Pardon my ignorance on this, but I read a post where someone ruined one of their rims because they used a product that removed the “paint”

Is it true that the rims are painted ?

 

What rims? The stock rims?

 

Yes 2005 G35X

 

Yes, I believe they are painted. It's easy to tell, just take a look at them. If you don't see bare metal, they're painted.

 

They're finished with a couple of layers of some sort of paint or metallic finish, and a clear coat. If you scratch the rims deep enough, you'll first remove the clear coat, then you'll remove the "metallic" finish, reveal a black coat, and a white coat, and then the underlying alloy (if you're this far, you hit them pretty hard).

This probably belongs in the detailing forum, but you should use a "clear coat" safe wheel cleaner, otherwise you can cause the wheels to turn a dark grey color. I wish I could find the thread, but a Canadian owner spent several days arguing wtih a dealership that accidentally used the wrong cleaner on one or more wheels, and ruined the finish. I saw the post a year or so ago, but can't find it.

 

I think he's referring to the member that used the Mother's Power Ball for his wheels and rubbed off a huge spot of paint.

 

https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sedan-v35-2003-06/89700-oh-no-mother-s-powerball-ruined-my-rim.html
he used the mothers powerball on a painted wheel and buffed off his paint and clearcoat