As the title says, I put the first coat of wax on her today. The red jewel tintcoat cleans up well after a waxing. I'll tell you one thing - I'm tired. This is not a small car. But it was worth it. It looks really good.

Details and Pics please!!! :D

Where are the pics!?

I agree, try to do it every few months on mine but too bad its just time consuming. If not I would do it more often.

I agree, try to do it every few months on mine but too bad its just time consuming. If not I would do it more often.

My Malibu looks just like yours. It even has the body side moldings that yours has. Do you have the standard wheels, or the upgrade? I have the standard LT2 wheels for 2010 which is 17 inch chrome. The upgraded wheel is 18 inch polished aluminum.

Aside from the wheels, were there any other changes for 2010?

My Malibu looks just like yours. It even has the body side moldings that yours has. Do you have the standard wheels, or the upgrade? I have the standard LT2 wheels for 2010 which is 17 inch chrome. The upgraded wheel is 18 inch polished aluminum.

Aside from the wheels, were there any other changes for 2010?

I have a 2LT and it came with the 18 inch wheels, one of my favorite things about it. As far as changes I believe that they were only in the interior (some buttons moved around) and the one and only exterior was that they removed the side signal markers after the 08s.

I have a 2LT and it came with the 18 inch wheels, one of my favorite things about it. As far as changes I believe that they were only in the interior (some buttons moved around) and the one and only exterior was that they removed the side signal markers after the 08s.

The 18 inch wheels are an extra on the new LT2's. Was this an extra in '08, or was that the standard wheel. Are yours chrome? It's hard to tell from the picture. In 2010, the standard LT2 wheel is 17 inch Chrome over aluminum. The upgraded wheel is 18 inch polished aluminum.

The 18 inch wheels are an extra on the new LT2's. Was this an extra in '08, or was that the standard wheel. Are yours chrome? It's hard to tell from the picture. In 2010, the standard LT2 wheel is 17 inch Chrome over aluminum. The upgraded wheel is 18 inch polished aluminum.

I'd be lying if I told you they were standard, I have no clue. I believe they are polished aluminum, take a look for yourself.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss190/elcompalaline/DSC02661.jpg

I'd be lying if I told you they were standard, I have no clue. I believe they are polished aluminum, take a look for yourself.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss190/elcompalaline/DSC02661.jpg

That looks like the upgraded wheel on the 2010 Model. I really like the Chrome Wheels that's now standard on the 2010 LT2, but of course I would have liked an 18 inch wheel as well. The 18 inch wheel is an extra, but they don't make an 18 inch chrome wheel, only polished aluminum.

There is one bad mistake that Chevy made with the Chrome wheel. There's a very thick outside rim (the part of the wheel that meets up with the tire) that extends out quite a bit, so it's very vulnerable to damage. The tire does not protect this outside rim at all. So if you hit a curb or hit the track in a car wash, you will damage this outside rim.

I noticed with your wheels, that rim is very well protected from damage. I feel this was a design flaw on the standard Chrome wheel. They should have put a flush outside rim rather than one that extends out. And when that gets damaged, there's no way to fix it.

That looks like the upgraded wheel on the 2010 Model. I really like the Chrome Wheels that's now standard on the 2010 LT2, but of course I would have liked an 18 inch wheel as well. The 18 inch wheel is an extra, but they don't make an 18 inch chrome wheel, only polished aluminum.

There is one bad mistake that Chevy made with the Chrome wheel. There's a very thick outside rim (the part of the wheel that meets up with the tire) that extends out quite a bit, so it's very vulnerable to damage. The tire does not protect this outside rim at all. So if you hit a curb or hit the track in a car wash, you will damage this outside rim.

I noticed with your wheels, that rim is very well protected from damage. I feel this was a design flaw on the standard Chrome wheel. They should have put a flush outside rim rather than one that extends out. And when that gets damaged, there's no way to fix it.

You have to remember that the polished wheels are actual wheels. The chrome ones are plastic covers over a stamped wheel.

You have to remember that the polished wheels are actual wheels. The chrome ones are plastic covers over a stamped wheel.


This is not true for the LT2. You're talking about the LT1. The LT2 has Chrome over aluminum wheels (actual wheels as you described it above) - Chevy calls it Chrometec. These are not covers, they are real wheels. The LT1 has Chrome Wheel Covers which is what you described above although I believe they're steel, not plastic. The real Chrome Aluminum Wheels is one of the extras on the LT2. This is a new feature for the 2010 LT2 and they look teriffic. I always liked Chrome Wheels. They really stand out.

Chevy Describes it as follows:

LT1 - 17" Fascia Spoke Wheel Covers with bright chrome trim
LT2 - 17" Chrometec Aluminum Wheels

As I mentioned above though, it's poorly designed in that it's easily damaged. There's a very thick band that goes around the entire wheel (the part of the wheel that meets the tire) that extends out a good 2-3 inches. The tire affords no protection to this band, so if you come close to a curb, you will damage this band. They should have made it flush with the tire.
I noticed this immediately when I bought the car. At first, I thought the tires weren't mounted properly. Then I realized that it's the design of the wheel.

This is not true for the LT2. You're talking about the LT1. The LT2 has Chrome over aluminum wheels (actual wheels as you described it above) - Chevy calls it Chrometec. These are not covers, they are real wheels.

You just said what I said. They are chrome covers OVER the wheels. The actual wheels are not chrome....My friends G6 had them and he curbed one bad. You could see the chrome plastic cover that is like glued to the wheel.

You just said what I said. They are chrome covers OVER the wheels. The actual wheels are not chrome....My friends G6 had them and he curbed one bad. You could see the chrome plastic cover that is like glued to the wheel.

Not sure what you mean. The LT2 has an aluminum wheel (same material as the LTZ) and they chrome plate it. This is different than the LT1 which has a chrome plated wheel cover (hubcap).

Not sure what you mean. The LT2 has an aluminum wheel (same material as the LTZ) and they chrome plate it. This is different than the LT1 which has a chrome plated wheel cover (hubcap).

Well you said chrometec, those are not chrome wheels. They are very cleverly hidden chrome covers over aluminum wheels.

See here: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f19/chrome-tech-wheels-define-16509/
And here: http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=22262

Well you said chrometec, those are not chrome wheels. They are very cleverly hidden chrome covers over aluminum wheels.

See here: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f19/chrome-tech-wheels-define-16509/
And here: http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=22262

The general process with chrome wheels is you start with an aluminum wheel and it's chrome plated. I'm glad they made this standard on the LT2. They're very classy looking and distinctive and they don't look cheap at all. That person may not like a chrome look. I think it looks terrific, especially against the Red Tintcoat Paint. If they gave me the choice of any Malibu wheel that I wanted, I would have chosen the wheel that I have.

As a matter of fact, I like chrome wheels so much that I upgraded to them on 2 Caddy's I had and it cost me 1,300 extra. I'm glad they were standard on the LT2.

This is a new feature for 2010, so some people feel bad about things they didn't get on a prior year model, so they knock them. If you don't like chrome wheels, they offer another wheel for the LT2 that's polished aluminum.

Of course, with any chrome wheel, you have to be careful with curbs and so forth. They're shiny, so they scratch easily if you hit a curb. And as I had mentioned previously, there is a flaw with the design of the chrome wheel on the Malibu. The lip that runs around the perimeter of the wheel extends out about an inch, so the tire does not protect it at all. If you hit a curb, this lip will take the brunt of it and get damaged.

I think what Silver is trying to say it that the Chromtec is not the same as chrome-plated metal. See http://www.lacksenterprises.com/Auto_Wheel/AW_products.asp. I think it's actually an improvement over chrome-plating which tends to rust from the inside out and bubble up over time.

The lip that runs around the perimeter of the wheel extends out about an inch, so the tire does not protect it at all. If you hit a curb, this lip will take the brunt of it and get damaged.

That lip is from the chrome "piece" being layed over the wheel....as I have said 10 times, chrometec is NOT a normal chrome wheel by any means....

Like Silver has tried to say a few times, the Chrome-Tech wheel is actually a piece of chrome plated plastic the is laminated to the wheel. This is the reason it sticks out past the wheel, because it is an extra piece on top of the wheel. Check out this link Chrome-Tech replacement (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-srx-second-generation-forum-2010/185453-chrome-tech-replacement.html)

Details and Pics please!!! :D

Here's a picture. It was with a cell phone camera, so not the best quality.


605

That's the color of my next one!!!

Like Silver has tried to say a few times, the Chrome-Tech wheel is actually a piece of chrome plated plastic the is laminated to the wheel. This is the reason it sticks out past the wheel, because it is an extra piece on top of the wheel. Check out this link Chrome-Tech replacement (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-srx-second-generation-forum-2010/185453-chrome-tech-replacement.html)


I have no reason whatsoever to replace these wheels. They look fantastic and I've driven in various conditions and they retained their original luster. I put a coat of wax on them every so often to protect them and retain the shine.

I personally can't tell if it's real chrome or what ever it is. These wheels immediately caught my eye when I looked at the car. IMO, they're a big improvement over the previous LT2 wheels as far as looks go. They're both aluminum wheels, but the chrome plating really gives the wheels a great look.

And the reason it sticks out past the tire has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it's chrome plated. The plating is only a couple of milimeters thick. It was a mistake in the design of the wheel. They added a lip that goes around the circumference of the wheel and it simply sticks out further than the tire. I have to be extra careful not to hit a curb.

Here's a close-up of the Chrome Wheel on my 2010 LT2. The picture doesn't do it justice. They look much shinier in person. You can see these wheels glittering from blocks away.

606

I have no reason whatsoever to replace these wheels.... And the reason it sticks out past the tire has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it's chrome plated. The plating is only a couple of milimeters thick. It was a mistake in the design of the wheel.

I never said you wanted to replace them. If you would read the thread in the link I provided; you would see the explanation of the Chrome-Tech wheels.

I also understand how chrome plating works. I was not trying to say that it is the chrome that makes it stick out. It is the piece of plastic that is glued to the wheel.

I will try to state this once again. Chrome-Tech does not equal a one piece aluminum, chrome plated wheel. It is a wheel that has a piece of chrome plated plastic - think of it as a hub-cap if you will - that is glued to the face of the wheel.

I'm glad you are so happy with the wheel and it does look good. This still does not change any of the facts about a Chrome-Tech wheel.

I will try to state this once again. Chrome-Tech does not equal a one piece aluminum, chrome plated wheel. It is a wheel that has a piece of chrome plated plastic - think of it as a hub-cap if you will - that is glued to the face of the wheel.

I'm glad you are so happy with the wheel and it does look good. This still does not change any of the facts about a Chrome-Tech wheel.

I don't care what gives the wheel its chrome look. What I don't think you understand is they start with the same exact aluminum wheel that was offered on prior year models and they add a chrome look to them. If you took that chrome material off, you would have the same wheel from 2008 & 2009.

The only difference with Chrome Wheels on the Malibu is the material they use to plate the aluminum wheel. The process with all "Chromed" Wheels is you start with an aluminum wheel and you cover that wheel with a Chrome Plating. That's exactly what they do with the LT2 except they cover the aluminum wheel with a Chrometec material. Who cares. If I wasn't told it's not real chrome, I would have never known it.


I had 2 Cadillacs with Chrome Wheels, an Eldorado and a Deville - they were a $1,300 option in the mid '90's. The standard Cadillac wheel was a squeeze cast aluminum wheel. The chrome wheel was described as "Chromed Squeeze Cast Aluminum Wheel". So as you can see, they start with the standard wheel and added a chrome plate over it.
It's the same exact principal with the Malibu. They started with the same exact aluminum wheel offered on prior year Malibus and added a Chrome Look to them.
I could care less what the material is made out to make it look like chrome. It looks exactly like chrome and I didn't have to pay in excess of $1,000 for it.

I'm no moderator but I think you both have made your points. Can we move on with the actual subject of this thread, please?

(Return to your corners and wait for the bell!)


A couple of weeks ago I did the whole thing. Wash, Mother's clay bar, wash, Meguiar's ScrathX 2.0, Meguiar's SwirlX, Turtle Black Box wax (carnuba wax with black pigment). That Tuesday at work as I was heading home one of the managers I work with said he noticed it Monday morning. He said it was cleaner than just a washing. I showed him the products and described what and how I did it and he said, again, that it was quite obvious because he could see the reflection of everything in the finish. He just acquired an '03 (I think) Impala in black from his parents and is very interested in doing the same thing. He was very impressed.

I'm impressed as well, but more so I am thankful that so many different folks here made suggestions and gave reasons. I followed those suggestions and ended up with the best looking finish I've ever given a car. Thanks to all of you who contributed! It looks fantastic, and I'm even prouder than before to drive it around!