Richie Cross Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Howdy folks, Gave the car it's first proper clean the other day and noticed that my alloys are pretty messy. They're the standard alloys on a MY05 car. Usually the Meguiars alloy cleaner works a treat but I think they're past it now. So.....as much as I'd like to get some Oz Ultraleggeras, I thought about the old powder coating from the likes of Chameleon etc. I've searched on here and know a lot of members have had it done so just wondered how the alloys are looking 1, 2 even 3 years down the line? I'm thinking that when the car comes out the factory, the alloys have been painted? Why don't we get our alloys repainted rather than powder coated? Cost? Have read good things about the likes of Chameleon but wanted to check. Thanks Link to comment
euan_r Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 powder coating is far more durable than paint/laquer. now that i have finally got a proper forged set will be getting them powder coated when the time comes. good topic, will be interesting to see long term results. Link to comment
Jon B Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 to be honest....... go painted!! i'm a time served painter/panel beater.... powder coat is ok but the lacquer is too thick...... slight stone chip/kerb incident will have the lacquer of in months... best choice is paint....if lacquer gets nicked its an easy fix....if powder coat lacquer gets cracked you got a heap load more work to put right.. i had a mate who paid £400 to get his wheels powder coated gold...3 weeks later they were ****ed........ Link to comment
sparky_sj04 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Powder coating is much cheaper, so therefore also cheaper when you kerb one and have to have it repaired. Plus at a cost of £35 a wheel including tyre fitting and balancing (from Chameleon), you can't go wrong. I must say I have had 3 sets done, 2 of which at Chameleon (one last week actually) and the work is first rate. I've also never seen any signs of degradation but I'd be loathed to use highly acidic cleaners often - so it's just a matter of common sense. The way I see it, at that cost you can chop and change the colour from time to time, and it's also easy to keep a sparkling new looking set of wheels on the car because if one gets damaged you can have it done again! Cheers. Link to comment
RA Dunk Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Dont forget the "rumour" that powder coating can make your wheels britle as well, didnt one of AWD's powder coated wheels fail at time attack last year? Link to comment
saltire scoobie Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 hi there if it was me i would personally have them painted mate ,i had mine powder coated on my classic a few years ago and they all started to crack had to buy a new set of wheels .i reckon they put to much heat in them and made them brittle ,glad i noticed or could have been serious if they broke in an car capable of 150 mph.(just my opinion from my own experience) Link to comment
wrxmania Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Acidic wheel cleaners are usually the problem. Using a wheel wax every couple of months and keeping them clean (easy to wash when waxed) will protect them really well. Brian. Link to comment
Richie Cross Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 Acidic wheel cleaners are usually the problem. Using a wheel wax every couple of months and keeping them clean (easy to wash when waxed) will protect them really well. Brian. Unfortunately for me, the previous owner hadn't been interested in sealing/waxing the alloys so they were a bit pitted when I got them. Good answers so far for both options. Cheers Link to comment
scouk Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I've got a spare set of newage WRX wheels kickign aroudn that I've been wantign to recondition.. Planning a full rub down and repaint (possibly silver again) ANy hints/ suggestions on what to use & what to look out for ? . o O (*drool* at the thought of Oz Ultraleggeras... ) Link to comment
dipsy Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) I use meguiars hot rims or a old rag and clean the wheels .See with the alloys cracking the powder coater's must be over cooking the wheels to make them weak Edited January 23, 2010 by Dipsy Link to comment
RA Dunk Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 . o O (*drool* at the thought of Oz Ultraleggeras... ) You mean like mine Soz couldent help a wee rub in. Link to comment
scouk Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 You mean like mine Soz couldent help a wee rub in. More drool.... They suit pretty much any car... A lthough Woudl need to be 18's and Ultraleggeras not superleggeras..I prefer the look of the ultra's (not much in it), slightly sharper design.. Shame the bank balance doesn't like them as much Link to comment
oobster Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Just remember the old saying I heard years ago - "There's no pockets in a shroud". Get the leggeras bought! Link to comment
flat4phil Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 To powder coat, the rims have to be sand blasted clean, and acid dipped to clean back to a surface that will allow the static charge to bond the powder to the alloy. As powder is a thicker coating I have known peeps to have problems re-fitting centre caps and so on. Powder coat will still chip as paint does, but it'll take a little more impact. Powder coating used to be solely for external metalwork, decorative frames and some interior finishes like commercial suspended ceiling tiles - well that's been my experience of it. How does PC compare with wet paint with fine details like raised letters? I've seen some rims refurbished where the letters were all but filled (like the script on Ultralite G-Grids for example. Link to comment
StewartyBoy Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) These were mine painted And a previous car powdercoated I know you cant see very well, but the painted wheels had a far superior finish to them. I did pay more but in my opinion it was really worth it. Looking closely at the Kei's on my Megane I could still see the bare alloy colour through the white. They were done by Chameleon. With powdercoating I found that when it did chip it came away in sort of clumps down to the metal rather than layers if that makes sense. I suppose powdercoating and painting have their own application characterisitics, just depends what your looking for out of them. Edited January 23, 2010 by StewartyBoy Link to comment
scoobysailor Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Good topic this......I too am on the verge of getting my wheels powder coated @ Cameleon. I want to go darker as they are such a pain in the a$$ to keep spotless. Has anyone had problems with them cracking / breaking with just "normal" road use after they've been powder coated? Link to comment
StewartyBoy Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) Stonechip dings from generally driving took the coating off in clumps rather than layers, like painting would do. I'm not dissing Chameleon at all because they do very good work and a lot of members are using them, but personally I now have my wheels painted as I feel the finish is second to none and you can have it done on your doorstep. Why do we not have powdercoated cars if its so cheap and durable...? Edited January 23, 2010 by StewartyBoy Link to comment
tomwrx08 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 spk to peter from p@j powdercoating,based in glasgow, hes on ayrshire scoobs,he knows his stuff and will give u the best advice,hes done my wheels twice and not had any problems, Link to comment
C_WRX Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 This is a good topic. Personally I'd go painted. As others have said I just think the finish on powdercoated looks slightly dull. End of the day you know it's just a matter of time before you kerb it and I have heard that powdercoated can flake more in chunks. As for protecting them, get the wheel polish on there as often as you can, front and inners, and if you feel you have to use a wheel cleaner try for non-acidic but if the stronger one water down a bit. Shampoo and water should be enough if you get the protection on there and clean regularly. Wheel cleaner removes the polish lot quicker. Link to comment
BalliSTIc Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) You mean like mine Soz couldent help a wee rub in. *chortle* On the subject on "one-up-manship", sir, those are clearly SUPERleggeras unless you've been hard at the photoshop! *lol* Bit of fun & no flames intended... OZs ROCK!!! ...And I can't resist EITHER... *lol* Edited January 23, 2010 by BalliSTIc Link to comment
scouk Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 *chortle* On the subject on "one-up-manship", sir, those are clearly SUPERleggeras unless you've been hard at the photoshop! *lol*Bit of fun & no flames intended... OZs ROCK!!! Good point.. didn't mean it to sound like a flame... But since this is turning into an Oz porn thread: (not my car.. just got excited by the wheels... ) Link to comment
iain01 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I had my wheels done by Peter at P&J powder coatings, top job and excellent price http://www.1stdirectory.com/Companies/1596...der_Coating.htm Link to comment
scoobywho Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Drop them into Auto Image in Great western Road they will talk you through the best options, Ian has been there for 30 years, he knows his stuff Link to comment
StewartyBoy Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Drop them into Auto Image in Great western Road they will talk you through the best options, Ian has been there for 30 years, he knows his stuff I didnt think they done that on site but outsourced. Could be wrong though... Link to comment
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