ms8qt Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Guys, I've just got hold of a set of LMGT4 wheels and realise that these are somewhat different to normal alloys in that the edge is polished metal (not painted). I want to keep these wheels (and tyres) looking in tip-top condition without using abrasive wheel cleaners, etc so what do you recommend? Is there anything I can buy that I can put/spray on them to make dirt and brake dust come off much easier? What would you use to clean them? Bucket of warm water with fairy liquid? What about more stubborn brake dust marks? Once clean, is there anything I can/should use to give them that extra shine? And lastly, what would you say is best to use for tyre shine? The spray tyre shines I've used from Halfrauds in the past completely lose their effect after a day or two and it gets expensive if you want to keep those tyres looking shiny black! Is there another and better alternative? (that isn't going to keep eating into my money). I went to a car wash place ages ago where they dipped a brush in a bucket and swept it over the tyres...was probably something stupid like vegetable oil! LOL MANY thanks, Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavis Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Had mine 12 months and still as good as the day i had them. 1. Never use them in the winter. 2. Wash them with a hand mitt (just for wheels) using car shampoo water and rinse. 3. I dry them with a microfibre and then use Autoglym wheel sealant. Thats all i ever do and they are still perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R800NER Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Guys, Mark you need to get to a local meet so I can see your zed! I have a kuro black GT4 with popcharger, LMGT4's etc and pretty much identical spec....without the nismo spoiler On topic - I will get my LMGT4 wheels refurbed next year, so I should be fine using them through winter if they are going to be refurbed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1 HNK Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 if you want to actually use your car all year round and not change the wheels over in Winter they wont last. Had mine painted as the diamond cut services were starting to corrode and go white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Stay away from the washing up liquid, use a well diluted wheel cleaner like Bilberry. Once clean, use a good sealant on the wheels, this will make cleaning much easier in the future. I am meaning to get some proper wheel sealant, but in the interim I use AutoGlym Extra Gloss Protection. I only have Rays, but the maintenance principle is the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms8qt Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 I can't believe 2 people have advised not to use my new LMGT4 wheels in the winter...surely if I clean them reguarly during the winter they'll be ok? It seems crazy and expensive to have 2 sets of 19" wheels and tyres, not to mention where the hell I'd store them. OK, so diluted Bilberry to clean, then Autoglym Wheel Sealant to protect them, then Meguiars Endurance High Gloss Tyre Shine Gel Does that sound about right? Is there anything I can use to "polish" them to ensure they continue to shine/sparkle like new? LOL Thanks, Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Meguiars NXT all metal polysh. I use it on my rims. I use bilberry and poorboys wheel sealant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkie34 Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Trust me mate,you would be better using them as summer wheels only.I have a set on mine,they are just over 12 months old and one of the front wheels is marked were water has got under the laquer. What have you done with your original wheels? As people have said put a good sealant on them before fitting them.Buy yoursef a good wheel brush,I have the EZ Detail brush it will clean to the back of the rim.As for tyre dressing Blackfire is good but not cheap,it lasts ages.Also you need a good no acidic wheel cleaner like Billberry. Do all that and you should be fine,having said that I have and still have a marked alloy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms8qt Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 In answer to 'clarkie34', I only just bought my LMGT4 wheels off another member and I did it on the basis that I would sell my current 18" wheels that came as standard on my GT4 (to drastically minimise the upgrade cost). I really can't afford to keep the originals and maintain 2 sets of wheels/tyres and certainly don't have any room to store a set (I have a small house with no garage!). Thanks for all your opinions and advice. I've just consolidated all the info and have the following list: To Buy 1) Bilberry Wheel Cleaner (5L) : £25.50 (eBay inc. delivery) 2) Poorboys Wheel Sealant : £15.10 (eBay inc. delivery) 3) Meguiars NXT All Metal Polish 4) Meguiars Endurance High Gloss Tyre Shine Gel : £7.68 (eBay inc. delivery) AND Meguiars Applicator Pad : £5.39 (eBay inc. delivery) 5) EZ Detail brush : £20.57 (www.nedetailing.co.uk inc. delivery) My god, all this cleaning stuff is adding up to a fair bit but I guess you get what you pay for! What order should I use the above items and how often? I assume I first clean the wheels, then use the metal polish (occasionally?), then the wheel sealant, and then the tyre shine. What would you use to apply the metal polish?...a J-cloth? Lastly, what would you recommend to dry the wheels nicely after washing them? An old tea-towel or is there something else that will do a much better/easier job and last a while? Thanks guys, Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I use a polish applicator (green pad) for the polish. 5L of bilberry will last YEARS! as it'll make 50L as generally 10:1 is fine for it. I would find a detailing store which has everything to save on costs. Poorboys waffle weave is what I use for drying mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Buy a cheaper brush and a 1L bottle of bilberry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkie34 Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 You should be able to get that lot here. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/ You also get points to redeem on future purchases. As for getting a cheaper brush,you could but it will fall to bits after a few washes.I have had mine over 12 months and its as good as the day i bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 If your gonna run them through the winter don't bother spending all that cash on products, save it for the refurb your gonna need next spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms8qt Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 Well I'm the sort of person that always likes to look after things as best I can. I'll most definitely be using these wheels all year round and if that means I have to get them reconditioned at some point then that's what I'll do. I've finally placed an order with cleanyourcar.co.uk as they seemed to stock most things, had good prices, and their delivery charge wasn't bad either. Everyone...thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Now make sure you give the wheels a good few layers of sealant before putting them on as well as topping it up regularly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms8qt Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 Will do! One question though...once layers of sealant are applied, would it then be appropriate to use the Meguiars NXT All Metal Polish OR would I be better cleaning and polishing the wheels and then applying the sealant? Oh, and if I get one or two more stubborn marks then what do you suggest I use to remove them?...I read on another thread that using tar remover will work but, to me, that sounds a bit harsh and a bad idea. Sorry for all the (stupid) questions but I want to make sure I do it right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Well use the polish on the polished bit only (not the painted parts) and only use it when the polished rim is looking dull. It actually contains a metal protectant but it's worth putting a couple of layers of sealant on after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkie34 Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Stew,do you not think the metal polish will strip the laquer off the polished rim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Oh! Didn't know it was laquered! Oh actually if I'd paid attention to your earlier post I'd have realised! Oh well, use it on the exhaust then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobD7 Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I use mine in winter. One has a few odd marks on it but I didn't spend all that money not to use them all year round!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 BEST way to keep LMGT4 wheels in top condition? ......send them to me and I'll look after them for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1 HNK Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I use mine in winter. One has a few odd marks on it but I didn't spend all that money not to use them all year round!! +1 i just dont see the point in swapping your wheels over for summer/winter. I'd rather have my car looking its best all year round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I use mine in winter. One has a few odd marks on it but I didn't spend all that money not to use them all year round!! +1 i just dont see the point in swapping your wheels over for summer/winter. I'd rather have my car looking its best all year round You don't live by the sea in the north of Scotland.... Imagine the crap on the road here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEADPHONES Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 My LMGT-4s are used all year round. Zed is a daily driver. Gone through 2 winters so far and not a blemish. 2 other zed owners assured me it would be OK if I followed their regime so I took gamble and left them on. However I wash them very gently weekly, gently agitating brake dust off using a microfibre in one hand and holding a hose in the other providing a constant flow of clean water. Then finish with normal car shampoo for a final once over again using a microfibrebefore rinsing and drying with a leafblower. I apply Chemical Guys wheel sealant every 2-3 weeks so normally they are 99% clean after the prewash but shampoo just to be sure If I'm really short on time and can't do a full seal I just use TurtleWax Glossgaurd on the lips and face. Goes on real quick with a MF applicator (just like an alcohol wipe) and can be buffed off almost immediately. Sometimes I'll leave the bodywork dirty and just do the wheels as a priority. Some people on detailing forums think it excessive to seal so often but this is what others told me works for them and seems to be working for me. Basically I reckon you have to wash the rims more gently than the body coz of the abrasive nature of brake dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1 HNK Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I use mine in winter. One has a few odd marks on it but I didn't spend all that money not to use them all year round!! +1 i just dont see the point in swapping your wheels over for summer/winter. I'd rather have my car looking its best all year round You don't live by the sea in the north of Scotland.... Imagine the crap on the road here! fair point but then i would just make sure i didnt buy polished wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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