Renovating alloy wheels. Alloy wheels look far better than steel wheels, but they do need some looking after. Damage can come in the form of surface grit, brake dust which gets carried by the wind and rain. A bit like my BMW 1 Series alloys if untreated the wheels can start to corrode and your wheels might look duller than steel wheels with wheel trims. Inpact damage can also spoil the look of the wheels too. Even the odd scuff on the kerb can make a rough looking edge to the wheel.
There are 2 ways of refurbishing alloy wheels. One way is to let the professionals do it, or if the damage is just cosmetic the repairs can be done at home with a few tools and a some elbow grease. When working on alloys take them from the car first for ease of use. Firstly mask any painted areas and tyres with masking tape and newspaper to keep them safe.
Most alloy wheels have a lacquer finish and this lacquer will usually have to taken off first. Use a wooden scraper to remove the loose flakey lacquer. It is wise to not use the metal scrapers as this can slip and further damage the wheels. The other part of the lacquer can be removed with a paint stripper of some sort. Take the normal precautions to avoid the stripper coming into contact with your skin.
Once the lacquer has been removed use a quantity of body rubbing compound with a damp cloth to mask any little pitted areas. To remove any bad corrosion you may need to use fine grade wet and dry paper. Like what happened to my BMW 1 series car,
if there is any mild impact damage, then use a small grinding stone, a metal brush or a flap wheel on a drill to smooth this out. Take away the minimal of metal needed and again you may need some rubbing compound once you have got the area looking fairly smooth. When all the corrosion has gone, then a quick polish will be needed.
Use plenty of elbow grease to get your wheels to as quality a shine as you can. Make use of a non fluffy rag to put on the polish and then use a smooth cloth to buff it up.
Final stage is to re apply a coat of lacquer using a narrow paint brush. After all that hard work your wheels should look as good as new.
