Greetings,
Before I changed the wheels on my W123, I used Kleen wheels to keep the brake dust to a minimum. Now that I have stopped using those wheels, I have had to stop using the Kleen wheels. Even with washing my car almost every week, brake dust has managed to "burn" itself into some very minor spots. Is there anyway I could preserve them and make clean up easier by applying car wax to my polished wheels? Or, do they make some kind of wheel wax or protectant film? (they're the stock CLK wheels of around 1999) Thanks for the advice. After 20 years of use, my old wheels accumlated a lot of "permanent" dark spots caused by brake dust and only semi-frequent car washings.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

The Tire Rack sells a wax specifically for wheels.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

You can use any wax on your wheels.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I wonder how the TireRack wax works, definitely curious.

Any wax will definitely work but consider a polymer sealant like Zaino or a few of the Meguiars products. These will withstand the high temperatures associated with wheels much better than a carnauba.

If you get the TireRack stuff please post your opinnion.

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Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

I did use Zaino's products on my new OZ Superleggeras for my m3. I then put the Wheel wax over it. While its not as DEEP as someother Waxs, its some of the best stuff period. Deff designed for those harsh wheel cleaners. More then that though, it still lasts through the cleanings.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel
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- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.

I purchased Tire Rack's wheel wax and tried it on my wheels today. I ordered over the internet and it arrived in just a few days via UPS.

Seemed to work pretty well. A friend of mine and I washed/waxed our cars together today. He described the look and texture of the wax as similar to the cream that's in the middle of those cream puffs that tastes sooooooo good but is soooooooo bad for you.

The wheels shined up great, which is what they needed after the winter we just experienced here in the NE.

Too soon to tell how they will stand up the the traditional Mercedes amount of brake dust, but I'll post in a few days with an update.

So far, thumbs up!

PS I was able to get more of the baked on brake dust off the wheels buy using McGuire's wheel cleaner and my thumbnail!

But when I first decided to clean my wheels...I had a few years of OEM brake dust on the wheels. The car got washed through Car Washes, but never got the wheels completely clean.

I had to use the Wesley's Grey Bottle Wheel cleaner. That combined with Dawn Soap. Horrible combination, but if you act quick, and use alot of muscle...it actually got the wheels CLEAN!!! I mean CLEAN!!! I mean incredible. I did have to apply polish and glaze, and then the wheel wax (I used to use the Meguiars and then 3M Glaze) The wheel wax is great. After switching to Rotex pads on my cross-drilled and slotted rotors...A simple was with P21s Car wash, and they come right off.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel
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- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.