Chiping Clear Coat on Wheels
 

So the Benz has over 150,000 miles on it now and is in need of a little TLC.

The clear coat on the rims is chipping off, I was able to remove a lot of it using my finger nail, but about 20 stubbornly remains.

What is the best way to remove the clear coat w/out damaging the wheels?

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...w/P1100010.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...w/P1100006.jpg



Also, I originally through I could just clean the rims and re-clear coat, but now it looks like I'll have to paint them as well,
Does anyone know the wheel paint code?

Thanks

I would do a very high grit sandpaper and than see how it comes out. It may just need a new coat of clear. If its damaged than go on to re do the base and than to the clear!

I would strongly suggest powdercoating them in whatever color you want, especially if those are your winder rims too. Do it once, and you won't have to worry about any problems for the remainder of your car's life.

If I tell you the wheel paint code,.... I'm gonna have to kill you! :rolf: Actually, that's a trade secret that nobody know,.... its a Mercedes-Benz secret,.... that's why all those Mercedes-Benz "style" and AMG "replica" rims can NOT match the colour of the real thing.

Since you will NOT be able to match the original paint colour,..... if you re-paint the base coat do all four wheels or both wheels on one side of the car,.... but do NOT just do one and expect it to match the un-done one on that same side.

Has anyone tried this?

Wurth Silver Wheel Paint

Wurth is ok, it matches more Porsche and BMW silver than MB... You can buy Duplicolor high performance wheel coating to do the wheels. Just start with a rough wetsand like 500 then go to 1000 grit then 1500, paint a 2-3s coats in 10-20 mins intervals, then finally do a wet coat 30 mins after and let it dry for 1-2 hours. Then repeat the process with Duplicolor clear coat.

but if you want to do it quick you can get plastidip at lowes or homedepot and paint them. Good protection and can be removed fairly easy

Thanks,
I'll take a look at Duplicolor over the weekend.

One of my MRR GT1s is also flaking like that on the lip. Not fun...

Not going to powdercoat them, not plastidipping or painting, either, so I guess I'll just have to live with it. :nix: Or buy another set and let somebody else worry about them. :D

having a hard time chipping off all the old clearcoat
But I'll post photos when I'm done,
I might try a touch ;-)

Finally Finished my project,
had to sand off the rest of the clear coat

primed w/ Dupli-Color Primer filler
Than Dupli-Color for wheels
and finally about a Can & Half of Clear.

The color match is pretty good although
it has more metallic look than the original
But I think it looks good.

work in progress
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n.../WP_000009.jpg

Close Up
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...w/P1100233.jpg




On the Car

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...w/P1000522.jpg

They look great! I am about to fix my AMG wheels that the PO curb rashed it. I will most likely paint it gunmetal grey however. ;)

If your going to do all 4 than the gunmetal grey will look good,
I was trying to match the original color as I only wanted to fix the damaged wheel.

All four wheels have some rash so yes :).

Your gonna need more than one can of paint ;-)

Great job! How long did it take you to do your one wheel including preparation? Which grit paper did you use?
Thanks!

I use my spray gun ;)

For those who are interested in the original Benz paint colour on most wheels it is 9709 Sterling Silver & can be found in the Glasurit catalogue listed as ~ "MERCEDES STERLING SILBER MET9709"

Older cars would have Astral Silver code 9735.

I used 80 grit to take off the Clear Coat and to prep
Than I used 600 1000 1500 all wet for the finish work,
I primed and painted than waited an hour than sprayed clear,
Let the wheel cure for a week
re-sanded with the 1500 wet and put about six coats of Clear on as directed by the can.

This project wasn't that hard and I would do it again,
as with all painting the sanding is crucial.


She came out look nice,Thx

Now you tell me ;-)

She sure did come out looking nice! The week long cure is a tough one for me. Did you drive it during that time?

I had my winter rims & tires on,
so it sat in the garage the whole time.

I'm sure you could drive w/ it after 24 hrs.

than take it off and finish it the next weekend.

Or just drive your Lotus Europa for a week, ;-)