Wheel Refurbishment Advice

[Smudgemanuk]

I bought some Style 89's this week and although the front sides are in pretty good condition, the backside are very much not (see photo)

All the paint on the inside is or has peeled off

What options do I have for improving the backs of these wheel?
Powdercoating, painting myself
I am not overly fussed about the back as long as they are somewhat silver and clean

Any advice would be much appreciated

 

[andyglym]

Clean, sand, mask up and rattle can will do the job you want.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

That is along the lines of what I was thinking

Would you not need to Etch Prime before painting?

Sorry I am not very experienced with this!

 

[andyglym]

That is along the lines of what I was thinking

Would you not need to Etch Prime before painting?

Sorry I am not very experienced with this!

Yes mate, did the same with one of my old sets

 

[Pond]

That is along the lines of what I was thinking

Would you not need to Etch Prime before painting?

Sorry I am not very experienced with this!

If you are sanding them, you don't need etching primer, just cheap primer from Halfrauds or similar is more than sufficient.
'BMW Titan Titanium Silver' metallic paint also from Halfrauds is a very good generic match for most BMW silver wheels aswell.
You don't need to lacquer the insides but I always do, as it gives a bit more protection against stone chips.

One top tip for painting wheels with tyres on.....get an old pack of playing cards and push these between the rim and the tyre. They will fit tight, then overlap them all the way round (with a little tape on each one just to stop them sliding around). It saves hours of masking and masking tape doesn't stick to rubber tyres very well anyway.

The better prep you do, the better results you will get. Go steady with the rattle cans, it's easy to get runs if you go a bit mad.

If done well, DIY refurbs on wheels can look as good as any pro can do, and it is a satisfying job.

 

[bmwz3tower]

I did a rattle can job on my wheels and can only recommend see before and after, I used this paint https://ebay.us/m/SXsILM (if the link doesnt work BMW 144 Felgen Silver)

 

[Pond]

I did a full set of 326M wheels on one of our E89s. They were in a terrible state, with chunks ripped out them. I don't have a 'before' picture but this is how they turned out....

 

[Trevor /chedder]

I'd go with powder coating, I sanded and sprayed mine a few years ago, took ages and looked good, but I was never completely happy with the result. Powder coating will make them look like new.

 

[Zephyr]

Just clean well, scrub with 3M pad, clear coat them multiple times and youre done. Thats all they need.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

Thank you for all your help everybody

I feel much better equipped to do this now

@Pond - was that Titan Silver Halfords paint on or rattle? Your refurb looks fantastic. Thank you for all the tips, playing card idea sounds inspired!

@bmwz3tower - Your refurb looks very good, the link works, thanks

@Trevor /chedder - Powercoating is a tempting option but I think as it is just the backs of them that are bad, I don't mind it not being perfect

How have all your refurbishments lasted over time?

 

[bmwz3tower]

Thank you for all your help everybody

I feel much better equipped to do this now

@Pond - was that Titan Silver Halfords paint on or rattle? Your refurb looks fantastic. Thank you for all the tips, playing card idea sounds inspired!

@bmwz3tower - Your refurb looks very good, the link works, thanks

@Trevor /chedder - Powercoating is a tempting option but I think as it is just the backs of them that are bad, I don't mind it not being perfect

How have all your refurbishments lasted over time?

I only did mine 2 months ago so can't really give a full assessment but they still look great now

 

[Pond]

I am in regular contact with the chap who bought the E89 I did. He has no complaints 3 years on.

The 'BMW silver' paint was rattle cans from Halfords, although it looks like they have changed the way they do paint colours. It seems to be all codes now.