QP Dark Chrome Alloy Refurb

[Pork]

Chaps,

Have any of you had the above wheels refurbed? I have a set of wheels which are currently just silve and I'd like to have them finished in the Dark Chrome, as per the pic below. I've asked a well known refurb outlet if they can do them, and they can IF I can give them the paint code.



I've asked Maserati and have gooogled/asked on other marque specific sites, but I'm struggling to get the paint code - Maserati have said "we dont have the paint code, we just match the colour", which surely can't be right, can it?

Any help appreciated. I'm beginnning to think I might be better off sticking with silver

Cheers

[iandc]

Have you tried Lepsons? They have excellent reputation and I am sure they will have refurbed wheels of this colour before.

[Pork]

iandc said:

Have you tried Lepsons? They have excellent reputation and I am sure they will have refurbed wheels of this colour before.

Thats where I want to take them and they've said they can do them, but they need the paint code.

When I asked the main dealer, they said they could do them but didnt know the paint code. The price will be about the same as Lepson's, but I fancy the Lepson's job will be the better of the two.

[iandc]

Apologies I did not realise you had approached them already. I am surprised they need the code as I would have guessed with their throughput they would have tackled this colour before. Bizarre that the dealer "does not know the code". Good luck with your search and sorry I could not help.

[kds keltec]

I guess you cant get much closer to lepsons than,


the owner/painter of lepsons vieiwng this thread in my office 10 minutes ago after i asked him to "take a look" of whats posted.

lepsons dont work from paint codes much so strange why they would ask , owner words .

depends who you spoke to i guess some of the staff would now this some would not .


Just drop your wheels off, view all the demo wheels of different colours and shade then choose .

To me and lepsons the picture you have posted does not look like lepsons chrome finish (could just be the picture its self thou)


HTH Kelly

[kds keltec]

this is dark chrome from lepsons









this is medium chrome









and light chrome also know as heavy on silver at lepsons






kelly

[Pork]

Thanks Kelly.

The wheels don't actally look chrome so I'm not sure why they are called that - they're more like a very light metalic grey with a hint of gold mix. Sounds naff, but IMO they look superb on black cars.

Re the paint code question, I don't know who it was as I don't have a name but it was who ever repsonds to their e-mail queries (reply came from Tiscali address).

I've asked for a price and lead times in the hope that the wheels can get done in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again got the reply.

[Pork]

Looking at all the pic's you've posted, I dont think its any of those shades. I used to have an M5 with the BMW shaddow chrome, and its certainly not the same as that.

The plan will probably be to head down and see some examples....just wish it wasnt a 2hr drive away! Still, it's worth doing right!

[Pork]

iandc said:

Apologies I did not realise you had approached them already. I am surprised they need the code as I would have guessed with their throughput they would have tackled this colour before. Bizarre that the dealer "does not know the code". Good luck with your search and sorry I could not help.

Thanks Ian. Yeah, I'm not sure if it's "we don't know the code" as in they really don't, or as in "...but we can do them for you".

Which is fine, but as I want a good job, I'd rather give Lepson's a crack than pay top dollar for a secondary job.

Thanks for your efforts though

[kds keltec]

you got a reply from onwers brother (andy) he is the only person who reply's to emails, but has a full time job with in the group on the shopfloor

the history of lepsons is that the emails are the worst and only bad part of the outfit .

they get hundred of emails per day , and i know that filling too someitmes.

and the fact they are always full to the seems every week with wheels and a leadtime IF you were to drop of the car and let them deal with removing the wheels storing the car etc is normally 5 weeks or so and IF you want to use the lepson hire car then 12 week leadtime .

they dont and wont make email enquires high on their list of things to do .

thats why you got that reply IMHO .

you either need to drop off a wheel for colour match (lepsons do keep a wheel or two thats sent by dealerships which stays at lepsons for colour match of unusual colours)or choose a colour / style etc .

It can and does take hours when we are having our customers wheels re-coloured at lepsons trying to get the exact thing the customer wants, we end up giving them a tour of factory showing them all the options which sometime there are too many really .

we turnaround around 16 wheels per week with lepsons and i would guess half are to a different colour or shade , head ache most of the time .

kelly

[kds keltec]

Pork said:

Looking at all the pic's you've posted, I dont think its any of those shades. I used to have an M5 with the BMW shaddow chrome, and its certainly not the same as that.

The plan will probably be to head down and see some examples....just wish it wasnt a 2hr drive away! Still, it's worth doing right!

dont come when they are close to shuting like sat 1pm

get down early

kelly

[Pork]

kds keltec said:

dont come when they are close to shuting like sat 1pm

get down early

kelly

I would only come when they're epecting me - it too far to turn up and not get the wheels dropped off!

[Pork]

I'm getting closer!

Are wheel paints normally waterbase paints?

[kds keltec]

Pork said:

I'm getting closer!

Are wheel paints normally waterbase paints?

Both really ,


smart repair guys and bodyshops that paint / repair wheels then waterbase .

Alloy specalists that do only wheels then powder coat as OEM .

This is why some limited colours from new short run types so in water base , also some cars have wheels coloured using a colour code from a bodycolour .

This is the reason why many smart repaired wheels are unable to match the original as it would of been done in powder coat from new , this does not mean that some colours can be matched perfectly with water based as some can , and actually sometimes the powder coat way does not always match either.

The chrome colours above are a good example , its a layer of powder coat primer , then coat of powder coat black , then a coat of powder coat silver (the finish then comes from how light heavy and gun settings to how the silver powder is applied) this then gives the see through finish on the silver so showing the black underneath .
so dark chrome , medium or light chrome (heavy on silver)

and lastly then powder coat top coat lacquer applied , in total a paint depth between 400 microns - 700 microns where as a cars body has 100 microns - 150 microns , the main reason why powder coat resists the weathering than water based standard paint.

So this explains why the lack of colour code really , its the technique to which the paint is applied for some colours and shades .

Others straight forward colour codes


again HTH kelly

[iandc]

kds keltec said:

Both really ,


smart repair guys and bodyshops that paint / repair wheels then waterbase .

Alloy specalists that do only wheels then powder coat as OEM .

This is why some limited colours from new short run types so in water base , also some cars have wheels coloured using a colour code from a bodycolour .

This is the reason why many smart repaired wheels are unable to match the original as it would of been done in powder coat from new , this does not mean that some colours can be matched perfectly with water based as some can , and actually sometimes the powder coat way does not always match either.

The chrome colours above are a good example , its a layer of powder coat primer , then coat of powder coat black , then a coat of powder coat silver (the finish then comes from how light heavy and gun settings to how the silver powder is applied) this then gives the see through finish on the silver so showing the black underneath .
so dark chrome , medium or light chrome (heavy on silver)

and lastly then powder coat top coat lacquer applied , in total a paint depth between 400 microns - 700 microns where as a cars body has 100 microns - 150 microns , the main reason why powder coat resists the weathering than water based standard paint.

So this explains why the lack of colour code really , its the technique to which the paint is applied for some colours and shades .

Others straight forward colour codes


again HTH kelly

Thanks Kelly for the explanation. I must say I love the dark chrome finish in your pictures. What is your opinion on colour of car which benefits from this finish? How about lime green Gallardo? (sorry to hijack the thread BTW!!)

[Pork]

kds keltec said:

good stuff

Thanks Kelly.

The reason I asked about the waterbase paints is I've spoken to PPG and have been given a paint code but told that there is only one paint code in waterbase paints, which they went on to say is what would be used on wheels.

Does that sound right? Given that the finish is OEM, from what you've said above, I would have thought it would be powder not paint.

[kds keltec]

iandc said:

Thanks Kelly for the explanation. I must say I love the dark chrome finish in your pictures. What is your opinion on colour of car which benefits from this finish? How about lime green Gallardo? (sorry to hijack the thread BTW!!)

Gloss black , satin black , dark chrome and many more will suit a car like yours ,

I do think the dark chrome finish makes average looking wheels more expensive quality wheel.

But lambos in bright colours with the piano gloss black bodyparts work wheel with gloss black wheels
of course IMHO , astons and masser's often come in dull flat silver wheels and still looks good where as a car like M3's RS4's with dull silver wheels would look horrid .

Its a combo of car shape / size of wheels / colour of car etc even sometimes just contrasts like the colour of the calipers make all the difference , hence the head ache trying to find the right perfect colour choice over and over .










i like both , its your choice


gloss black has been the popular choice at present



kelly

Edited by kds keltec on Tuesday 10th May 16:20

[kds keltec]

Pork said:

hanks Kelly.

The reason I asked about the waterbase paints is I've spoken to PPG and have been given a paint code but told that there is only one paint code in waterbase paints, which they went on to say is what would be used on wheels.

Does that sound right? Given that the finish is OEM, from what you've said above, I would have thought it would be powder not paint.

As i said some will be waterbased and some powder coat ,

the water based colour may be matched using powder coat , and a company like lepson will also paint using just a colour code if you wish in water based so thats both options covered .

Pop in with colour code or even better would be a wheel in the colour , but i guess your pic is from another car of course , a good company will be able to get the results your after .

Kelly

[Colossus]

I have had my GranTurismo S and had the Mercury wheels refurbished by my dealer. They did a very good job, could not tell the difference from new and think it was £60 per wheel from recollection. Might be the easiest route if a perfect colour match is required.

[pac man]

I'll 2nd everything that kelly says.
the yeloow lambo is mine and ive had dark chrome then changed to the piano black.
My advice is go down and see them.
I was fortunate enough that my car was booked in for a detail with Kelly, and he took the time to introduce me to the owner, where iwas given a guided tour of the operation and shown numerous colours to make my choice.

My advice is go down an meet them all. I wouldnt go anywhere else!!!

You'll end up going in to see kelly at kds and having the car detailed whilst the wheels are being done, i giuarantee it :-)