E46 M3 wheel refurb - NW
Discussion
jayemm89 said:
Are they the stock 19"? You are lucky to find people to touch them at all, a lot of guys don't seem keen on polished wheels.
It seems no matter what you do they tend to revert to looking bad after a while
Yep - original 19's. I know you can have them.blasted and powder coated but really want them back to showroom ideally.It seems no matter what you do they tend to revert to looking bad after a while
Hi,
The oem finish was diamond cut (or machined) with a clear lacquer over the top. We live in a cold and damp country and although many wheels are finished like this, it's usually perhaps 12-18 months down the line that the inevitable 'milking' and 'spidery' deteriorations will show. Small stones and chips hit your wheels as you drive and eventually, one will puncture the lacquer layer and moisture will get in and that's when you'll notice them deteriorating.
If the wheels have never been refurbished in the past, then you can perhaps do the same finish 2 times maximum as the diamond cut process removes material from the wheel. It's not recommended to do it more times as the wheel thickness will be reduced and that'll compromise strength of the wheel.
If you do go for this route, then you'll be back in the same position as you are now in around 12-18 months time.
Many owners will then opt for the face of the wheel and spokes to be 'mirror' polished, so bare metal. This means more upkeep and wheels protectants and sealants etc, but will last much much longer than diamond cut/lacquer.
I'd personally say go for the polished option, but of course, it's up to you!
Cheers, Dennis!
The oem finish was diamond cut (or machined) with a clear lacquer over the top. We live in a cold and damp country and although many wheels are finished like this, it's usually perhaps 12-18 months down the line that the inevitable 'milking' and 'spidery' deteriorations will show. Small stones and chips hit your wheels as you drive and eventually, one will puncture the lacquer layer and moisture will get in and that's when you'll notice them deteriorating.
If the wheels have never been refurbished in the past, then you can perhaps do the same finish 2 times maximum as the diamond cut process removes material from the wheel. It's not recommended to do it more times as the wheel thickness will be reduced and that'll compromise strength of the wheel.
If you do go for this route, then you'll be back in the same position as you are now in around 12-18 months time.
Many owners will then opt for the face of the wheel and spokes to be 'mirror' polished, so bare metal. This means more upkeep and wheels protectants and sealants etc, but will last much much longer than diamond cut/lacquer.
I'd personally say go for the polished option, but of course, it's up to you!
Cheers, Dennis!
DennisCooper said:
Hi,
The oem finish was diamond cut (or machined) with a clear lacquer over the top. We live in a cold and damp country and although many wheels are finished like this, it's usually perhaps 12-18 months down the line that the inevitable 'milking' and 'spidery' deteriorations will show. Small stones and chips hit your wheels as you drive and eventually, one will puncture the lacquer layer and moisture will get in and that's when you'll notice them deteriorating.
If the wheels have never been refurbished in the past, then you can perhaps do the same finish 2 times maximum as the diamond cut process removes material from the wheel. It's not recommended to do it more times as the wheel thickness will be reduced and that'll compromise strength of the wheel.
If you do go for this route, then you'll be back in the same position as you are now in around 12-18 months time.
Many owners will then opt for the face of the wheel and spokes to be 'mirror' polished, so bare metal. This means more upkeep and wheels protectants and sealants etc, but will last much much longer than diamond cut/lacquer.
I'd personally say go for the polished option, but of course, it's up to you!
Cheers, Dennis!
Cheers Dennis. Sensible suggestions. Know anywhere up in the NW that does it?The oem finish was diamond cut (or machined) with a clear lacquer over the top. We live in a cold and damp country and although many wheels are finished like this, it's usually perhaps 12-18 months down the line that the inevitable 'milking' and 'spidery' deteriorations will show. Small stones and chips hit your wheels as you drive and eventually, one will puncture the lacquer layer and moisture will get in and that's when you'll notice them deteriorating.
If the wheels have never been refurbished in the past, then you can perhaps do the same finish 2 times maximum as the diamond cut process removes material from the wheel. It's not recommended to do it more times as the wheel thickness will be reduced and that'll compromise strength of the wheel.
If you do go for this route, then you'll be back in the same position as you are now in around 12-18 months time.
Many owners will then opt for the face of the wheel and spokes to be 'mirror' polished, so bare metal. This means more upkeep and wheels protectants and sealants etc, but will last much much longer than diamond cut/lacquer.
I'd personally say go for the polished option, but of course, it's up to you!
Cheers, Dennis!
DennisCooper said:
If the wheels have never been refurbished in the past, then you can perhaps do the same finish 2 times maximum as the diamond cut process removes material from the wheel. It's not recommended to do it more times as the wheel thickness will be reduced and that'll compromise strength of the wheel.
If you do go for this route, then you'll be back in the same position as you are now in around 12-18 months time.
Precisely for this reason a lot of people avoid doing them now - too many people complaining after a few months of salt and crap that they're back to how they were, it's not the wheel people's fault.If you do go for this route, then you'll be back in the same position as you are now in around 12-18 months time.
jayemm89 said:
Precisely for this reason a lot of people avoid doing them now - too many people complaining after a few months of salt and crap that they're back to how they were, it's not the wheel people's fault.
What do people normally do in this situation then? New, different set of wheels?
I'm in the same situation I have looked at the black chrome effect as this looks pretty good with the inner parts of the wheel being darker than the face.
I'm also looking at the new rubberised paints that you can peel off in particular the metallic bronze, although it looks as though these are a faf to clean.
Decisions decisions, but all down to personal choice in the end !!
I'm also looking at the new rubberised paints that you can peel off in particular the metallic bronze, although it looks as though these are a faf to clean.
Decisions decisions, but all down to personal choice in the end !!
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