Guys,

I have two sets of rims for my lovely G, the OEM 18" and the OEM 19" Ray's. I much prefer the 19's but I like to keep a set of all-season radials on my 18's for winter driving. The 19" Ray's are in pretty good shape actually and always run a high-performance summer tire, but my 18's are older, and definitely banged up. They could use some scratch/rash repair and refinishing. I can handle the scratch/rash repair, but what I'm 100% sure on is the refinishing.

Do you guys know a good paint compound to use to refinish the OEM 18" sport rims? I have the clearcoat, just need the actual paint compound I can use to make 'em look like new once I fill in all the blemishes.

Since I can do most of the work myself, I'd rather not pay someone $100+ per wheel to do something I can do myself! After all, these are only my "winter/backup" wheels!

Thanks, looking forward to more great advice, guys!

-B

 

my cheap suggestion, by a qaulity brand flat back spray paint, and then by a silver spray paint with some flake in it (not a chrome like silver, you want a flakey silver). You will also want to find some spray can gloss clear. Then follow these steps:

Wash/soak wheels in a tub of hand dish washing soap (eats/serperates grease).
Do the sand prep on the OE finish. If your surface is good, a 320 or a 400 grit will do.
Wash again and then wipe down with denatured alcohol to degrease and prep the surface.
Spray a few coats of the flat back to establish your base coat (2-3 coats).
Give the top coat a light wet sand with 400
Lay on 2-3 coats of the silver, finish with a wet sand of 600 or 800 in between coats (light pressure).
Finish off with the clear coat the same way you did the silver (2-3 coats), but don't wet sand the final two coats and I would use a 800 only on the first coat.

I did this with some old 300ZX wheels when I had my 240 and the finish came out great. Good enough for me to sell the wheels for top dollar with worn out tires at least.

 

This is perfect. Exactly what I was looking for, in fact. The only question I had would be something along the lines of "what paint should I buy to try and "best match" the factory OEM finish"?

Thanks again!
B