How do I make my Fuch's shiny?!!!

[RobD]

I am in the process of making my '89 911 targa look better than it did when I bought it and coming across various (usually older) cars it strikes me that my Fuch alloy wheels are looking distinctly dull by comparison, especially the black painted centers, which are nothing like the glossy ones i have seen on other cars, I have tried every type of cleaner but they do not seem to want to go shiny!
Anybody else have this problem? any suggestions? I just want shiny wheels!!!

Any help greatly appreciated..

Rob D

[richard36]

I have been trying to get a good shine and like you i've noticed the ones in the glossies alway seem to be immaculate, just like mine do for about .5 of a second
before they dry and dull. grr

[danny hoffman]

Try polishing them with vaseline

Danny

[iguana]

There is a company called Diamond styling (see adverts in the porsche press) that can work wonders to referb ya fuchs wheels Also a company called Jasmine are very good. Rather more cheaply WD40 rubbed on with a cloth keeps em shiny in the dry (but please don't get any on ya brake discs!!)

[M@H]

Theres a big article on restoring Fuch's in a Volksword Magazine of a few years ago (yes, the Beetle Mag) I'll see if I can find it and scan it in for you.. they took some basically scrap whhels and got them pretty perfect..even removing the curb marks etc from the edges..

..one thing though, are your wheels laquered, becuase if they are, no amount of polishing the laquer will acheive what you are after, you'd need to strip the laquer off first and then get them mirror polished, then re-laquered.

Cheers
Matt.

[RobD]

Cheers for all the replies guys, not too sure what the neighbours would make of me applying vaseline to my wheels though! I dont think my Fuch's have any laquer left on them now as they are so dull and no matter what i use they will not come shiny, I think I am resigned to geting them refurbed at £50 a wheel or whatever it is unless anyone knows any top tips?

[danny hoffman]

They should not be laquered, they were anodised originally and the silver rim should be kinda dull. Obviously someone may have polished and laquered them since, The vaseline really does work - sod the neighbours!

[steve-p]

quote:The vaseline really does work - sod the neighbours!

Isn't Vaseline going to attract brake dust though, or does it really polish off to leave a shiny surface? It says in the 993 owner's manual to use it on the regular alloys, but I haven't decided yet if I will or not. On other cars I have been using Autoglym super resin polish on lacquered/painted wheels, same as on the bodywork. It makes a hard smooth surface that is easier to wash.

[domster]

I use furniture wax on my wheels - just a thin layer after having washed them. The brake dust collects on them as normal, but can be wiped away with a paper cloth and doesn't 'bake' on. It's a bit of a pain to do, but you don't need to clean the wheels as regluarly as they are protected from the corrosive effects of the brake dust.

[danny hoffman]

It really polishes of and leave a nice shine.