geoler Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Hi all, My alloys have these marks on them: I've tried Hyperwash, APC, Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner & Clay Bar but nothing really helps. I can reduce the dark areas slightly but the patterning remains. Any idea what has cause this? How can I clean it up? And is it possible to prevent this from happening again? Cheers, Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 my guess is its a build up or road tar and brake dust. i got tar spots on my old wheels from newly surfaced roads, but they came off with a lot of elbow grease and a claybar. only a couple were imoveable. quite how you have that much is a suprise.have you tried bilburry? worst case scenario is a wheel refurb. if you don't clean wheels regularly they will build up the crap and then it becomes very hard to remove some stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyranchers Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 thats etching , doubt you will remove that , i would go straight in with the big guns and try a dab of wonder wheels neat i find bilberry quite mild think you will end up refurbing , once refurbed a good wheel sealant and regular washing will keep them pristine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkie34 Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Looks like water marks under the laquer.Think the only solution would be a refurb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Looks like the laquer is crazed and it's a build up of muck underneath. Don't know how you would fix it,probably a refurb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoler Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 My alloys cames in this state when I bought the car. Might go for a refurb then look after them. Any advice on wheel sealants? I don't recall anything in the Meguiars range but have never looked for this kind of product. Cheers, Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkie34 Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Jetseal 109 then apply wheel guard or rimwax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 My alloys cames in this state when I bought the car. Might go for a refurb then look after them. Any advice on wheel sealants? I don't recall anything in the Meguiars range but have never looked for this kind of product. Cheers, Geo Rim Wax is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zugara Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Sir....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoler Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 My alloys cames in this state when I bought the car. Might go for a refurb then look after them. Any advice on wheel sealants? I don't recall anything in the Meguiars range but have never looked for this kind of product. Cheers, Geo Rim Wax is good Those rims are proper shiny Cheers, Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 No one is waxing my rim..... ill get my coat.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zugara Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 No one is waxing my rim..... ill get my coat.... To late, i've got it already.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Welcome to the gutter... Its nice down here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Welcome to the gutter... Its nice down here.... Nice to have some company, fancy a beer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Just finishing of a nice bordeaux. Still got 5 bottles left. ... May be an interesting weekend... I think we are tempting a green room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmck13 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Its called Oxidization, no amount of polishing will help because the seal has broken down, it will return. Just another fine job done by old mother nature. Refurb is the only way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoler Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Hand a chat with a guy from The Wheel Specialist Apparently lacquers are a flawed solution as they will get chipped then dirt & water will get in. Thus cleaning the alloys & reapplying the lacquer will only result in me ending up back where I started. The other options are: 1. Remove old lacquer & polish then apply a sealant/wax regularly. 2. Powder coat the alloys. Option 1 is the cheapest but would require more maintenance. Option 2 is more costly but would be a more durable solution. What do you guys think? If the powder coat routed what colour would you choose. My Zed currently look like this: When I bought her I did think the alloys might be a be too blink so maybe a darker grey? Cheers, Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Hand a chat with a guy from The Wheel Specialist Apparently lacquers are a flawed solution as they will get chipped then dirt & water will get in. Thus cleaning the alloys & reapplying the lacquer will only result in me ending up back where I started. The other options are: 1. Remove old lacquer & polish then apply a sealant/wax regularly. 2. Powder coat the alloys. Option 1 is the cheapest but would require more maintenance. Option 2 is more costly but would be a more durable solution. What do you guys think? If the powder coat routed what colour would you choose. My Zed currently look like this: When I bought her I did think the alloys might be a be too blink so maybe a darker grey? Cheers, Geo I see you have a 2007/8 ZED there with the optional Nismos - or do you know if they were not new when the car was first purchased? But I believe you car also has a Nismo exhaust and rad cap so perhaps the previous owner has added them? Otherwise, if they were supplied with the car from new it is surprising the wheels have deterioated in such a relatively short time and if less than 3 years old it makes me think you might have a warranty claim (in the same way earlier 350 owners have had the standard Rays wheels replaced due to paint bubbling). But...... But I am a little curious as to how you have cleaned them - what have you used seeing the products shown in your pic you posted up some while back? I am assuming the wheels were not in their present state when you bought th car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoler Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Hi Colin, The alloys were like this when I bought the zed. As I've started to get the hang of cleaning her, smaller & smaller defects start to annoy me. In my cleaning collection I've used Meguiars Hot Rim All Wheel Cleaner with a Meguiars ultra save wheel brush. Whilst the alloys come up nice & clean there are a few patches that need more attention. I guess the damage has already been done. The warranty book says genuin Nissan parts have a 2 year warranty. So if the LMGT4 alloys came as factory fit then I think I might have missed the warranty window. Cheers, Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 If the wheels were supplied new with the car and are less than 3 years old I would visit a Nissan dealer and see if they will support a warranty claim or at least a goodwill gesture - which can sometimes be secured, and even if they a little more than 3 years old. Surprised you did not query the condition though at the time of your purchase? And yes, if they were bought as 'aftermarket' wheels than the 3-year protection would not apply. First thing is to establish if they were supplied with the car from new - check with the supplying dealer. But having said all that, Nissan might say it is the way they have been cleaned, albeit not in your ownership and noting you have not used the metal polish shown in the pic, or other abrasive cleaner to further affect the lacquer. Given a set of Nismo wheels currently command s/h prices well over a grand, even if not in perfect condition, it is certainly worthwhile getting something done, particularly as they are such a great looking wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoler Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Hi Colin, The car is under 3 years old. I'll contact the supplying dealer to see where I stand. When buying the zed she looked so shiny & nice compared to the golf I was part exchanging. I did miss a few points on the car that I've since come to notice. The Meguiars metal polish has only been used on the exhausts & they've come up really nice. Thanks for the advice. Cheers, Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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