How dirty do your rims get.

**Ryan_R** · 08-09-2010, 08:07 PM

My Dad reckons BMWs and VWs are/were notorious for brake dust spoiling the look of the rims, and he's not far off the money with my car.

Just wondering what style rims everyone has and if some styles are better at staying clean than others.

Here's one that just been wiped with a dry rag (I had just taken the wheel off to install mudflaps):

Close-up:

And here's one that I cleaned one week ago when I was installing the other mudflap (before getting caught in the rain and catching a terrible cold):

Close-up:

(Yes, I drove around for a week with just one mudflap on)

**cameronp** · 08-09-2010, 09:17 PM

That looks normal to me. It's not just VWs and BMWs, I would expect most cars with disc brakes and alloys to be just the same - my old Ford Focus certainly was. Just means there's another thing to clean when you wash your car!

**MurphyTheElf** · 08-09-2010, 09:17 PM

The Detroits are amazing. Painted gloss black on the inside, brake dust just comes right off, even after 3 weeks without a wash. Same with the machine finished face. I've never needed any wheel cleaner or detergent to get them looking as new.

**rs73** · 08-09-2010, 09:22 PM

can you get either:
a) the rims dressed with some kind of wax/sealant so brake dust won't stick to it...
b) or get an alternative pads that is relatively low on dust, I'm sure there's a few option available around...

**VWEAPN** · 08-09-2010, 09:31 PM

i dont know why vw hasnt looked at this problem. yes i think it is a problem. my sisters holden astra is probably half as bad as the 2 vw's we own. i think its a pain in the backside to be cleaning wheels so regularly...especially rims with multiple spokes. other brand cars with disc brakes dont produce nowhere near as much brake dust as vw.

**MurphyTheElf** · 08-09-2010, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by rs73

can you get either:
a) the rims dressed with some kind of wax/sealant so brake dust won't stick to it...
b) or get an alternative pads that is relatively low on dust, I'm sure there's a few option available around...

Like asbestos perhaps? Whatever happened to that stuff?

**Ryan_R** · 08-09-2010, 09:34 PM

I might head down to Super Cheap this weekend to see if they have any wax or asbestos (j/k)

I reckon I'd upset a few GTI owners if I put detroits on my 118 TSI

**cameronp** · 08-09-2010, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan_R

I reckon I'd upset a few GTI owners if I put detroits on my 118 TSI

Don't you think the Detroits would make you look like a bit of a chav?

(Just teasing, GTI folks!)

**Ryan_R** · 08-09-2010, 09:41 PM

Yes that too. The only reason I would upgrade my rims besides getting ones that don't show up the dust is that the previous owner scratched the rims a bit on the kerb, but at least that takes the pressure of me more when parking.