tip of the day on chrome/All you need to know about HID's!

[mcgyver ky]

tip of the day on chrome

do you get a lot of rust on your wheels during the winter well it a lot of things that can cause it mostly being wet all the time and the road salt doesnt help


here is what i do i put wax on them the same wax you use on your cars finish except dont wipe it off or buff it leave it on till its sping and when you do wash it and all you have to do is wipe the wax and it will come right off even after four month's

 

[Stephen]

Have you actually tried this? Wheels can get VERY hot, and baking the wax residue on like that can make it very difficult to remove.

A much better idea is using a good sealant like Zaino or Klasse on the wheels, and buffing it off normally.

 

[BradE.]

Bingo Steven.

I am also a Moderator on one of the largest Detailing forums on the Net. Caranuba based waxes start to degrade at approx 160 degrees, in short they won't last long on wheels. Synthetics, such as Klasse and Zaino, will last for months and won't melt off quickly.

 

[410Fortune]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm good advice, I have been using wax on my chrome for the winter months forever......


I use turtle wax chrome polish and windex to get tehm started. I hit them with spray wax whenever I can (during the winter) and it definatley helps......

 

[cdsl227]

Here's an off topic tip...

I recently had to change my headlight enclosures because they fried from the heat of those 90 watt bulbs...

I put in HIDs. One of the light enclosures was a little yellow so I took some Mothers Mag and Aluminum Wax and some elbow grease and whella!! Perfectly clear! Plus it holds up to the elements pretty well too...sheds rain better, well at least until the was gets washed off.

But seriously from yellow to crystal clear in like 5 minutes!

 

[410Fortune]

Here's another one that works awesome...

Use 3M clear bra on your headlights, fog lights, and driving lights. IT WORKS awesome for stopping pitting and stone chips and breakage.

My headlights and fog light lenses are Fing Expensive! Like $85 ea (Hella H4 5x7) and $100 ea for replacement PIAA lenses, and I am on my third set! Why? Becuase in CO the gravel sucks and they get hit. I had one break with a golf ball sized hole, then replaced it, one week later the other side broke!! Sucked! So I got some scrap clear bra for $5 and covered my PIAA's and H4's..Not a single chip since, no discoloration, nothing.

If I didnt have windshield wipers I would probably use that stuff on my windshield!!! hahahaha

 

[cdsl227]

I'll keep that one in mind after I change my bumper...

 

[Stephen]

Originally posted by BradE.
Bingo Steven.

I am also a Moderator on one of the largest Detailing forums on the Net. Caranuba based waxes start to degrade at approx 160 degrees, in short they won't last long on wheels. Synthetics, such as Klasse and Zaino, will last for months and won't melt off quickly.

Brad, which detailing forum? Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer not to post it.

 

[Stephen]

Originally posted by cdsl227
Here's an off topic tip...

I recently had to change my headlight enclosures because they fried from the heat of those 90 watt bulbs...

I put in HIDs. One of the light enclosures was a little yellow so I took some Mothers Mag and Aluminum Wax and some elbow grease and whella!! Perfectly clear! Plus it holds up to the elements pretty well too...sheds rain better, well at least until the was gets washed off.

But seriously from yellow to crystal clear in like 5 minutes!

You put HIDs in the stock light housings? How'd that turn out? I've always heard that HID kits wouldnt work well on the Explorer's 9007 lamps, that the beam pattern would be bad.

 

[BradE.]

You have a PM.

 

[mcgyver ky]

these are tip that can help and what i forgot to mention was the wax is a quick fix in very wet and cold areas most of the time my truck with the crome dont get drove much during the winter and it also good for the crome bumpers too


but at least i got you to add your commits too and to get you thinking and like i said before i am not perfect and welcome your commits

 

[cdsl227]

Originally posted by Stephen
You put HIDs in the stock light housings? How'd that turn out? I've always heard that HID kits wouldnt work well on the Explorer's 9007 lamps, that the beam pattern would be bad.

Well to start out I had the 90/100 watt bulbs with the Heavy Duty Wiring Harness conversion- they were Ok, but just Ok, the drawback- they melted the top of the housing and started burning bulbs every time it rained.

I installed HIDs the 8000K type, the difference is night and day, seriously worth the loot. The beam pattern is not that bad- granted it could be better, but the amount and quality of light I gained made it worth the purchase.

They use less power because they're only 35 watts as opposed to the 90s I was running and they're cooler because of the lower wattage also.

Once more I think they were worth it- of course if I could find Crystal Clear lenses with better focus of the beam pattern they'd be better, but they are a HUGE improvement.

By the way you lose the high beam unless you get the ones that have the dual arch...but I'm not sure if they're available for the 9007 yet.

 

[ShadowA2J]

Regarding cleaning chrome...has anybody ever heard of using Coca-Cola and tin foil to clean it? A friend of mine went to a shop looking for something to clean his chrome rims, and the guy at the shop told him to use coke and foil. He did, and his rims look 100 times better.

 

[andruxa]

Coke + Foil = Spray Coke and wipe with foil?
Can you expand on that? Many of us would be interested...

 

[ShadowA2J]

don't really know for sure, I'll ask my friend when I see him tomorrow.

 

[Stephen]

Originally posted by cdsl227
Once more I think they were worth it- of course if I could find Crystal Clear lenses with better focus of the beam pattern they'd be better, but they are a HUGE improvement.

I have HID lights on my Lexus and I love them, I hate driving anything else at night because the lights are so dim.

 

[cdsl227]

I initially wanted them (HIDs) for looks, but after driving on the highway in blinding snow on the way to Vermont I gotta admit they are probably the best investment I've put into the truck so far.

 

[Black Magic]

The HID's are absolutly the best lighting investment you can make. I have had mine for over a year and they are fantastic! As for the High beams I added PIAA 980's, they have a fog and driving beam. I use PIAA's Super White bulbs in both driving and fog and they are aimed a little up and I use them as High beams. Helps a lot. But the HID's are a must in any vehicle!

Sorry to get a little off topic! LOL

 

[cdsl227]

Originally posted by Black Magic
The HID's are absolutly the best lighting investment you can make. I have had mine for over a year and they are fantastic! As for the High beams I added PIAA 980's, they have a fog and driving beam. I use PIAA's Super White bulbs in both driving and fog and they are aimed a little up and I use them as High beams. Helps a lot. But the HID's are a must in any vehicle!

Sorry to get a little off topic! LOL

Solution to the high beams!

 

[scorgnetic]

Who's rig is that? Is that Photoshopped?