avant garde wheels m510 satin silver finish, difficult to keep clean!

[audibmi]

anyone have the same issues with the AG M510 satin silver finish and brake dust? the satin finish seems to trap the dirt and even my trusty sonax wheel cleaner and wheel woolies will not remove the stains easily.
the machined face, however is super easy to clean.

I prepped them with several coats of sonax netshield on top of zaino z2, which is great for water repellency
Both the sonax and zaino applications have been ineffective to keep dust from saturating the satin finish.

would I have better luck with opti-coat? otherwise I might powder coat them clear because I like the machined face.

they look great when new...but they are so hard to keep clean!

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a635/avantgardem510audib8point5/IMG_7787_zpse6016882.jpg

[cspcrx]

Read about many who opti coat with great results. Nice choice, i love the looks of these wheels.

[Gweezil]

Not the same wheel, but same issue. I have Hartmann TI reps and they are the same way. But my AG M310s in gloss finish do not. I care for both the same way.

[Pilfer]

Does the Audi OEM center cap fit those wheels? I was planning on getting them in a gloss gunmetal grey finish similar to my VMR winter set.

[audibmi]

Not the same wheel, but same issue. I have Hartmann TI reps and they are the same way. But my AG M310s in gloss finish do not. I care for both the same way.

hmm, the oem titanium rotors are easy to clean and do not have this issue, perhaps because the paint finish is much smoother.


Does the Audi OEM center cap fit those wheels? I was planning on getting them in a gloss gunmetal grey finish similar to my VMR winter set.

oem center caps are the same diameter, but not snap in fit. you have to be creative (you can dab a silicone bead on the back of the cap to stick to the wheel, which can be removed easily later if needed)

[TuanTime]

Same wheels, same issue. But at least the spokes are spaced enough that you can get in there.

[audi021]

Side note - do these come in matte black or dolphin grey.

[audi021]

Pics?

[Brooklyn]

Considering either getting mine clear coated or repainted glossy silver. It's a pain in the ass for sure.

[Gweezil]

The glossy finishes are just easier to keep clean than the matte/satin ones IMO. I wish I had known that when selecting the finish on the TI reps. Glossy was a choice I had and opted not to select.

[audibmi]

Pics?

the machined shiny finish is easily to wipe clean, while the barrel and the inside arms are easily stained.

here's a picture where I wiped one of the arms with a wet towel. the machined face wipes clean, but the satin silver finish stays dirty. I suspect AG did not spray the entire wheel with the satin clear coat, so the base coat satin silver stains.

http://i.imgur.com/sDZVx6C.jpg

[Draw007]

Disclaimer: I've had a few glasses of wine... [:p]

I'd spray a satin clear coat over the top of any satin painted wheel if not already done that way. Lesser quality "satin" is essentially a flat finish and flat finishes are typically porous. Other than $$$ I don't get why a wheel manufacture would not seal a wheel that's subjected to a lot of brake dust, i.e., euro vehicles.

[Draw007]

btw...great looking wheel out of the box.

[LakeShow]

Damn brake dust.

[Gweezil]

Disclaimer: I've had a few glasses of wine... [:p].

Who knew. Adding to my sig cuz, well, nothing.

[audi021]

My oem ti 19's are stained as well.

[staticuxo]

my vossens are matte.. pain in the ass also ):

[brainpan]

same rims, same issue here.. i use autoglym cleaner and a little elbow grease they come out new. It is crazy how much road dung builds up in the lips though

[SteveYem]

Necro bumping this thread to see if anyone found the magic bullet product to keep brake dust from sticking so much to these satin finish AG wheels. It's not the effort to clean them every time I wash my car that I mind, but rather the fact that after ~two days of driving they are gray/brown from the brake dust that really bothers me. It's a good thing that the faces are machined, otherwise the entire wheel would be dull a couple days after washing.

I have a spare AG M510 wheel laying around and I sprayed three(3) coats of Duplicolor wheel clearcoat onto them. The result is OK although I have a feeling it would start to chip/peel rather quickly under normal use. What I don't like about it is how it seems to have changed the apparent color of the wheel a bit...to my eyes the gloss coat makes the silver finish look darker. One of the attributes of the M510 that I really like is the super bright, near-white silver hue of the wheels when clean. Adding the clear coat gives it a more 'OEM' finish. If I was convinced it would be durable I would probably do my whole set, but like I said I can see it peeling/chipping and I don't want to ruin a set of wheels.

[Blurspeed]

Yup very difficult. I use Meguiars quick detailer spray and it makes it a little easier.

[Justin R]

ceramic brake pads from akebono have been the best mod ever

[speed_racer]

Get 9h, it'll come almost detailed level clean with just a hose.

[saxon]

akebono pads are a good start, realistically you are better off getting them powder coated since the satin finish is "rough" and makes them attract dust and makes it hard to clean

[mojangles69]

Side note - do these come in matte black or dolphin grey.

Yes, you can get them in pretty much any finish you'd like

https://www.flickr.com/photos/agwheels/page2

Opticoat is definitely the way to go. Know several people that have opticoated their wheels and they swear by it. Not to mention, their wheels look great all the time. Sending my wheels back to AG to get refinished. When I get them back, will have them opticoated before I put them back on the car. And it is inexpensive and seems to really help!

Also, +1 on getting ceramic brake pads that'll dust less. That would certainly help.

[SteveYem]

Yes, you can get them in pretty much any finish you'd like

https://www.flickr.com/photos/agwheels/page2

Opticoat is definitely the way to go. Know several people that have opticoated their wheels and they swear by it. Not to mention, their wheels look great all the time. Sending my wheels back to AG to get refinished. When I get them back, will have them opticoated before I put them back on the car. And it is inexpensive and seems to really help!

Also, +1 on getting ceramic brake pads that'll dust less. That would certainly help.

I applied Opti-Coat 2.0 to my AG M510's before installing them when they were brand new. It did help to make clean-up easier, i.e. the dirt came loose easier and the dirty water seemed to bead up and run off easily once loosened, but it didn't really help to keep them cleaner between cleanings. I'm pretty set on installing a set of those Wearever Gold brake pads up front to see if I can live with the decreased initial bite, and if not I may go for a set of Akebono ceramics. I try to wash the car every weekend so if those pads are enough to keep my wheels from turning completely gray/brown over 7 days of driving, then I will be happy.

[SteveYem]

Quick update: I installed a set of the Wearever Gold brake pads in the front last weekend, still running OEM pads on the rears. All 4 wheels were clean at that time. I have driven approximately 200 miles since installing the pads, and here is the condition of the front and rear wheels:

Front:
http://i.imgur.com/J26xjgU.png

Rear:
http://i.imgur.com/RCW42dd.png


With the OEM front pads, the front wheels would normally be darker (dirtier) than the rears by now, so there is a clear improvement in dust accumulation with these pads. There is less initial bite with these brake pads as many have posted, but I am already getting used to it. What I would like to know is whether swapping the rear pads to match the fronts will further diminish initial bite. Can anyone attest to that?

[14S4GWM]

^ Thats a drastic difference. Anyone use Hawk ceramic that can attest to the dust difference from OEM? I have my wheels C Quartzed with factory pads and the unfinished surface holds the dust too.

[Hatchman]

Same wheels, same issue. Seems the satin finish is very porous and difficult to get completely clean even with Chemical Guys CLD99716 Diablo Gel Wheel and Rim Cleaner. Going to have to find something better.

Love the wheels though!

[BoostEasy]

Same wheels, same issue. Seems the satin finish is very porous and difficult to get completely clean even with Chemical Guys CLD99716 Diablo Gel Wheel and Rim Cleaner. Going to have to find something better.

Love the wheels though!

I have the chem guys diablo and it's crap. Doesn't remove much of anything.

I agree The silver finish on my AG M590s does seem a little tougher to clean than OEM wheels too.

Sonax full effect (http://www.amazon.com/Sonax-230200-755-Wheel-Cleaner-Full%C2%A0Effect/dp/B003UT3S6Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436879961&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=sonax+total&pebp=1436879963716&perid=05AHWF29MW1JB75P42QA) is hands-down a much better product and gets my M590s clean like brand new.

For bugs and road tar on the paint use tar-x (http://www.amazon.com/CarPro-Tar-Bug-Remover-500/dp/B00K71AX36/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1436880109&sr=8-4&keywords=tar+x+bug+and+tar+remover) and everyone has their favorite wash and I really like Optimum No Rinse.

[Hatchman]

I have the chem guys diablo and it's crap. Doesn't remove much of anything.

I agree The silver finish on my AG M590s does seem a little tougher to clean than OEM wheels too.

Sonax full effect (http://www.amazon.com/Sonax-230200-755-Wheel-Cleaner-Full%C2%A0Effect/dp/B003UT3S6Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436879961&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=sonax+total&pebp=1436879963716&perid=05AHWF29MW1JB75P42QA) is hands-down a much better product and gets my M590s clean like brand new.

For bugs and road tar on the paint use tar-x (http://www.amazon.com/CarPro-Tar-Bug-Remover-500/dp/B00K71AX36/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1436880109&sr=8-4&keywords=tar+x+bug+and+tar+remover) and everyone has their favorite wash and I really like Optimum No Rinse.

Thanks for the info. I agree, I had some Sonax before, and it worked great, loved the "green to red" color shift as it took off the brake dust, but smells terrible even though it is acid free and pH balanced. So why does it smell like T-rex urine? LOL! But it works better than anything I have tried so I'm buying some more!

Agree, Chem Guys Diablo is crap and the exact opposite of Sonax... smells like sweet cherries but doesn't clean anything. Well, it did clean the rims to about 90% clean after three applications, but who has time for that?

Will have to try the Optimium No Rinse, been using Chem Guys Maxi Suds II and it is pretty good.

[BoostEasy]

Thanks for the info. I agree, I had some Sonax before, and it worked great, loved the "green to red" color shift as it took off the brake dust, but smells terrible even though it is acid free and pH balanced. So why does it smell like T-rex urine? LOL! But it works better than anything I have tried so I'm buying some more!

Agree, Chem Guys Diablo is crap and the exact opposite of Sonax... smells like sweet cherries but doesn't clean anything. Well, it did clean the rims to about 90% clean after three applications, but who has time for that?

Will have to try the Optimium No Rinse, been using Chem Guys Maxi Suds II and it is pretty good.

100% agree.

Only issue with Sonax is the price. I gotta have clean wheels so I go through the stuff. That and the Tar-X. ONR last fairly long time which is nice.

I have Akebono ceramic pads which help a LOT with the dust too.

[fisky84]

I tired this stuff and it helps clean them very easy. Just washed right off with ease.
http://www.amazon.com/Smartwax-10100-Ultimate-Shine-Protection/dp/B000PWH1VO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436886819&sr=8-2&keywords=wheel+wax

Tonight, i am switching over to Akebono Ceramic Pads as well.

[Hatchman]

100% agree.

Only issue with Sonax is the price. I gotta have clean wheels so I go through the stuff. That and the Tar-X. ONR last fairly long time which is nice.

I have Akebono ceramic pads which help a LOT with the dust too.

Nice! I have the Akebono ceramic pads too, and totally agree they help a LOT with the dust.