My Frek'n Rims

[cyled]

Dudes and Dudettes...

I am totally P.O'd. My rims on my Marauder (bought in Dec) are all scratched up mainly where the tires and rim meet. It is almost like perfect cross hair scratches (if that makes sense).

I believe it is from the few times I took it through the car wash it got a lot of salt on it and it was to cold to wash by hand. The left looks really bad. It has not been curbed!

Personally I don't think the finish should get that scratched up that easy. I am going to talk the dealer, but I am not keeping my hopes up.

Any ideas on the best way to polish them back up?

[LincMercLover]

Wax 'em.

[looking97233]

The car wash really messes the whole car up, especially black. Leaves scratches all over the whole car. I would rather leave the car dirty then go thru a car wash, just my .02.
do a search, there's a thread around here somewhere where this has been discussed (removing scratches from wheels)

[CRUZTAKER]

My MM wheels are OFF in the winter (LS as well). Therefore they only get hand washed. Try some good cleaner/polisher product and work on them for an afternoon. Mine have no scratches yet. I say yet....

Different car, same style wheel, same problem as you......The wifes LS. Not only does she have the "cross-hair" scratches you speak of, but a horrible hazy residue that won't come off in a wash. I have to sit down and literally spend an afternoon hand polishing.......and it works for me. Till next season, and I start over again.

[cyled]

Originally posted by LincMercLover
Wax 'em.


Uhhh, ok.. I give up.. what is the best thing on these rims to wax and/or polish them. :D

[MassMarauder]

I took mine to ONE automatic car wash.....and that will be the last. Several scratches. Fixable I might add. At this particular wash they dry it by hand at the end of the cycle. That is most likely when the damage occured.

My new car wash rules:
Too cold to wash by hand at home; I go to the pressure wash. It's not the best wash job but you DON'T have to worry about scratches.
If the weather is warm, I wash it by hand.

[LincMercLover]

I use a polishing wad every now and again to keep dirt build up from occuring. Any other LIGHT compound wax should do the trick. Nothing heavy like turtle wax, something light like Gold Class, etc...

[RCSignals]

Any good metal polish that is recommended for aluminum should work. (Assuming your clearcoat has worn through) There are a lot out there.
Maguires has one too. Follow with a good paste wax.

The joys of polished aluminum wheels :)