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Polishing Aluminum Wheels on BMW r100rs (1981)...help!

2003

I am restoring/rebuilding a BMW r100RS (1981) boxer motorbike. I am having difficulty polishing the wheels as they are so some and fiddley! The rims are no problem but how get right in to the small areas, spokes, etc..it is a semi-solid wheel (thats not the correct term I know but I hope you all get the picture. The previous owner started to wire brush them and the places he did look very smooth and shiney. What should I do to continue?

Thanks for all your help.

Colm Ó hAnluain
- Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, Repulic of Ireland

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November 15, 2008

Hi Colm,
You will be surprised to learn that the BMW wheels were never polished in the factory, they were actually finished in silver paint and lacquered. Whilst wire brushing may restore the surface temporarily, you will actually be removing the paint finish in the process !

Many R100RS restorations I have seen have had the wheels bead blasted and re-painted and lacquered. I hope this information saves you hours of wasted work with that wire brush and Autosol [affil link] !

Best regards
Doug

Doug Boyce
- Fleet, Hampshire, UK