Winter Project: Refinishing a Set of OEM Style-5 Wheels

[Nadim 323Ci]

I recently bought a set of OEM Style-5 wheels from a fellow club member (Bmwaddict). They were not in great shape cosmetically, but structurally they looked good.

The wheels are 2-piece wheels made by BBS. They are 17x8" with offset et20.

Here are some pictures of what I'm starting from:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1969.jpg

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1973.jpg

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1974.jpg

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1975.jpg

As you can see the clearcoat on the lip is peeling, all the bolts are rusted, but the centers are clean.

My plan is to take them apart. Throw all the rusted bolts in the trash. Get a new set of chrome bolts. Clean, sand, and polish the lips to a mirror finish. Maybe paint or powdercoat the centers in another color, *maybe*. And finally reassemble them.

Here's the kind of finish I'm aiming for (not necessarily in gold):

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/DSC07195.jpg

Here's a picture on an E46 coupe similar to mine:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/dsc09685hisu1.jpg

I'll be posting updates as I progress.

Thanks for looking ;)

[Emre]

Here's the kind of finish I'm aiming for (not necessarily in gold):Very cool project. As long as you're going through the trouble of refinishing them, I would definitely consider a non-silver color. Depending on the exact shade of blue your car is, you might even consider going with body color.

I've seen BBS-style wheels with the centers painted a light metallic blue (almost blue-gray) to match the car's body color and I was quite impressed. Of course, you can always go with black, anthracite, or gold.

Whatever color you choose, make sure to post the results.

[white328]

cool project, i'm doing mine as well this winter :D

If you want somebody to paint them, call me :p

[blacksheep]

those wheels are gonna look great on your car

they look MUCH better with center caps though

[Emre]

they look MUCH better with center caps thoughI'm a little ambivalent about that. I think I prefer the look without caps. I've always found the "fake center-look wheel" look of BBS wheels to be a little silly.

[Phil]

those wheels are gonna look great on your car

they look MUCH better with center caps though


I agree.

PM me if my spares will fit (from an E39 5401) and you need them.

[davide30]

facile , environ 30 heure de travail , moi et hugo en avons deja fais un set. ta juste besoin de la douille spécial pour les bolt. et ben gros de patience. lol
bonne chance

[Nadim 323Ci]

I'll have to do some photoshopping to get an idea of how the different color combos look on my car. I've seen black on another car and it makes the wheel look small and it hides away the detail of the spokes. Gold, or anthracite (like the wheels Dave and Hugo did) are nice colors. As for matching body color, I think this look is good for older cars. On a modern car, especially without a lot of exterior modifications I find it usually looks "ricy".

As Emre I think I prefer the look without center caps. Anyway I have them here and of course I'll try them on and see what looks best. :cool:


cool project, i'm doing mine as well this winter :D

If you want somebody to paint them, call me :p

What kind of wheels are you refinishing?



facile , environ 30 heure de travail , moi et hugo en avons deja fais un set. ta juste besoin de la douille spécial pour les bolt. et ben gros de patience. lol
bonne chance

J'ai la douille special, mais c'est une cheapo de 15 ans. J'ai commencer a demonter une roue et apres 15 bolts la douille est deja stripper. J'ai chercher a Canadian Tire et a plusieurs shops de pieces d'auto mais personne a ca. J'ai du la commander chez Sears. Donc la j'attend ma douille pour continuer .. :o

[white328]

je repeinture mes mags originals. Probablement noir lustré avec la lip et le "BMW MOTORSPORT" en rouge (et le caliper rouge avec le "M" en noir). Moi aussi je doit faire des essaie avec photoshop :D

[blacksheep]

... (et le caliper rouge avec le "M" en noir) ...ne perds pas ton temps à peinturer des calipers si t'a l'intention de faire du circuit :D au bout de 15 minutes il ne restera plus de peinture dessus

[sebdavid]

sa blonde veut pas... :D

[Hugo]

Powdercoat avait coute environ 500$ quand j'avais fait mes roues, alors de la peinture en canette pour mags pourrait faire le meme travail pour moins cher, mais le powdercoat va etre bon a vie...

[white328]

sa blonde veut pas... :D

hahaha ! Je suis en train de la convraicre ;)

J'en ai fait des roue avec du basecoat/clearcoat et ca tien super bien. Ca fait 4 ans que je les ai fait (sur le char a ma blonde :rolleyes:) pis elle a ses roues été comme hivers et elles ont aucunne chip dessus.

[bmwqc]

Wow, powdercoating is really expensive! $500 can almost buy a whole new set of (not so premium wheels).



Powdercoat avait coute environ 500$ quand j'avais fait mes roues, alors de la peinture en canette pour mags pourrait faire le meme travail pour moins cher, mais le powdercoat va etre bon a vie...

[snowmanmtl]

30 hrs sounds like a lot of work.
How about acid dipping?
try Patco in Longueuil
450-670-7170

Or, Bead blasting
at Metal Fini
635 McCaffey
514-737-3231
They will rent you a blasting booth and the proper shot for your finish.

I wouldn't recommend powder coating as it is supposed to weaken the metal ( that being said, I have a set of Kinesis wheels that have powder coated centers and haven't had any issues). If you insist on it, let me know, I can help you out.

[Nadim 323Ci]

I don't plan on powdercoating them for the reason posted above:
- it's expensive, I prefer investing in good tires
- it might weaken them

J'ai finalement recu mes douilles 12 points 10mm de Sears aujourd'hui, apres des complications bien sur :rolleyes: Je vais pouvoir continuer.

J'ai eu le temps de photoshopper differentes couleurs:

Original Silver:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-silver.jpg

Darker Gray:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-gray.jpg

Anthracite:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-anthracite.jpg

Black:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-black.jpg

Light Gold:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-gold-light.jpg

Gold:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-gold-dark.jpg

Body Color:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-blue.jpg

Red:
http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/bbs-red.jpg


I really like all the shades of gray and gold. I don't like black, nor blue. Red is interesting :cool: It's gonna be a tough decision :D

[Emre]

If the car had shadowline trim, I would have said anthracite without hesitation. However, I think silver works best with the chrome trim.

[white328]

moi aussi j'irai avec une des deux premiere teinte de gris. Je ne suis pas un fan de silver habituellement, mais c'est la couleur qui va le mieux avec ton auto. Le rouge aussi est pas laid mais ca flash beaucoup.

[sebdavid]

darker gray for sure

[Nadim 323Ci]

I got to disassemble the wheels over the weekend.

Took the rusted/corroded nuts and bolts off:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1986.jpg

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1989.jpg

I have these coming via DHL from Germany to replace the old bolts:

http://www.vwgallery.net/gallery/d/5208-2/bbs47.jpg


Separating the wheel face from the barrel required hitting with a 2x4 and hammer:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1991.jpg

[sebdavid]

I love the plush carpet for such kind of work... you've really got to do EVERYTHING in style, don't you?

[Nadim 323Ci]

I haven't updated this thread in a long time.

I decided to keep the centers silver for now since they were in pretty good shape.

Here's a teaser. I'll probably put them on the car next week.

BEFORE:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1973.jpg

AFTER:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/style5-teaser2.jpg


And another shot,

BEFORE:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/IMG_1969.jpg

AFTER:

http://fascinodesign.com/bmw/style5/style5-teaser.jpg

[ScardE30]

Wow! even your floor is nicer :D

Good job.

[bmwqc]

Great job! I gather you will have to replace all the bolts with new ones?

[Karim E36]

Great job! I gather you will have to replace all the bolts with new ones?


Here they are :)

http://www.vwgallery.net/gallery/d/5208-2/bbs47.jpg

[Silverblades181]

Wow! even your floor is nicer :D

Good job.

LOL

Nice job! They look really nice now.

[hudonjea]

Bon choix de couleur...

Les lips sont vraiment bien polies!!!

Ca va être top notch!

[spazzboy]

Really nice work.