Is my lacquer ruined?

G

GixerWill

Member
Hi guys

Today was my first time washing the car and I could not shift the mess on my wheels. It looks like something has run down the wheels at some point and has maybe damaged the lacquer? I never used a wheel cleaner, just the pressure washer and car shampoo.

20190313_182035-min.jpg

Any advice on how to proceed would be appreciated.

Also, are the 'M' badges glued on? I'm missing two.

Regards
Will
 
Looks like a cheap wheel refurb and someone has used wheel acid to clean them..

From the pic it doesnt look like a lot can be done to improve them.
 
I would get some degreasing wheel cleaner on those, before you panic too much. No guarantees, but hopefully that will shift. The laquer finish does look quite dull mind you. Yes the badges are just glued on.
 
Hopefully you're right buzyg and the degreaser will do the trick. I have Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Cleaner and Surfex arriving tomorrow. Initially my worry was along the lines of what you said Z4M-2006. Hopefully not though in this case. Fingers crossed
 
Z4M-2006 said:
Looks like a cheap wheel refurb and someone has used wheel acid to clean them..

From the pic it doesnt look like a lot can be done to improve them.
Click to expand...

Left on too long or forgotten to rinse off at all perhaps.. :(
 
john-e89 said:
Z4M-2006 said:
Looks like a cheap wheel refurb and someone has used wheel acid to clean them..

From the pic it doesnt look like a lot can be done to improve them.
Click to expand...

Left on too long or forgotten to rinse off at all perhaps.. :(
Click to expand...

If that is the case, will any amount of polish shift it?
 
GixerWill said:
john-e89 said:
Z4M-2006 said:
Looks like a cheap wheel refurb and someone has used wheel acid to clean them..

From the pic it doesnt look like a lot can be done to improve them.
Click to expand...

Left on too long or forgotten to rinse off at all perhaps.. :(
Click to expand...

If that is the case, will any amount of polish shift it?
Click to expand...

If Gaz is right about the cheap refurb then I doubt it I’m afraid Will, the acid will have bitten into the paint. Worth a shot polishing but looks like a refurb job imho. Bad luck fella, not what you want.
 
john-e89 said:
GixerWill said:
john-e89 said:
Left on too long or forgotten to rinse off at all perhaps.. :(
Click to expand...

If that is the case, will any amount of polish shift it?
Click to expand...

If Gaz is right about the cheap refurb then I doubt it I’m afraid Will, the acid will have bitten into the paint. Worth a shot polishing but looks like a refurb job imho. Bad luck fella, not what you want.
Click to expand...

Yeah definitely not what I want (more expense), will see if I can make them look more presentable tomorrow.
Although, it could offer a chance for a slight colour change.

Cheers for the advice guys
 
If you find you can polish most of the marks away, it might be worth getting a can of clear coat and having a go yourself first. There’s lots of YouTube videos on how to do this, very straight forward and the results are often pretty good. If that fails then get then refurbed for £200 or so for the set.
 
Turns out wet and dry only made them worse :headbang:

I took a trip to a local 'Auto Styling' company. Didn't even know that was a thing. They said it looks as though someone has used a form of acid based cleaner on it at some point. So basically, the wheels need a full refurbishment. :thumbsdown:

On the bright side, they can do all the work for me if I am willing to leave the car with them for two days. Anthracite, Shadow Chrome, or maybe back to the factory colour. Total cost: £260.
 
GixerWill said:
Turns out wet and dry only made them worse :headbang:

I took a trip to a local 'Auto Styling' company. Didn't even know that was a thing. They said it looks as though someone has used a form of acid based cleaner on it at some point. So basically, the wheels need a full refurbishment. :thumbsdown:

On the bright side, they can do all the work for me if I am willing to leave the car with them for two days. Anthracite, Shadow Chrome, or maybe back to the factory colour. Total cost: £260.
Click to expand...
That should look great. Guy might just have done you a favour wrecking the laquer. :thumbsup: An expensive favour that is. :wink:
 
Every cloud and all that...

Any suggestions for wheel colour welcome. My car is black with red interior. In the future I will probably change (paint/wrap/dip) all the silver trim in the car to gloss black, if that makes any difference. I am partial to Anthracite, although I do like keeping the car fairly OEM looking. Mmm :?
 
ive had anthracite on my 85, and silver on current z.
the silver does look good when clean, but annoys my ocd this time of year as they get dirty so easily, whereas anthracite is a little more forgiving, and doesnt look dirty the minute you drive down a wet road.
 
Don’t go too dark on a black Z, or doesn’t take the all black look very well. I’d keep factory with some extra fleck in the paint for sparkle!
 
GixerWill said:
Turns out wet and dry only made them worse :headbang:

I took a trip to a local 'Auto Styling' company. Didn't even know that was a thing. They said it looks as though someone has used a form of acid based cleaner on it at some point. So basically, the wheels need a full refurbishment. :thumbsdown:

On the bright side, they can do all the work for me if I am willing to leave the car with them for two days. Anthracite, Shadow Chrome, or maybe back to the factory colour. Total cost: £260.
Click to expand...

They didn't know what was a thing? wet sanding?

Did you polish then after sanding?
 
High power silver

Anything darker on a black Z and the wheel will lose definition, especially that style
 
I think shadow chrome would look great. I have a black Z with red interior and a set of hyper black rims with polished lip. The rims don't get lost at all.
IMG-20190222-WA0002.jpg
 
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