Polished Wheels
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Calgary, AB, Canada
2002 C230K, Silver, 6-speed, Evo, Roof, Leather, CD, Staggered C7 Wheels
Polished Wheels
Sorry if I sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about. I've noticed some people (Buell?) have had their wheels "polished", ie if I understand correctly removed the silver paint and clear-coated them.
What is the purpose of this besides different look? The reason I ask is that with my C7 wheels it often happens that small rocks peel of nice chunks of wheel finish, so end up refinishing the whole wheel.
So I'm wondering if this can happen to polished wheel as well?
Your help and comments are appreciated.
What is the purpose of this besides different look? The reason I ask is that with my C7 wheels it often happens that small rocks peel of nice chunks of wheel finish, so end up refinishing the whole wheel.
So I'm wondering if this can happen to polished wheel as well?
Your help and comments are appreciated.
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From: Jacksonville Florida
209/W210 Estate /W211 modded by MBENZNL
Re: Polished Wheels
Originally posted by VoyagerDude
Sorry if I sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about. I've noticed some people (Buell?) have had their wheels "polished", ie if I understand correctly removed the silver paint and clear-coated them.
What is the purpose of this besides different look? The reason I ask is that with my C7 wheels it often happens that small rocks peel of nice chunks of wheel finish, so end up refinishing the whole wheel.
So I'm wondering if this can happen to polished wheel as well?
Your help and comments are appreciated.
Sorry if I sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about. I've noticed some people (Buell?) have had their wheels "polished", ie if I understand correctly removed the silver paint and clear-coated them.
What is the purpose of this besides different look? The reason I ask is that with my C7 wheels it often happens that small rocks peel of nice chunks of wheel finish, so end up refinishing the whole wheel.
So I'm wondering if this can happen to polished wheel as well?
Your help and comments are appreciated.
Have You Ever seen a Chrome wheel 3/4 years old? Peeling !
Btw Mercedes Benz Has TSB Stating NOT to Chrome Plate ANY of Its Wheels...The TUV Does Not Approve it!
But Our Dealers Want to GROSS as Much as Possible on Every car they sell...They Dont care about The long Term of your wheels ..Its all about The Bottom Line $$$$
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
What does it cost to have the C7's polished and how much maintenance does it take to keep them polished? I'v had Harleys with lots of polished aluminum but if you didn't keep it polished every 2 months or so it starts looking pretty dull.
As for chrome, a good triple plate process (copper/nickel/chrome) will last a long time and is not subject to oxidation and chips. Chrome is a very hard coating unlike paint. The reason some people have problems is that if you compromise the plating with a curb rash it will start peeling at that point. I've had them done on MBs before and after 200K miles, no peeling or chipping.
As for chrome, a good triple plate process (copper/nickel/chrome) will last a long time and is not subject to oxidation and chips. Chrome is a very hard coating unlike paint. The reason some people have problems is that if you compromise the plating with a curb rash it will start peeling at that point. I've had them done on MBs before and after 200K miles, no peeling or chipping.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 552
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From: Calgary, AB, Canada
2002 C230K, Silver, 6-speed, Evo, Roof, Leather, CD, Staggered C7 Wheels
Re: Re: Polished Wheels
What is "Crome Plate"?
how do you actually polish?
how do you actually polish?
Originally posted by MARK CUMMINS
I Have Had My Rims Polished On Several cars.When You get curb rash..Nicks..Scratches..you can have them polished out
Have You Ever seen a Chrome wheel 3/4 years old? Peeling !
Btw Mercedes Benz Has TSB Stating NOT to Chrome Plate ANY of Its Wheels...The TUV Does Not Approve it!
But Our Dealers Want to GROSS as Much as Possible on Every car they sell...They Dont care about The long Term of your wheels ..Its all about The Bottom Line $$$$
I Have Had My Rims Polished On Several cars.When You get curb rash..Nicks..Scratches..you can have them polished out
Have You Ever seen a Chrome wheel 3/4 years old? Peeling !
Btw Mercedes Benz Has TSB Stating NOT to Chrome Plate ANY of Its Wheels...The TUV Does Not Approve it!
But Our Dealers Want to GROSS as Much as Possible on Every car they sell...They Dont care about The long Term of your wheels ..Its all about The Bottom Line $$$$
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Posts: 6,211
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Polishing is a pre-step to plating. You strip the paint, sand out any imperfections and usually using a dye grinder with buffing cones and rouge you bring the aluminum to a bright finish.
To plate it, it's dipped in a plating tank with copper sulfate to put a copper coating. It's then polished again and replated until any imperfections are gone. Then it's dipped in a nickel plating tank and polished again. Then dipped into chroming tank and that's the final layer.
To plate it, it's dipped in a plating tank with copper sulfate to put a copper coating. It's then polished again and replated until any imperfections are gone. Then it's dipped in a nickel plating tank and polished again. Then dipped into chroming tank and that's the final layer.
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Re: Re: Re: Polished Wheels
Originally posted by VoyagerDude
What is "Crome Plate"?
how do you actually polish?
What is "Crome Plate"?
how do you actually polish?
Its a real treat to see the whole operation from start to finish. BTW, Chrome doesn't hold up any better than paint in the climate youre in. It sure looks nice though. Aluminum is tricky to plate because of the persistent porosity present in most aluminum castings. You can put on more layers, but this tends to encourage the chrome to peel. Making a layer thicker will result in chrome burn or chrome buildup, niether of which you want. Buellwinkle posted a pick of a chromed C7 wheel, and I have to admit, it looks petty good chromed. Generally, I prefer the chrome on my bike, not on my car wheels
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From: Calgary, AB, Canada
2002 C230K, Silver, 6-speed, Evo, Roof, Leather, CD, Staggered C7 Wheels
Thanks for all the great explanations.
I guess I would have to stick to refinishing the wheels every-so-often
I'm not a huge fan of cromed wheels, but Buell's looked nice.
It's odd how easy paint peels off these wheels.
I guess I would have to stick to refinishing the wheels every-so-often
I'm not a huge fan of cromed wheels, but Buell's looked nice.
It's odd how easy paint peels off these wheels.
