3]

They are definately polished. As mentioned, wet sand and then re-polish , they'll look better than ever.

[Josh D]

Never Dull would probably remove those stains. It has removed stains on my anodized wheels.

[mca]

Could it be from a degreaser? I have similar stains on my anodized Fuchs - unknowingly used a wheel degreaser and it got on my rims. Nothing can restore the finish although Vaseline helps a tad.

[toreboee]

I went to the shop that did the undercoating. Mercasol is the brand. They told me it was not uncomon for some coating to drip. So, it is not a degreaser as i understand it but the undercoating itself that has staind the wheel. They gave me a product they promised would get rid of the stains. Fingers crossed. Will try it after work and post feedback.

My understanding from the feedback here is that you may use a bit more "force" to remove stains from a polished wheel because you do not risk removing the anodizing layer on the rim?

Thanks everyone

[kidrock]

you can use more "force". You could even use a very fine "wet and dry" sandpaper (2000 grit) with water to remove those stains if you find that normal polishes don't do the trick. If the finish becomes scratched, gradually use finer and finer papers with water (up to 4000 grit). Then finish your wheels with scratch compound, then use a polishing compound to finish.

[toreboee]

Good as new! The shop gave me a mild solvent to wipe it off. It took a bit of elbow grease but the result speaks for itself