Lotus Elan Central

by **mickmick** » Thu 27.04.2006, 13:33

whats the best stuff, at a reasonable price, in the UK market, that i can use to clean off the years of crud that has built up on the alloys of my 1991 SE

tyvm in advance

mick

by **Nige** » Thu 27.04.2006, 13:59

I use Wonder Wheels, see the auto Express test results Here. Take the wheels off the car and if they are really bad do them more than once.

by **dans** » Thu 27.04.2006, 15:00

Got to say that Wonder Wheels does really get the wheels clean but since using it a few times I have noticed some unpleasent loking effects on the wheels, almost like bleaching. A mate has also had the same problem.
Can't say for sure it was the wonder wheel that caused it but I am a bit concerned that it may be an overly strong acid or something? Be interested to hear anyone elses experiences??

(saw the guy on 5th Gear who does the £5K car wash service give a warning about acid based wheel cleaners)

by **Sy V** » Thu 27.04.2006, 15:08

Wonder Wheels for me too, but you have to clean the residue off with copious amounts of soapy water.

by **pjohn151** » Thu 27.04.2006, 15:11

IMHO Wonder Wheels is great at shifting caked on brakedust, but should be used with caution, as I too have small signs of the effect described above. Once you have used Wonder Wheels to shift all the crud once, just try to keep the wheels clean with washing & waxing as the original lacquer and paint on the wheels is very thin!

Phil

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 27.04.2006, 16:21

how cruddy and scuffed are they????
I got mine completely overhauled...they were like new when I got them back......and I'm very careful with kerbs these days......
£30 a wheel.....best £120 Ive spent.....he decurbed the wheels and everything.......cleaned, primed, painted and laquered....took about 5 days but the were litteraly like new!!!!.....
then I put the old centre caps back on and spoilt the whole thing.....
so I then had to buy some of them too!!!

by **Rambo** » Thu 27.04.2006, 17:12

I'm a user of Wonder Wheels but, as the guys have already said, treat with care. Itis a very aggressive mixed acids cleaner (mainly phosphoric acid I suspect ?) so don't leave on too long and wash off very well.

It does bring up the wheels as new but don't use it too often. It's available from any branch of Halfrauds - at their vastly inflated prices or from COSTCO in gallon containers for slightly more than1 litre ex Halfrauds

Mark

PS Don't forget the safety glasses and rubber gloves. Get it splashed on your eyes and a cut hand and you'll find out how strong it is

by **Monty** » Thu 27.04.2006, 17:20

theelanman wrote:how cruddy and scuffed are they????
I got mine completely overhauled...they were like new when I got them back......and I'm very careful with kerbs these days......
£30 a wheel.....best £120 Ive spent.....he decurbed the wheels and everything.......cleaned, primed, painted and laquered....took about 5 days but the were litteraly like new!!!!.....
then I put the old centre caps back on and spoilt the whole thing.....
so I then had to buy some of them too!!!

Gareth,

Where is this guy bassed as my wheels need doing again in the near future as i seem to like playing "how many curbs can u clip" :twisted:

by **RatHead** » Thu 11.05.2006, 18:21

These did my wheels:

http://www.mssltd.org.uk/alloy.htm

I dropped the car off in the morning and picked it up in the evening - about £160 all in. Cheaper if you drop the wheels off for them to do with no tyres on. They strip the old paint off then repaint them.

by **westonben** » Mon 15.05.2006, 09:01

Cool, that's where I live.

I might give them a try as my wheel look decidedly tired.

by **Monty** » Mon 15.05.2006, 09:42

RatHead wrote:These did my wheels:

http://www.mssltd.org.uk/alloy.htm

I dropped the car off in the morning and picked it up in the evening - about £160 all in. Cheaper if you drop the wheels off for them to do with no tyres on. They strip the old paint off then repaint them.

Thats a good site to know, just saved that to my favourite`s. :smt023

Website · by **theelanman** » Mon 15.05.2006, 11:51

Monty wrote:
theelanman wrote:how cruddy and scuffed are they????
I got mine completely overhauled...they were like new when I got them back......and I'm very careful with kerbs these days......
£30 a wheel.....best £120 Ive spent.....he decurbed the wheels and everything.......cleaned, primed, painted and laquered....took about 5 days but the were litteraly like new!!!!.....
then I put the old centre caps back on and spoilt the whole thing.....
so I then had to buy some of them too!!!

Gareth,

Where is this guy bassed as my wheels need doing again in the near future as i seem to like playing "how many curbs can u clip"

monty
the guy is mobile.....and I belive that he gets up your way too!!!!
tel:- 07968828556
cheers
G

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