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DefenderOfTheEarth



Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Boost alloys - poor quality?
Are these fairly low quality?

The reason I ask - despite the very simple shape, I'm often finding mine hard work to clean. Grime really sticks to them, tidemarks appear and what should be a quick job often seems to take a while. I'm having to use fairly aggressive wheel cleaner a bit too often. I've got a very powerful (140 bar) pressure washer (and snow foam lance) which gets my very complex BMW alloys clean with almost no effort - the Boost alloys seem to need a serious scrubbing every time.

Are they fairly low grade alloy? Anything I can do to look after them? They're in new conditions (totally spotless) but hard to keep that way.

Oh and another random question - best way to clean the tyres? Often get the whole 110 nice and clean but fall down on the tyres. Again jetwashing doesn't do a lot.

I KNOW cleaning a Defender is wrong but I'm doing it partly to preserve it, partly because it looks nice all clean and shiny! Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.
Post #56665 4th Feb 2011 10:03am
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Mike_B



Member Since: 23 Jan 2011
Location: Moray
Posts: 550

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Java Black
I never had any problems with my Boost alloys. I found the best thing to clean them with was this

http://colourmatchcentre.co.uk/index.php?m...cts_id=316

I use Treble X and an autoglym wheel brush to get into all the hard to reach bits. Treble X is aggresive, but hasn't damaged the coating on my alloys. I use a scouring pad (plastic) on the inside of the wheels when they're off.

You can buy rimwax too, which you rub on once the wheels are clean. It stops the brake dust etc from adhering to the surface of the wheels.

tyres can be scrubbed with a stiff bristled brush and some TFR.
Once they're clean its worth using tyre dressing. It does end up making the tyres super shiny like you've just driven out of a showroom, but again, it adds a a protective layer to the tyre, slowing the adhesion of grime.
Post #56676 4th Feb 2011 10:43am
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pom



Member Since: 01 Jun 2010
Location: Worcester
Posts: 1343

hard work cleaning them ? You do know thats why Eastern europeans were invented Thumbs Up

Pom
Post #56681 4th Feb 2011 11:01am
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Zagato
Site Supporter


Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Billingshurst West Sussex
Posts: 5012

United Kingdom 
^ Laughing

Careful with some of the these alloy wheel cleaners they will make your brakes discs disintegrate by the time you've finished your cuppa. Best to spray it on your rag then apply! Oh and make sure you wash your hands before you go for a jimmy riddle otherwise your Johnson may fall off Shocked
Post #56684 4th Feb 2011 11:09am
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RED-DOT



Member Since: 29 Jun 2009
Location: stirling
Posts: 2363

Scotland 
Boost alloys are painted in Sparkle Silver paint but are not laquered therefore the paint surface is rough and brake dust sticks to the finish. if you are daft enough remove them, clean them and apply Rimwax to the in/out side. 2008 RS4 gone, 123d M Sport, and a Puma 90 XS..
Post #56686 4th Feb 2011 11:38am
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Lorryman100



Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Here
Posts: 2686

Wonder wheels cleaner, I pour some into a clean glass jar and apply to alloys with a 1" paintbrush getting into all the nooks and crannies. Once the the entire alloy is covered go around again with just the brush then rinse, result is one clean alloy! If your alloys have a scuff or chip in them after market cleaners will get under the coating causing the alloy coating to degrade much quicker.
Post #56688 4th Feb 2011 11:45am
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
if you use an acid based cleaning fluid, make sure you wash it all off ... otherwise the edges of the tyres develop little cracks and over time they grow - but certainly an easy way to clean the wheels.

another option is to have them powder coated black then the brake dust does not show Smile
Post #56692 4th Feb 2011 12:19pm
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kingofthesparks



Member Since: 06 Jan 2011
Location: Very close to Watford gap services , northants
Posts: 987

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Fuji White
cleaning , defender same sentence Whistle
Post #56694 4th Feb 2011 12:25pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Zagato wrote:
Oh and make sure you wash your hands before you go for a jimmy riddle otherwise your Johnson may fall off Shocked


Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter Wondered where mine had got to! Thought it had been polishing of a different kind that caused it to wear away!! Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #56696 4th Feb 2011 12:52pm
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ken



Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

United Kingdom 
Laughing
Post #56702 4th Feb 2011 1:07pm
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RED-DOT



Member Since: 29 Jun 2009
Location: stirling
Posts: 2363

Scotland 
I had SVX alloys with KL71's on my Defender and after 500 miles i swopped back to Boosts and BFG M/T's. Much easier to clean and keep as new. 2008 RS4 gone, 123d M Sport, and a Puma 90 XS..
Post #56703 4th Feb 2011 1:08pm
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Green Machine



Member Since: 19 Nov 2010
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1226

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Tonga Green
Autoglym 'Custom Wheel Cleaner' and 'Alloy Wheel Seal' work pretty well. The custom wheel cleaner makes a thick foam, which lifts the dirt off, and then apply the alloy wheel seal to stop stuff sticking to the wheels. Makes it a lot easier to clean them next time round. Again, I'd apply the product to a sponge / cloth rather than directly to the wheels to stop it going through onto brake components.
Post #56711 4th Feb 2011 2:10pm
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willy eckerslike



Member Since: 15 Jun 2009
Location: North yorks
Posts: 1789

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Keswick Green
Drive through some deep heather once a week, cleans the wheels a treat Thumbs Up Original Member Pie n Pea Club.
110 HCPU Tipper
Post #56712 4th Feb 2011 2:18pm
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nosnibod



Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 367

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi SW Bronze Green
The relatively poor quality of the Boosts - bubbling/porous paint, no lacquer etc is what made me get some HD (Wolf) steel wheels. I got them properly painted and they actually balanced better than the Boosts as well, which is a bit strange.

Oh, and you gain 1/2" of track either side too, compared to the Boosts. You can then adjust the lock stops a little as well. Dave
Green Goddess - 1998 Defender 110 300tdi
Post #56733 4th Feb 2011 4:59pm
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DefenderOfTheEarth



Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1304

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Looks like I'd better seal them. I use Poorboys sealant on the BM so will use that. Just surprised that what looks like an easy job is actually laborious. After all, it seems wrong to spend too long cleaning a Defender! I was hoping the pressure washer alone would be plenty. Defender 110XS SW gone... now VW California 180 4 Motion.
Post #56756 4th Feb 2011 6:08pm
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