Wheel pitting on 08 ISF (with solution!)
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,886
Likes: 604
From: USA
I have about 36k miles on my 09 IS F. There have been times I let the brake dust sit on the wheels longer than a month due to the periods of rain we had here in SoCal....and i have not had any issues with wheel pitting. The only wheel damage I have are small knicks from stones and road debris which is expected of any kind of wheel.
May be only 08 model have this problem?? I just talk to a customer of my that work at the dealership he look at another ISF that went in exect same problem as mine!!!!!! I think BBS Japan made a bad batch of wheels and only few of us have this wheel pitting issue not everyone else. It could be BBS's paint supplier's problem.. I don't know how some of you guys got it replace under warrenty and not everyone with this issue???
Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: Nevada
I was able to use clay bar to get a lot of the pitting off my wheels, however, the areas where the spokes meet the rim are ruined. The paint is just gone.
Next time I'm in for an oil change, I'll ask the dealer to check it out. I'm not going to get my hopes up.
Next time I'm in for an oil change, I'll ask the dealer to check it out. I'm not going to get my hopes up.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Found an awesome fix!!!!!
Buy some CarPro Iron X Paste and the normal iron x spray. The paste is the more effective product though. Ph neutral and safe for wheels and paint. The stuff reacts with embedded ferrous particles. Take a look at the attached before and after photos. I tried to pick the best 5. I tried everything, and was about to get the wheels refinished until I found this. I had numerous people tell me they couldn't do anything for them. 
The gel dwells on the surface, and after multiple passes I was able to get rid of all off it. 1 tube of the paste will do all four rims and 1 can of spray. Get a pair of gloves, and a small brush and go to town! I keep up with the wheels now with Sonax full effect wheel cleaner, EZ wheel brush, and Armour-all wheel protectant spray after each wash.
The gel dwells on the surface, and after multiple passes I was able to get rid of all off it. 1 tube of the paste will do all four rims and 1 can of spray. Get a pair of gloves, and a small brush and go to town! I keep up with the wheels now with Sonax full effect wheel cleaner, EZ wheel brush, and Armour-all wheel protectant spray after each wash.
Last edited by Jb2009; Jun 26, 2012 at 06:20 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
It only took about an hour or two.
Take the time to go over them meticulously and every bit of the mystery dust will be taken care off The rears went pretty easy, but the fronts needed 4 applications of the paste to clean up what remained. I applied the gel for about 10 minutes per wheel and then power washed them down. A few areas were touched up what I missed and it was good to go.
Take the time to go over them meticulously and every bit of the mystery dust will be taken care off The rears went pretty easy, but the fronts needed 4 applications of the paste to clean up what remained. I applied the gel for about 10 minutes per wheel and then power washed them down. A few areas were touched up what I missed and it was good to go.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Last edited by Jb2009; Jun 26, 2012 at 06:33 PM.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: fl
I took my is250 to the dealer for some issues and they drove it 26miles, wasted 1/4 of my gas and used my e-pass.
beside that I had them fix the rattle on the dash.. when I got my car back it had 17 extra miles on it the tech must be taking it easy on those 17 miles cause gas was way lower!!!!
Anybody had any luck getting the dealer to refinish their wheels in socal? I've only read about less than a handful of stories where the members were able to get their wheels refinished under warranty but dont remember if they were in socal.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: MD
This thread has scared me just a bit... cleaned the rims the other day and got the same problem with brake dust a little caked in. Used some mother's wheel cleaner and it got most of it out with a toothbrush too.. Is that going to be bad for the rim?
those photos above look like my fronts. the previous owner obviously didn't take too good care of the car. i'm ordering this product as well, as nothing else has helped to remove the pitting.
Interesting read... didn't know this was referred to as "pitting". My wheels have a bad case of it so its time to look into this product or others that are on the market. I remember in a different thread people recommended using the SONAX wheel cleaner... does this stuff work at all?