[BlueRSedFly]

I am going to get my wheels painted but can't make up my mind on what to get done with them. My car is galaxy grey Mk3Sport with Eibach lowering springs so sits nicely now but I can't decide what would go best with the paint. I am torn between anthracite or metallic black, both with high gloss laquer with extra metallic flakes in to make them sparkle a little more on sunny days ( well OK the one sunny day a year that we get!) I thought originally about getting them done in a shadow chrome (chrome sprayed over a black base coat) but this will work out approx. twice as expensive as a more standard paint. I think they will look too loud if painted in a bright colour so have pretty much discounted that idea, what do you good people think?

 

[j8pfc]

I saw a mk3 mx5 with shadow chrome wheels the other week when collecting my wheels from the wheel specialist in Nottingham .....
They looked awesome and well worth the extra money you will pay for them.....
Do it..... You won't regret it ...

 

[Qu1ckn1ck]

anthracite, or shadow chrome if money no object !

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Thanks guys, J8, what were you getting done to yours?

 

[j8pfc]

Nothing......, they had just fitted the winter tyres to my mk2.5's winter wheels - I use them for all my wheel and tyre work

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Cool, they seem to have a good reputation but I am in between 2 of their centres which are both about an hour away from me. Also I am slightly concerned about getting the wheels powder coated as with some of the things ( about possible wheel failures) I have read it would be constantly nagging in the back of my mind whenever I drive the car. I know that there may well be other reasons for the failures but I am just not certain in my own mind so would rather stick to a straightforward painting job

 

[j8pfc]

I have used the wheel specialists for the past 6 years and have nothing but praise for them - they have blasted/powder coated and painted 3 sets of wheels for me - lexus 17" wheels in anthracite, celica 16" wheels in silver and mr2 wheels in black. There have never been any problems.
One day I will get the mk3's 17" wheels refurbished and I wouldn't go anywhere else......

 

[Mark]

I reckon anthracite or black would look good

SafariStu has just bought a galaxy grey Mark 3 Sport, and this has black wheels, which look good in the photos

, but I haven't seen it in the flesh as yet

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Oh that sounds good, bit of a change from Splash Green! Tell him to get on here and post some pics

 

[Pat]

Oh that sounds good, bit of a change from Splash Green! Tell him to get on here and post some pics

I tried

 

[Qu1ckn1ck]

Cool, they seem to have a good reputation but I am in between 2 of their centres which are both about an hour away from me. Also I am slightly concerned about getting the wheels powder coated as with some of the things ( about possible wheel failures) I have read it would be constantly nagging in the back of my mind whenever I drive the car. I know that there may well be other reasons for the failures but I am just not certain in my own mind so would rather stick to a straightforward painting job

There are many stories about powder coated wheels failing but nobody will "name and shame" the powder coaters involved. Perhaps they were done by the local blacksmith along with his wrought iron gates ! Most complaints seem to come from drifters and track day drivers so the wheels have probably taken a good hammering and may have collapsed with any paint finish. I have had powder coated wheels fitted on a Fiesta ST and on my current '5 and Puma for several years with no problem. Needless to say I used a Wheel Specialist and not a general powder coat shop. Seeing Maserati, Porsche and other exotic wheels going through the same process as mine has given me some confidence.

 

[BlueRSedFly]

I think that you are probably right, in that the wheels which had probs may have been subjected to too high a temperature perhaps by places unfamiliar with the correct technique

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Got the car booked in for 2 weeks time , going for anthracite with red brake callipers to offset the darkness. Not sure how they are going to look but I think they will be OK, had a rethink on the flash chrome as I think that will be too blingy. So indecisive I know but now that it's booked in there's no going back. It's been on my to do list since I bought the car 3.5 years ago!

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Finally, today was the day! Got them done by Jamie and the team at Ultimate Paint and Valet Gloucester and they look to have done a cracking job , although it was very gloomy light when I picked the car up so not got great pics as yet but here's a few. When I saw the car I was well pleased, looks quite mean and stealthy now!

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Close up pic with flash, can't wait to see how they look in the sun!

 

[Mark]

Liking the painted wheels and calipers very much

. Look forward to seeing the new look in the flesh

 

[BlueRSedFly]

Liking the painted wheels and calipers very much

. Look forward to seeing the new look in the flesh

Cheers Mark, hopefully see you Sun.

 

[badman]

They look the DB!! BRSF

 

[BlueRSedFly]

They look the DB!! BRSF

Thanks Badman!

 

[badman]

Nearly as good as mine!