How hard are polished wheels to keep shining??
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Virginia Beach, Va
How hard are polished wheels to keep shining?? Im an auto detailer and Im good at cleaning, but Ive never had polished wheels. I would think that all u would need to do from time to time is to rub some aluminum/metal polish on them by hand or with a rag from time to time then buff it off. so all u guys with polished wheels come on in and tell me about keeping these things clean. thanks
Originally Posted by Raise
Im an auto detailer and Im good at cleaning, but Ive never had polished wheels. I would think that all u would need to do from time to time is to rub some aluminum/metal polish on them by hand or with a rag from time to time then buff it off. so all u guys with polished wheels come on in and tell me about keeping these things clean. thanks
run run away...2 thing i will never have again
1. BLACK CAR
2. POLISHED RIMS
u need more than a rag and some polish...u need about an hour a rim
My SS is no where near a DD, but after around every couple hundred miles they need a good cleaning. Thing is with polished wheels that means more than washing them.
You have to break out the mothers(or your polish of choice) and spend at least 30 minutes plus on each wheel.
You have to break out the mothers(or your polish of choice) and spend at least 30 minutes plus on each wheel.
I don't know how you guys are spending so much time per rim, I DD my car, and it sees some good rain (suppose to be a good amount this week). The wheels are Boyd Rebels and they have some crevices along the spokes so they are by no means an 'easy wheel'. Anyway, about once a week or once every 2 weeks depending on what the weather has been like I'll wash them down with soap and polish them with the Mothers Billet Polish. It cleans them up and it only takes me 10-15 mins max per wheel. I'll do the barrels once a month and coat them with wax to keep them looking clean. Its not hard at all, my wheels stay cleaner longer than my car (NBM is about as bad as black) and I don't worry about it. However I will say you need to be in the mood to polish or clean your car, you simply won't do a good job by the 3rd wheel is your angry at the world.
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From: Orlando, FL / UCF / Brussels, Belgium
I spend about 1 hour per rim (CCW Classic). PITA but it's worth it. I apply the metal polish with my finger and make it shine with a microfiber cloth.
I'm in the same position that you are, I contempated this before ordering my wheels. I ended up ordering polished CCWs, and I'll just have to suck it up and spend the time. Polished looks, to me, alot better than chrome, not as "blingy". It was worth the tradeoff to me.
Shawn
Shawn
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 501
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From: bethel PA
I had 5 star eagles on my car and drove it daily before I took it off the street and tore it down, I just washed then every other week, they stayed nice, polish about once a month, get a good polish I use jewelers rouge, it gets all the dirt off with out much rubbing.
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I love how my rims look, but they are a PITA to keep clean. The barrels are what gets you on these...they are fully polished, so they need the attention as well. It takes me at least an hour per wheel, if not longer. Never again...at least not on a daily driven car like mine.
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some people have the time and the patience to keep them clean... i have the time, but not the patience. and i dont even daily drive my car. i probably wont buy another set of polished wheels unless its some baller status wheels like CCWs or something
So, would you guys who say you wouldn't buy polished again rather have went with chrome if you wanted to keep the same look?
I can't fathom spending 30 min to an hour per rim!
What made you decide to go with polished over chrome in the first place? Sorry, I'm sure that's a newb question.
I can't fathom spending 30 min to an hour per rim!
What made you decide to go with polished over chrome in the first place? Sorry, I'm sure that's a newb question.
After the amount of time it takes to keep the polished wheels on my sportbike looking good, I wouldn't even consider polished rims on a car. Takes me ~2 mins per wheel to have mine spotless....chrome > polished any day of the week. 
Here is the best solution to all problems, have a nice set of chrome and polished wheels like I do. Take pictures and do car shows with the high dollar polished CCWs and cruise around on the chrome 18" Z06 wheels. Problem solved 
honestly i wouldn't recommend getting a polished wheel on a DD. thats just my opinion. i have just a polished LIP on my wheels and i get aggravated! im planning on getting mine chromed when i get a chance. if i ever buy a new set they will be chrome.
