[THinthedesert]

I recently purchased a new 2020 X5 M50i and I love it. I try to keep it clean by hand washing it.

I realize the M brakes do emit more dust than the standard brakes. Maybe in time I’ll switch out the pads to ones that don’t emit as much dust, but for now I wonder how best to get the calipers clean. I use a spray non acidic wheel cleaner (P&S Brake Buster) and a brush that looks like a parts cleaning brush that’s meant for lug nut recesses, yet it’s very hard to get those calipers clean short of removing the wheels, which I’m not going to do.

I’ve considered buying a fairly ‘low pressure’ pressure washer to give the calipers a quick spray to try to get some of that dust out of the hard to get areas on the calipers.

Does anyone see any potential issue in doing so? I know some pressure washers can literally remove paint, so I’d intend to be very careful, but would like to hear opinions of any other suggestion as to how to get them cleaner. The look so nice when they’re new in that nice metallic blue color.

[dadzer]

You might want to look into having your wheels and calipers ceramic coated. I had mine done for around $380 = much easier to keep them clean!

[jumpingpint]

Dust shows the power of the brake

Looks gorgeous to me

[Mbbrewer]

Originally Posted by THinthedesert

I recently purchased a new 2020 X5 M50i and I love it. I try to keep it clean by hand washing it.

I realize the M brakes do emit more dust than the standard brakes. Maybe in time I’ll switch out the pads to ones that don’t emit as much dust, but for now I wonder how best to get the calipers clean. I use a spray non acidic wheel cleaner (P&S Brake Buster) and a brush that looks like a parts cleaning brush that’s meant for lug nut recesses, yet it’s very hard to get those calipers clean short of removing the wheels, which I’m not going to do.

I’ve considered buying a fairly ‘low pressure’ pressure washer to give the calipers a quick spray to try to get some of that dust out of the hard to get areas on the calipers.

Does anyone see any potential issue in doing so? I know some pressure washers can literally remove paint, so I’d intend to be very careful, but would like to hear opinions of any other suggestion as to how to get them cleaner. The look so nice when they’re new in that nice metallic blue color.

You'll be fine. A consumer grade electric power washer is perfect for wheels and won't remove the paint from the calipers

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Mbbrewer

You'll be fine. A consumer grade electric power washer is perfect for wheels and won't remove the paint from the calipers

Yea, but it can introduce other issues. Every power washer has to have its power strength really monitored. I have seen and experience enough issues with power washers I don’t recommend using them on a vehicle like a modern BMW.

Don’t let the brake dust build up too long as it will make a easy job very ugly. Use a foam gun on the calipers and a wheel brush.

[Denk]

Which wheels do have? 741's have the most open design for getting in there with a brush.

[THinthedesert]

Originally Posted by Denk

Which wheels do have? 741's have the most open design for getting in there with a brush.

Thanks for all the comments.

I do have the 741 wheels and I certainly do have good access into the wheels, to clean the inside surface of them.

It's the parts of the calipers, especially the fronts that are hard to get clean.

[polychromatic]

I don’t know how well this works as it was mentioned in another thread, however it’s worth a try: Brake dust prevention

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by polychromatic

I don’t know how well this works as it was mentioned in another thread, however it’s worth a try: Brake dust prevention

Iron X for 3 min on cool wheel. Hose. Drive. Enjoy.

I have had a ceramic coating on winters and that seems the help as well.

[dubsesd]

Nothing will really fix this issue. You either wash your wheels everyday or swap pads. I got powerstop pads for 120 bucks and now live a 98% dust free life haha. Pedal feel and bite feels oem

[screamace]

The brake dust is still difficult to remove with pressure washer. Like above posts mentioned, ceramic coat and iron X is the way to go.

[gofast182]

I removed the wheels and coated them and the calipers with Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Wheel Coating. It's not the miracle product I envisioned but it does make everything very easy to clean.

I use a cheap Ryobi 1600psi pressure washer, 15* tip, and a MTM hydro gun and it washes most dirt off instantly.

A quality wheel cleaner like Sonax will also work very well but it doesn't offer any added protection and can get expensive long term.

[atl_1M]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

Nothing will really fix this issue. You either wash your wheels everyday or swap pads. I got powerstop pads for 120 bucks and now live a 98% dust free life haha. Pedal feel and bite feels oem

Which powerstop pads did you get? I don't see anything listed for the G05 X5s on their site. Thanks

[Mbbrewer]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

Yea, but it can introduce other issues. Every power washer has to have its power strength really monitored. I have seen and experience enough issues with power washers I don't recommend using them on a vehicle like a modern BMW.

Don't let the brake dust build up too long as it will make a easy job very ugly. Use a foam gun on the calipers and a wheel brush.

You're being dramatic. I wash my cars almost every week using one and never experienced a single issue. In your experience what "other issues" have you had using a pressure washer? A consumer grade electric pressure washer, like one you can find at Home Depot will not create any problems.

[mhodx5]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

Nothing will really fix this issue. You either wash your wheels everyday or swap pads. I got powerstop pads for 120 bucks and now live a 98% dust free life haha. Pedal feel and bite feels oem

Please elaborate. Where did you get the power stop pads? Did you install yourself. 120 is super cheap

[ferrarif1]

Originally Posted by THinthedesert

I recently purchased a new 2020 X5 M50i and I love it. I try to keep it clean by hand washing it.

I realize the M brakes do emit more dust than the standard brakes. Maybe in time I’ll switch out the pads to ones that don’t emit as much dust, but for now I wonder how best to get the calipers clean. I use a spray non acidic wheel cleaner (P&S Brake Buster) and a brush that looks like a parts cleaning brush that’s meant for lug nut recesses, yet it’s very hard to get those calipers clean short of removing the wheels, which I’m not going to do.

I’ve considered buying a fairly ‘low pressure’ pressure washer to give the calipers a quick spray to try to get some of that dust out of the hard to get areas on the calipers.

Does anyone see any potential issue in doing so? I know some pressure washers can literally remove paint, so I’d intend to be very careful, but would like to hear opinions of any other suggestion as to how to get them cleaner. The look so nice when they’re new in that nice metallic blue color.

Check out some of the videos on YouTube from Money2536 aka Obsessed Garage. A low psi pressure washer, p&s or Adams wheel cleaner and a good set of brushes will clean them up nicely.

[AndroidRobot]

for what it's worth mine are ceramic coated, as are my wheels and it doesn't really help that much if at all.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

for what it's worth mine are ceramic coated, as are my wheels and it doesn't really help that much if at all.

I agree with this.... I use the new turtle wax hybrid with ceramic and all it really does is make it easier to clean off. They still get dirty just as fast and much but no more really scrubbing.... I would say it takes half the time to clean the wheels.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Tenac

I agree with this.... I use the new turtle wax hybrid with ceramic and all it really does is make it easier to clean off. They still get dirty just as fast and much but no more really scrubbing.... I would say it takes half the time to clean the wheels.

Yes, it helps, but is far from a night/day type of deal. I don't need to scrub, only wipe it off after using my foam cannon.