I recently bought a mark 2 Punto but I don't think the front wheels have been cleaned for years.
I've tried everything to clean them but the brake dust seems to be baked on. Today I used a cheapy alloy wheel cleaner, a motorcycle de-greaser and then some Meguiars Bug & Tar remover all with an alloy wheel brush but the stuff still wouldn't shift.

Are there any miracle products out there on the market?

bilberry wheel cleaner
get some small brushes for them to do between the gaps...even better take them off and clean and seal them....you might need something acidic if the wheel cleaner does not work you could try wonder wheels after this keeping on for a short time then either tardis/ epsuma t & R to remove the tar from them...

Which is the stronger of the two as I need something extra strong like acid!

Just Googled the Bilburry wheel cleaner and found this review, I was so impressed I've just ordered some from a guy on eBay.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=48507

Seems to be just what I'm after!

'Fairy Power Spray' is good for these situations.

Fairy???

These wheels need something a bit stronger than that.

autoglym wheel cleaner is nice and aggressive (wouldn't use it every time but if they are caked like those i would)

also try muck off mountain bike cleaner

Phil_ said:

Fairy???

These wheels need something a bit stronger than that.

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Don't knock until you've tried it! I read this http://bit.ly/51EhQa years ago and tried it myself. Would'nt use it every week but good for your situation.

Sandblasting and powdercoating.
If the dust is "baked in" after a long time, there's hardly no way else to get it of, I'm afraid.

Right, I know some people might frown at this but I took advice from this thread over at Detailing World: CLICKY

The guy used a patio & path cleaner from Screwfix, it costs £5.50 for 5 litres. Obviously this is a once only never to be repeated method but it's made them look like new!

After each section I rinsed off with plenty of cold water then once the whole wheel was done I washed them with a bucket & sponge, dried and then sprayed with Autoglym Alloy Wheel Seal.

Remember that yesterday I'd tried 3 different products with an alloy wheel brush and none of them shifted the dust, now look at this picture I took when I was halfway through....

Got the Bilberry alloy wheel cleaner today but there's no instructions.
I want to use it on some very stubborn brake dust so shall I just use it neat for the first time?

Once all the stubborn stuff is off shall I do a 50/50 dilute with water or will that be too weak?

4:1 for stubborn and 10:1 for general cleaning. (Unless they have been sealed).

Cheers.

Quick update: I used the Bilberry for the first time today and it removed some crap that a Turtle Wax wheel cleaner wouldn't.

I diluted it with some water and put it in a spray bottle. I bought 500ml for about £8 and I can see it lasting a very long time so although it seems a bit expensive to begin with it probably works out at under £3 per 500ml once diluted.

It's not as strong as the Screwfix Path & Patio cleaner but as a weekly wheel cleaner it comes highly recommended!

Hi,
Don't use any cleaner on them,just soap and water or you take the risk of burning them.I also wax mine about once a month to make it easy to remove any dirt or dust.

braq said:

Don't use any cleaner on them

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Who told you that? I now use Bilberry on them every week.

get them sealed it means far easier to clean and safer for lacquer but burning them? occ. if its really bad or havent been washed for a few wks and are reallly really bad then use alloy wheel cleaner

dont use wheel cleaner!!! its like paint stripper if u use it over time.
a got wash and maybe cutting compound to get the dirt off then polish and wax them to stop it happening again

Marshall147 said:

dont use wheel cleaner!!! its like paint stripper if u use it over time.
a got wash and maybe cutting compound to get the dirt off then polish and wax them to stop it happening again

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No amount of wax will stop the wheels from getting dirty and as long as you use a mild wheel cleaner you'll be fine to use it as often as you need to. I use a weak Bilberry solution every week with no problems at all.

I use Auto Glym Wheel Cleaner seems to shift everything, burns like hell if u get it on a cut too!

Though, If andy says Muc Off works then i'd agree, i use Muc Off on my mountain bike all the time & its shocking how good it is..... if AG Wheel Cleaner can damage the rims ill probably use Muc Off on the wheels aswell.