Wheels: what color?

[onewhippedpuppy]

The chrome on my style 8s isn't all that great, so I've been considering sanding them down and painting them. Plus, I'm not a bling chrome kind of guy. Probably just a standard metallic silver/ aluminum color like most wheels are painted, but I thought I'd seek out suggestions before I do anything. Also, if anybody has a certain paint they would recomend let's hear it. And before somebody says it, I plan on getting center caps and painting them as well. :)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2776/43jr.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6826/39zg.jpg

[Incantation]

i think a metallic black.. flat finish would look good.. would suit the black kidneys and the rest of the trim

[Scott H]

I have E31 turbines (style 9) on the wagon for winter (used to be on my old 535) but I was really looking for the E31 baskets (style 8) like yours.

http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/shersted/After%20a%20couple%20of%20inches.jpg

I think plain old silver would look the best. Wurth makes a silver lacquer wheel paint that matches the stock porsche and bmw wheel finish nicely. If the conditions are not right, the lacquer can be hard to apply evenly. I refinished a set of E34 M5 wheels (not the covers) by myself with this paint.....worked nicely. Basketweave wheels are a bit of a pain to paint of course due to all the small openings, just ask George Mann. I think he gave up on the lacquer eventually and used regular paint.

Good Luck
Scott

[Alexlind123]

I think a gloss blakc would look great on your car, matt. What color is your car, scott? I noticed something on your hood and im wondering what is it. http://servo.postverket.us/alex/After a couple of inches.JPG

[Scott H]

It was cirrus blau....great color. I miss it a lot. That was some melted snow from heat through the hood.


I think a gloss blakc would look great on your car, matt. What color is your car, scott? I noticed something on your hood and im wondering what is it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Scott, you want to trade?:) Wurth was what I was leaning towards, lots of Porsche guys love the stuff. The PO had black style 38s on it, it was too dark. I'm leaning silver, along with putting the chrome kidneys back on, painting all the black trim body color, clear corners/ side markers and euro style tail lights. Hopefully Santa will be good to me this year.

[Jay 535i]

IMHO: just leave it brushed bare metal, with a clearcoat.

Scott, those winter wheels look awesome! Way cooler than my basketweaves (not pictured below).

[onewhippedpuppy]

I would go with bare metal, but the wheels have been chromed, not just polished. From what I hear it's a major PITA to remove chrome plating, and it's far easier to just paint over it.

[Jay 535i]

I would go with bare metal, but the wheels have been chromed, not just polished. From what I hear it's a major PITA to remove chrome plating, and it's far easier to just paint over it.

Oh, fair enough. In that case, I would paint them something that looks like brushed metal. Like the stock basketweaves do.

[TheDuke]

You can always try painting them black, and leave the chromed lip... or if you want to go crazy electrostrip them and polish the lip, paint the rest metalic black, or gunmetal. 2c

[Springfield1952]

Chrome is a very hard material and it will be tough to rough the surface up enough to get paint to stick well. It will be especially hard down in the basketweave area since that will all need to be done by hand. Personally, it may be easier to find a buyer for the chrome wheels and then you buy the style and color you want. Good luck.

Curt.