BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I bought some Bilberry Wheel Safe Cleaner from i4detailing to clean my Volks. Read the instructions and proceeded to use it 1:1 neat, because I thought they were very dirty. Proceeded to spray all four wheels, let it dwell and then resprayed and then agitated with a brush. When I was doing the brushwork, I noticed to my horror that where the cleaner had pooled in the dish, it had eaten the lacquer. I then finished cleaning the car in a somber mood, didn't even wax her. Dried the car and then put some Rimwax on the wheels so it had at least some sort of protection from further damage. Here are some pics after the wheels have been cleaned and have wax on them... Lesson for the future...ALWAYS DILUTE BILBERRY!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Painful to see Mark Its definitely been used far too concentrated, the instructions/website doesn't make it clear what is or isn't heavily soiled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 oh crap! I have used it neat loads of times on my standard non rays alloys with no problem! Nowadays i keep a good layer of wax on and just use water and shampoo. Can't believe that has happened! That's what you get when you buy cheap wheels mark! Sorry couldn't resist........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Quads Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I think the key is how long you leave it to dwel - I would only leave it 15/30 seconds at most - how long did you leave it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 The question is now....what can I do to fix the damage? Will it be possible to get them back to the previous state? Anybody know where this can be done and how much they charge? Thanks for any advice. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT1703 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Did you use it neat ?. Is 1:1 not one part concentrate and one part water ?? I dilute mine one part Bilberry to at least two parts water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 I think the key is how long you leave it to dwel - I would only leave it 15/30 seconds at most - how long did you leave it? The instructions said "Leave to dwell for 5mins, re-spray and agitate with brush" I only left it a minute or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 gutting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Did you use it neat ?. Is 1:1 not one part concentrate and one part water ?? I dilute mine one part Bilberry to at least two parts water My understanding of "neat" was pure, like when you order whisky "neat", i.e. no ice and dilution... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 The question is now....what can I do to fix the damage?Will it be possible to get them back to the previous state? Anybody know where this can be done and how much they charge? Thanks for any advice. Mark it might buff out with a good polishing machine. it doesn't look like its eaten through the laquer, more like its discoloured it. if you run your nail over it can you feel a height difference between the damamged and non damamged areas. i can't remember the instructions on autosol, b ut that might even do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS16 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Gutted for you mate. Hope you can sort these out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 yes you're both right, neat is nothing added but 1:1 is half cleaner half water. Hope you get it sorted Mark - what does it look like not so close up? Is it all four wheels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Crap, sorry to see this! That must be gutting mate. This is why my wheels only get washed with car shampoo and a wash mitt and no cleaners. And why you should always test any new cleaners in a test patch that cant be seen first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 The question is now....what can I do to fix the damage?Will it be possible to get them back to the previous state? Anybody know where this can be done and how much they charge? Thanks for any advice. Mark it might buff out with a good polishing machine. it doesn't look like its eaten through the laquer, more like its discoloured it. if you run your nail over it can you feel a height difference between the damamged and non damamged areas. i can't remember the instructions on autosol, b ut that might even do it. Good point rich, I did run my fingers over the area and you can deffo feel a difference in smoothness, but there doesn't seem to be a breach or ridge of any kind. I dare not attack with Autosol incase I cause more damage... yes you're both right, neat is nothing added but 1:1 is half cleaner half water. Hope you get it sorted Mark - what does it look like not so close up? Is it all four wheels? Yup, all four wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 are they laquered or are they just a high finish polish to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilli Red Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Hope Gaz spoke to you. When Tony gets home I will get him to call you too, so he can tell you what he did to repair his after our EU friends ruined his. Mark I could cry for you, so sorry to see this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Quads Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 If you have actually cut through the laquer then i am afraid you won't ever get the wheels back to the way you had them as I don't know of a company out there who will polish a wheel and laquer it (as its sooo hard due to it being polished, nothing for the paint to adhere to) its a finish that only the wheel manufacturers seem to be able to do. IF your rims are TRUE slit rims then they can probably be refurbed and have the lip polished back up to be nice and shiny but it will be harder to maintain as you will have lost the laquer protection. If they are fake split rims where its actually welded then its WAY WAY harder to get the lip polished up in the hard to get to areas near spokes i.e. where you have some damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunset350z Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Try some megs scratch X, rub it in lightly at first and buff it up, see if its made any improvement, and if it has then gradually increase pressure checking all the time, until its done the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Right, thinking, well they are damaged now anyways, I took some Autosol to the offside front wheel. Gave it some gentle rubbing and to my suprise it started shining up. Now, I know I'm about to make myself look a right fool, but is it possible that all I have done is strip the layers of Rimwax that I have built up over the past weeks? I polished and then ran my finget over and I cannot feel as if there is a breach in the lacquer. Here's a pic If I have indeed only stripped the Rimwax, then you don't know how relieved I'll be. Go on then, I deserve a flaming.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunset350z Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I wouldn't use autosol on it, use something milder!! If you haven't got megs then go and buy some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 So do you think that all I have done is strip the layers of wax? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunset350z Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Lets hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixy Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 God i hope so too - and nobody would flame you for that - it does look bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Damn, I baby my wheels too much. I phoned Gaz up from Envy and told him I felt right a right tw@t. I'll get some Megs Scratch X later, then I'll have to roll up my sleeves and do all four wheels, could take some time... Or I could just use Bilberry neat again and let it soak for longer to get rid of all the wax.....actually, better not.....just in case.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Mate, try it with something milder first! Christ you dont attack laquer with Autosol, thats metal polish, not for laquer! Try some scratchX or AG SRP. If you have gone through the laquer you will know about it as you will be able to feel the difference in the surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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