e39 M5 alloy refurb
Discussion
StuH said:
My alloys have badly discoloured so i'm looking to get them refurb'd.
I believe it's a little more complex to get the "smoked" BMW finish. Can anyone advise of anywhere that can do this at sensible cost? Ideally somewhere local to Herts/Beds/Bucks.
If Iver is close to you then try 'Montys Wheel and Tyres' in Iver Heath, just outside Uxbridge.I believe it's a little more complex to get the "smoked" BMW finish. Can anyone advise of anywhere that can do this at sensible cost? Ideally somewhere local to Herts/Beds/Bucks.
I'm about to have mine renewed by a local outfit www.scuffedalloys.com for a very resonable cost per wheel but not sure what their service range from the awful north is.
They've just done a mate's Lexus wheels and (whilst not as difficult to do) these came back like new.
One of the guys is an ex-BMW dealer bod and reckoned whilst difficult, the shadow chrome effect can be achieved.
Good old girl, worth keeping presentable, even after so many years and miles.
They've just done a mate's Lexus wheels and (whilst not as difficult to do) these came back like new.
One of the guys is an ex-BMW dealer bod and reckoned whilst difficult, the shadow chrome effect can be achieved.
Good old girl, worth keeping presentable, even after so many years and miles.
bmwdrivernigel said:
StuH said:
My alloys have badly discoloured so i'm looking to get them refurb'd.
I believe it's a little more complex to get the "smoked" BMW finish. Can anyone advise of anywhere that can do this at sensible cost? Ideally somewhere local to Herts/Beds/Bucks.
If Iver is close to you then try 'Montys Wheel and Tyres' in Iver Heath, just outside Uxbridge.I believe it's a little more complex to get the "smoked" BMW finish. Can anyone advise of anywhere that can do this at sensible cost? Ideally somewhere local to Herts/Beds/Bucks.
Most people will tell you the shadow chrome cannot be done, and offer to paint them silver. This will be the cheapest option.
If you can get your wheels or car to sevenoaks, I know a very good place that can do them. Although you will need to leave your wheels there for a couple of days, and it will cost a bit more, about £100 per wheel.
I had mine done by them, and they really do the best job I think you could find anywhere. All the local mobile wheel repair people take their more difficult jobs to them.
Edited to add: oops, bit late now.
If you can get your wheels or car to sevenoaks, I know a very good place that can do them. Although you will need to leave your wheels there for a couple of days, and it will cost a bit more, about £100 per wheel.
I had mine done by them, and they really do the best job I think you could find anywhere. All the local mobile wheel repair people take their more difficult jobs to them.
Edited to add: oops, bit late now.
Edited by kentmotorcompany on Wednesday 19th September 16:00
Matching the colour is hard but not impossible. I have used Lepsons on my M5 and also www.rimz-refurbs.co.uk for home / office visits on my Lexus!
Sorry to bump an old thread back to the top...
I need my 2001 M5 alloys refurbing as they have started to bubble. If anyone who posted in here originally about getting theirs done could post back with success (or otherwise) stories that'd be great...
I'm in St Albans, herts, and looking for someone who can do it fairly locally (beds/bucks/herts).
Thanks.
I need my 2001 M5 alloys refurbing as they have started to bubble. If anyone who posted in here originally about getting theirs done could post back with success (or otherwise) stories that'd be great...
I'm in St Albans, herts, and looking for someone who can do it fairly locally (beds/bucks/herts).
Thanks.
The problem with the factory shadow chrome is that after the whole wheel has been painted gloss black, a semi -translucent silver is dusted over before the black paint has dried or cooled. No lacquer is applied to protect finish.
The factory that BMW used for these did batches at a time with a spray booth machine set up on some kind of conveyor, which in my opinion will be almost impossible to replicate.
I have just replaced my rear tyres and thought it an ideal time to fettle up the rims so spoke with a local refurbisher near me who agreed to pre-mix some paint and test spray before I chose the desired finish.
He painted the whole wheel gloss black as per factory, but let it cool and dry before having the tyres refitted then masked off all but the front spokes and rim to apply my chosen colour along with a high gloss lacquer to give real depth.
The results are stunning in my opinion, perhaps not as "bling" as the original factory finish, but much closer too it than I thought possible by hand and so much nicer than just having them done in normal alloy paint finish.
Wicked Wheels 07974 707277, not cheap, but then cheap is not always a bargain
The factory that BMW used for these did batches at a time with a spray booth machine set up on some kind of conveyor, which in my opinion will be almost impossible to replicate.
I have just replaced my rear tyres and thought it an ideal time to fettle up the rims so spoke with a local refurbisher near me who agreed to pre-mix some paint and test spray before I chose the desired finish.
He painted the whole wheel gloss black as per factory, but let it cool and dry before having the tyres refitted then masked off all but the front spokes and rim to apply my chosen colour along with a high gloss lacquer to give real depth.
The results are stunning in my opinion, perhaps not as "bling" as the original factory finish, but much closer too it than I thought possible by hand and so much nicer than just having them done in normal alloy paint finish.
Wicked Wheels 07974 707277, not cheap, but then cheap is not always a bargain
I'm in the same boat. Ideally I'd like to get them to Lepson's as apparently they're about the best at restoring the factory smoked-chrome finish.
What do people usually do if they don't have any spares / anywhere to stand their car while the wheels are being done? I don't particularly like the idea of leaving my car with the refurbishers...
What do people usually do if they don't have any spares / anywhere to stand their car while the wheels are being done? I don't particularly like the idea of leaving my car with the refurbishers...
yankcrime said:
I'm in the same boat. Ideally I'd like to get them to Lepson's as apparently they're about the best at restoring the factory smoked-chrome finish.
What do people usually do if they don't have any spares / anywhere to stand their car while the wheels are being done? I don't particularly like the idea of leaving my car with the refurbishers...
I had all four done last year. I went through a local tyre & wheel specialist - Surbiton Tyre and Wheels. These guys basically send the alloys off to lepsons or Spit & Polish. Either of these people can do shadow chrome finishes. Lepsons are arguably better but also therefore more costly. Surbiton gave me both options. The real challenge is that no one can guarantee the exact amount of chrome used and hence the final shade. Therefore you are advised to do atleast both rims on the same side together. In this way they will look the same. I went with the cheaper option as I originally only wanted two done and stretched it to all four.What do people usually do if they don't have any spares / anywhere to stand their car while the wheels are being done? I don't particularly like the idea of leaving my car with the refurbishers...
The advantage of going through a local garage and not direct with the refurbisher is that I did not want to leave my car with the refurbisher. Surbiton thought they would have some repacement rims, however, theirs did not fit. In the end they came to my house, took off the alloys, left my car on axle stands (all done whilsts parked in my garage) and then three days later brought the alloys back all reshod and balanced with my tyres and fitted them again in my garage.
I liked the fact that the car always stayed with me....though you would need to have a garage or driveway. Perhaps you have a friend or relative who can be persuaded to have a car on axle stands in their driveway for a few days?
The result? I was very happy with it. There were a few imperfections that were not fully contoured out, however, only I can notice these under extremely close inspection...
Charles Bhanot did an absolutely brilliant job on mine...
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