TeamGomez
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2022
- Threads
- 23
- Messages
- 185
- Reaction score
- 332
- Location
- San Diego
- Website
- www.centripetalsolutions.com
- First Name
- John
- Vehicle(s)
- '18 350, 996 GT-3, E46 M3, SQ5, Tundra
- Thread starter
- #1
So I bought the steed with 17k miles 2 years ago and I’ve put 10k miles on her. I would wipe the alcantara steering wheel with a MF towel every couple months and it was getting where it had zero texture anymore…I knew it needed some attention but the bug bit me for a CF wheel and dropped that in today before I gave the OEM wheel some much needed love and attention (Caution: Viewer discretion is advised).
I’ve had alcantara in my E46 Roundels and their bane is pilling up. P-cars not so much. So while I was happy this one had not done so in 27k miles, it lost its nap/grain texture. I was out of Microsuede cleaner and saw a can of Tuff Stuff interior cleaner in the cabinet with a nice fine-tooted bristle brush and thought what the hell. So I attacked it with a mist of DI water, followed by some spray foam and gentle to moderate scrubbing for a minute with the brush, wipe, then followed up with generous application of DI water to fully rinse the material and a nice open-loop MF towel to wipe it down with.
The results were both shocking and surprising. It’s not like I eat In N’ Out double doubles and fries while driving, but that damed wheel was GROSS.
The surprising part was the nap/grain texture came back to life very nicely. While I can’t say what the wheel looked like as new, this could now easily pass a showroom floor test. The nap has been restored. You can now brush against the grain and make patterns out of it. The leather also presents as new.
I’ll keep this wheel nicely tucked away should the CF version grow old or I decide to get some track time. Nothing beats sweaty driving gloves on an alcantara wheel.
First pass on the right half of the wheel.
Before
After
Feeling like I just cleaned out an overdue deep fat fryer at the greasy spoon….
The replacement (for now)
I’ve had alcantara in my E46 Roundels and their bane is pilling up. P-cars not so much. So while I was happy this one had not done so in 27k miles, it lost its nap/grain texture. I was out of Microsuede cleaner and saw a can of Tuff Stuff interior cleaner in the cabinet with a nice fine-tooted bristle brush and thought what the hell. So I attacked it with a mist of DI water, followed by some spray foam and gentle to moderate scrubbing for a minute with the brush, wipe, then followed up with generous application of DI water to fully rinse the material and a nice open-loop MF towel to wipe it down with.
The results were both shocking and surprising. It’s not like I eat In N’ Out double doubles and fries while driving, but that damed wheel was GROSS.
The surprising part was the nap/grain texture came back to life very nicely. While I can’t say what the wheel looked like as new, this could now easily pass a showroom floor test. The nap has been restored. You can now brush against the grain and make patterns out of it. The leather also presents as new.
I’ll keep this wheel nicely tucked away should the CF version grow old or I decide to get some track time. Nothing beats sweaty driving gloves on an alcantara wheel.
First pass on the right half of the wheel.
Before
After
Feeling like I just cleaned out an overdue deep fat fryer at the greasy spoon….
The replacement (for now)
Sponsored
