mis3

After almost 10 years with my w209, there are few curb rashes in each of my double-spoke AMG wheels.

I went to a wheel repair store (the same store which my dealership uses) and the guy told me that the finish of these wheels is hyper silver. The cost to repaint is 50% more than regular silver. The quote to repaint 3 wheels in hyper silver is actually more than to repaint all 4 wheels in regular silver. The guy went on to say that hyper silver is harder to maintain and less durable than regular silver. He said not a lot of people can tell the difference unless side-by-side compare. He suggested to repaint all 4 wheels in regular silver.

I did my research and I could not really tell the difference by the pictures in the internet.

Any comments are appreciated.

Supafly

I believe hyper silver has metallic flakes in them, thus giving them a slightly shinier appearance.

Just be glad you didnt have a machine finish...repairing those would probably cost more than the wheel itself ha.

Fatz

I thought the only process difference was the color of the base/undercoat. The silver paint is the same, I believe. Maybe what he means by harder to maintain is, when scratched there is the off color of the basecoat exposed, and to repair to original you would have to apply that base/undercoat. I think the undercoat is gray. The silver may be all the same color down to the primer.

I've had wheel refinished a couple times....... I now just buy a new set if they get so bad I can't repair the rash/ding myself. Unless I'm looking at > $350/wheel, considering the time and hassle, new ones work better for me. BTW, I've not had a refinish look as good as a new one.

mis3

These are AMG wheels, quite expensive in Canada. Also, I think they look great for a w209. I am not sure how they would look in regular silver, instead of hyper silver.

Maybe I have to visit a wheel store to see them side by side.

Fatz

One set that I did was also AMG - 5 twin spoke 18". I still have them in my garage. I keep telling myself that I'll get around to redoing them myself one day.

Except for the added 8 lbs of unsprung weight of the Mandrus wheels I running, I like them better.

The point of my reply was that the really good refinishers will cost you near the cost of a set of new wheels, if not more. Repairing rashes on 1 or 2 wheels is much different than stripping, straightening, checking for cracks, painting, and polishing a wheel to get it to it's "when new" appearance.

Glyn M Ruck

Mercedes Benz wheels are painted Sterling Silver. They all have metal flake base coat, clear coat or powder coat.

Hyper Silver just has more metal flake & some black toner in the mix. Hyper Silver is not a standard Benz wheel colour to my knowledge.

Glyn M Ruck

See here for correct colours of genuine Mercedes wheels.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mercedes_alloy_wheels

mis3

Thanks, Glyn, for the link. Very helpful, I found my wheels and they are 17" AMG IV with description sterling silver.

I brought these wheels years ago from the dealership so they are OE wheels. Is it possible sterling silver and hyper silver are the same?

I compared 17" AMG III (single spoke, Mercedes Standard Silver with High Sheen Rim Flange) and 17" AMG IV (double spoke, Mercedes Sterling Silver). Not sure if my eyes are deceiving me, I cannot see much difference in the 2 wheels. If this is true, I would repaint all 4 wheels with regular silver then.

Nero Tenebre

I think they are hyper silver, and I wouldn't change them. Hyper silver is a much richer color IMO and I think your wheels came that way. It uses a black base coat and the layering gives the paint depth and exaggerates the shadows and highlights of the surfaces. Many wheel shops charge more to do hyper silver so that is common, some won't even touch them. I redid my HRE in hyper silver with machined face actually because the regular silver powdercoat is so boring and flat.

mis3

I did some research and the hyper silver is supposed to be bright silver with a dark hue (if this makes sense at all).

My w209 is silver so maybe regular silver is fine.

Glyn M Ruck

Hyper silver is an aftermarket wheel colour. Yes it has black toner in it. Most wheels sourced from China are hyper silver. Some are good & some are awful.

Paint your wheels Sterling Silver & stick with the correct Benz colour

mis3

Will do. With hyper silver (sterling silver), I will need to repaint only 3 wheels.

These guys repair wheels for MB dealerships so they have a lot of experience to paint MB wheels. They painted these wheels before and they did good work. It was one here and one there so there was never a choice to change colors.

Glyn M Ruck

Sterling Silver & Hyper Silver are 2 different colours. If your wheels are OE your paint guy has got it wrong. Sterling silver is a standard colour & costs no more than any other paint in the Glasurit, PPG, Sikkens or Spies Hecker paint ranges.

mis3

Definitely my wheels are OE. I have no idea what is sterling silver. My car is silver but MB calls it "Brilliant Silver".

I did side-by-side compare of my wheels to regular silver wheels and my wheels are definitely different. It's brighter but with a dark shade.

I will ask the guy to make sure they repaint it with the same color.

Glyn M Ruck

The wheels are not the same colour as the car.

Here are Sterling Silver wheels. Benz has painted it's mag wheels Sterling Silver for years.

mis3

I was not clear in my last post. The wheels are not the same color as the car. What I tried to say was maybe sterling silver is the name MB gives to these bright silver finish. Do other wheel manufacturers make sterling silver wheels as well?

Like my silver car, the whole world would call the color silver while MB calls it "Brilliant Silver".

I am sure they will just repaint the wheels with the same color, especially now I am only painting 3 wheels. Regardless to the name of the color, the 3 wheels have to match the remaining wheel.

Nero Tenebre

That second pic is not a hyper silver wheel? It looks a lot like hyper silver, which is why I thought it was an OEM color... But you would know much better than I would, so I defer to your expertise!

Glyn M Ruck

My CLK Elegance wheels top pic & AMG type IV below are both Sterling Silver.

Hyper Silver has more black toner in the mix & is not a Benz colour.

There is absolutely no reason why Sterling Silver should cost any more than any other Benz colour.

mis3

I put my AMG wheel against a wheel with regular silver and I can defintely tell the difference.
For my taste, the original color is more elegant and rich.
Regardless of the name, I would go for the original color.

Glyn M Ruck

Good heavens. That is a very early Type 4 with the unbroken circular centre.

It was painted Sterling Silver ex works in Austria.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mer...g_iv_wheel_250

The point, I'm trying with difficulty, to get across is that you should NOT have to pay more for the colour that IS NOT Hyper Silver. You are being conned.

Let me tell you what I think is going on here. Your paint guy will paint the wheels in 2K at a lower price. The minute that he is forced to go base coat/clear coat as Benz does he wants to charge more. It has nothing to do with colour. Glasurit can give him Sterling Silver base coat off the shelf.

mis3

Glyn: What did you mean "Your paint guy will paint the wheels in 2K at a lower price"? What 2K?

I bought my 2004 w209 in Dec-2003 and I bought these AMG wheels the next summer. So, I have used these wheels for almost 10 summers! Maybe I am old fashion, I prefer these wheels over the new MB wheels.

Glyn M Ruck

2K Paint is two part Acrylic Enamel. When you mix your paint, you add a hardener, called Poly-isocyanate. Commonly used by refinishers. No clear coat required

I have no problem with your wheels. They are personal. They are painted Sterling Silver. They are base coat, clear coat painted.

DABRONX

I have a set of factory 20" AMG as in SW 222 pics they are like new with new Michlelins. San Diego not shipping too heavy with tires. Will make great deal.

Also have a set of brand new Renntech gray wheels in 21's