[cruvon]

Hi, my front wheels have brake dust embedded in the alloys inspite of normal regular washing, looks like rust...not sure how to take it off..I did take it to BMW when the car was under warranty and they said nothing could be done about it, that were not sure how it happened and that would cost me $300 per wheel to remove the dust and repaint the wheels, is that the only way to get that darn brakedust off? Did anyone have any success getting the alloy wheels replaced because of brakedust getting into the alloys during warranty? I know some in America on forums did have success getting wheels replaced, any in Australia during warranty?

[johnnydad]

I thought your car was a year out of warranty already?

Have you tried heavy duty cleaners or a clay bar? Maybe take it to a professional detailer and see if they know any tricks.

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by johnnydad

I thought your car was a year out of warranty already?

Have you tried heavy duty cleaners or a clay bar? Maybe take it to a professional detailer and see if they know any tricks.

Hi John, yupz it is out of warranty now. Did take it in during warranty(2nd year service)
to sort out the wheels issue, looking back just wondreing if I
was given the right advice by my dealer that the wheels
couldn't be replaced by warranty due to brake dust eating into the alloy and also wanted know if it's a known issue with other users here, wish I had
got onto this forum when I bought my car new . Know any good detailers?,
Cheers,
San

[WOPALX]

Contact Mike at Car Care Products (www.carcareproducts.com.au).

They retail great detailing gear and also provide detailing services.

Originally Posted by cruvon

Hi John, yupz it is out of warranty now. Did take it in during warranty(2nd year service)
to sort out the wheels issue, looking back just wondreing if I
was given the right advice by my dealer that the wheels
couldn't be replaced by warranty due to brake dust eating into the alloy and also wanted know if it's a known issue with other users here, wish I had
got onto this forum when I bought my car new . Know any good detailers?,
Cheers,
San

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by WOPALX

Contact Mike at Car Care Products (www.carcareproducts.com.au).

They retail great detailing gear and also provide detailing services.

Thanks WOPALX, had a look at the website and they seem pretty good, they even run a detailing course

[johnnydad]

Agree - have heard several good things (and seen good results) from Mike and car care products.

As for the wheels and brake dust, I get nervous if more than 7 days go by between cleans. Even with 2-monthly Poorboys wheel wax and 4-monthly claying, they are a bugger to keep nice. And in 3 weeks I will have 8 wheels to look after....

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by johnnydad

Agree - have heard several good things (and seen good results) from Mike and car care products.

As for the wheels and brake dust, I get nervous if more than 7 days go by between cleans. Even with 2-monthly Poorboys wheel wax and 4-monthly claying, they are a bugger to keep nice. And in 3 weeks I will have 8 wheels to look after....

Whew John, sounds like a lot of chores..def didn't clean mine every 7 days

[Burto]

Originally Posted by cruvon

Hi, my front wheels have brake dust embedded in the alloys inspite of normal regular washing, looks like rust...not sure how to take it off..I did take it to BMW when the car was under warranty and they said nothing could be done about it, that were not sure how it happened and that would cost me $300 per wheel to remove the dust and repaint the wheels, is that the only way to get that darn brakedust off? Did anyone have any success getting the alloy wheels replaced because of brakedust getting into the alloys during warranty? I know some in America on forums did have success getting wheels replaced, any in Australia during warranty?

Hi cruvon,
when you say " normal regular washing" did you use a dedicated alloy cleaner like the BMW stuff or another brand? or did you wipe off dry or just used your wash water and shampoo. The reason I ask is that I was told that if you leave the dust for to long and it's exposed to water and heat over and over again that it can "Bake" onto the surface... might be an urban legend but I'm going to continue to use a dedicated break dust cleaning solution.

Burto.

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by Burto

Hi cruvon,
when you say " normal regular washing" did you use a dedicated alloy cleaner like the BMW stuff or another brand? or did you wipe off dry or just used your wash water and shampoo. The reason I ask is that I was told that if you leave the dust for to long and it's exposed to water and heat over and over again that it can "Bake" onto the surface... might be an urban legend but I'm going to continue to use a dedicated break dust cleaning solution.

Burto.

Hi Burto,just used water and shampoo. I guess that is what might have happened, was only 12-15,000kms on the car then when I noticed it and took it in to the dealers. I suspect it might have accumulated after I took the car on some long drives from Sydney to Canberra, Philip Island and Melbourne/Great Ocean Drive, I would have thought the car was built to handle long distances, lucky I didn't do that dream Sydney-Perth drive. I tried some alloy cleaner after that but it wouldn't go off. You lucky you were warned, why don't they just let us know when we take delivery of the car or put it in the manual that we need to treat those wheels to alloy cleaner every week or they could get ruined? I would have stopped at every petrol station on the way and washed them or maybe just hired a car, considering that I was quoted $300 per wheel to get it repainted. It's like saying if we don't wash the car every fortnight the paint is going to peel, how would we know that if we are not warned?.
I would say continue using that brake dust cleaning solution very regularly especially if you plan long drives since it's not urban legend..will try put in some pictures which need to show the detailer, maybe someone here can suggest if can get rid of the dust, almost looks like rust!

[Burto]

Man, I'm sorry that this happened to you cruvon... I'm going to keep using the rim cleaner and will let you know if I get the same thing happening, at the moment because the thing is so new I'm hyper anal about the brake dust and remove it all the time.. If I get anything similar happening at all I'm going to make a fuss!

Post some photos mate.. I'd be curious to see whether your rims had a chip that's got brake dust into the actual chip, and the stain is now unable to be removed, or if the dust actually caused the corrosion your talking about.

Burto.

[Dackelone]

Hi Cruvon,

Maybe you should try this stuff:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...+wheel+cleaner

[cruvon]

Hi guys, finally took some pics though the wheels are a bit muddy because of the rains few days ago..see area between the spokes where have the brake dust problem..is near the tyre valve in one of them

http://www.e90post.com/forums/pictur...ictureid=14294

http://www.e90post.com/forums/pictur...ictureid=14293

Thanks

[VGR00]

If you are interested .... I have a set of 17" M-Sport 194M wheels with tyres that have done about 200 klms (off my LCI purchased in Aug 2009). Will cost you a little more than the repair job but you have new tyres and unmarked rims. (Staggered 225/45 & 255/40 rear) PM me if you are interested.