Can this wheel be saved
 

Would appreciate some advice.
I bought a wheel that I thought was just super dirty. When I got around to cleaning it, I realized there's a thin layer of some brown stuff that is very very difficult to remove. I've tried all sorts of over the counter cleaners and scrubbed the hell out of it with a brush, but it just won't come off.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

I think you could get that off with some 1000 grit sandpaper and then finish off with a polishing compound

PS: Is that caked on or is that paint gone?! I've seen neglected rims have the paint just get eaten away by the brake dust. If that's the case, you might need to refinish the rim

looks like baked on brake dust. Have you tried wheel acid?

That's what I'd try. Throw a cloth on it, spray it with wheels acid so it soaks for a bit, respray, scrub, rinse.

It's caked on.
I've been looking for wheel acid but haven't been able to find any locally.

I have some you can use.

Use some Sonax or IronOut on that wheel to break down the break dust. Easy save, but I would not use any kind of sand paper or abbaravie on there. I have saved worse wheels before :P

IronOut doesn't do anything.
Next, I'll try wheel acid.

Poorboy’s Spray and Rinse Wheel Cleaner 32 oz will be faster

Autoglym Custom Car Wheel Cleaner | Canadian Tire will take a few tries, but noob safe

as long as the rim isnt chrome, and you dont care about some wear on the rims to remove the long baked rim, wheel acid is the way to go with a lot of wipes, powerwash can help, and repeats<<<-- msg me for a place to go to that can do it