Bilt Hamber is an award-winning car detailing and finishing product manufacturer.
They’re a UK-based manufacturer that ships all around Europe. They’ve started to branch out into the States, but, it will cost you significantly more to buy a BH product in the US.
Since 2010, Bilt Hamber products have been winning the “infamous” auto-express product awards. Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel won the “best wheel cleaner award” in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. I would expect it to win in 2021 as well.
Despite boasting a range of incredible products, bilt-hamber is still somewhat unknown. Especially in the states.
The most notable products that they’ve released are Bilt Hamber Auto Foam, Korrosol, Surfex HD, and Auto Wheel. All the products mentioned are considered the best in their range.
I’ve used all of these products and definitely consider their Auto Foam to be the best Snow Foam. You’ll also find out in this article why I consider Auto Wheel to be the best wheel cleaner as well.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Review
Since Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel was my first ever wheel cleaner that I used, I’ve had many years of using this product. While it looks as though the packaging has changed, I’m positive that the solution has not.
A good wheel cleaner will completely change how you wash wheels. In fact, the best wheel cleaners will make it so quick and easy, you barely have to do anything.
Depending on the condition of your wheels, quickly applying the product and rinsing it off could be enough. Obviously, the dirtier they are, or the better you want them to look, the more effort you’ll have to put in.
Everything is made much easier when using auto wheel.
It’s also perfectly safe to use being a PH-balanced, non-acidic wheel cleaner.
Auto Wheels uses a unique process that renders the iron brake dust water-soluble. Meaning there’s no need for harsh chemicals that could potentially destroy your alloy wheels.
How To Use Bilt Hamber Wheel Cleaner
Depending on the product that you bought, you may need to dilute it into a spray bottle first.
For this article, I used the ready-to-use solution that comes in a spray bottle. You can however get a 5L carton of concentrate that you have to dilute yourself.
While this product is safe for all alloy wheels, you should always test it in a discrete area beforehand.
You certainly don’t want to use this on plastic wheel trims or center caps. I did that before and it quickly took the paint off the wheel trims (luckily it was my own car).
Here’s how to apply Bilt Hamber Wheel Cleaner:
- Cover up plastic center-caps, lug nut covers or even remove them if possible.
- Spray Auto Wheel product onto each wheel of your car. Cover the face of the wheel and even get it in behind the spokes for deep cleaning
- Let the product dwell for 1-5 minutes. You’ll see the auto wheel solution change from clear to dark purple as it reacts to the iron and dirt on your wheels.
- If you’re performing a deep clean agitate the wheels with a soft wheel brush.
- When you’re satisfied with the results, simply rinse off the solution and that’s it.
Whatever you do, don’t let the solution dry on your wheels. While it shouldn’t really affect the condition of the alloy (though it could result in purple stains), it will create a horrific smell when driving and braking, as a result of the product being heated up.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Before & After
There’s absolutely no doubt about the effectiveness of this product. Everybody that used this product is amazed by how little effort you need to make.
In my case, I clean my car often, so I apply Auto Wheel and simply rinse it off within 5 minutes and they look as good as new.
Alloys that are heavily soiled will need a brush and more agitation. However, when using auto wheel, it does most of the work for you.
Here’s a real before and after picture that will give you an idea of what to expect:
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel – Good Or Bad?
I can confidently say to you that this product is the best wheel cleaner on the market. I wouldn’t recommend any other. Especially if you’re in the UK or Europe where this product is priced similarly to the rest.
There’s a reason why this is recommended as the number 1 wheel cleaner every year without change. Bilt Hamber has knocked it out of the park with this one
The only negatives I can think of off the top of my head is the smell. It’s an incredibly strong chemical smell that’s hard to get rid of. I’ve been able to smell it on my hands and even my clothes many days later.
The other downside is for international customers which may have to pay a premium for this product or may not be able to get it at all.
My Final Thoughts & Ratings
Cleaning Power = 9/10
Ease Of Application = 10/10
Price = 7.5 /10
Overall Rating = 9/10
I struggle to believe that there will be a better solution released any time soon. The immense cleaning power and easy application make it almost unbeatable whether you’re performing a deep clean or simple spray & rinse.
Where To Buy Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel
The best place to buy Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel is from Amazon. Because of the size of the company and the infrastructure they have in place, they can offer super fast delivery.
That said, any of your favourite detailing stores should also provide this product. However, places such as Halfords, O’reillys & Autozone do not.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel FAQ
While it’s a fairly straightforward product, there are some questions that are frequently asked about Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel.
I’ve tried my best to answer the questions below in a way that you’d understand
Can you use Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel on paintwork?
I wouldn’t recommend using Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel on the paintwork of a car.
While it wouldn’t necessarily do any harm to the paint, it is too strong a product and could seriously damage plastics and rubber moldings.
If you have stubborn iron filings on your paint and you don’t have a dedicated fallout remover, sure, this would work. However, I wouldn’t have it as my go-to solution.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel vs Bilt Hamber Korrosol
While they effectively do the same job, removing embedded metal particles that cover both your wheels and paintwork, they are still different products.
Auto Wheel is a very strong product that’s a much higher viscosity, meaning that you don’t get as much “coverage” as you would with Korrosol. This means auto wheel will also cling to the paintwork for longer.
Whereas Korrosol is specifically designed for use on every auto body paint finish (including lacquers). Offering a wider, less targeted solution that’ll cover your vehicle quickly and easily.
You’re also able to get a 5L concentrate of Korrosol that you can dilute to your liking when using it in a spray bottle or pump sprayers.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Dilution
While I recommend that the average person buys the ready-to-use 1L bottle of Auto Wheel, professionals may be better off buying the 5L container of concentrate.
When buying the big container, there are no dilution instructions. Because of this, I’d recommend using the product as it comes. Simply put it in your spray bottle and then clean your wheels.
Unless you’re using the product for regular maintenance washes, don’t bother diluting it.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel VS Bilberry Wheel Cleaner
When talking about which is the better product, Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel comes out on top.
However, when talking about the differences between Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel & Bilberry Wheel Cleaner, things become a little more complicated.
They’re both designed to clean wheels, and they’re both PH Balanced and completely safe to use. However, Bilberry Wheel Cleaner is almost 50% cheaper.
If you’re someone that’s detailing on a budget or is doing it as a business, it may be worth buying ValetPros Bilberry Wheel Cleaner to save money or increase profit margins.
I recommend trying out both and seeing which one you prefer. You may decide that the bilberry solution is good enough!