So I have a collection of wheels just sitting there and some are not in the best shape. They mostly have curb rash or the paint is really bad. Here is a write up if you have all silver/black wheels. You can go crazy and customize the wheels however you want with some different types of paints.




I just went as far as priming because you guys can choose what color paint or finish you want on your wheels.

Materials:

Gloves
Bondo Spot Putty
Paint color of your choice and clear.
Duplicolor Filler Primer
Scotch brite pad
3m rubbing compound
320 grit sandpaper
600grit sandpaper
1000 grit sand paper
Masking Tape
A Brush
Old rags..
Soap and water in a bottle.
Plastic spreader ( I use a gift/coupon card )



Step 1.

Wash your wheels! get a spray bottle and fill it with water and add some type of grease cutting dish soap. Spray the entire wheel and use a soft brush to take off all the nasty brake dust in all those hard to reach places. Don't worry if you don't get all the dirty stuff off, that's the next step.

Step 2.

Put some gloves on since you don't want to leave any fingerprints on the wheels. Take the scotch brite pad and go all over the wheel removing any baked on dirt. Scuff the entire wheel with the scotch brite pad till it's super clean.

So this is my curbed wheel....



Step 3.

Now that your wheels are clean take the 320 grit sand paper and sand the curb rash. Make sure it's smooth and follow the line of the wheel while sanding.



Step 4.

Take the spot putty and a plastic spreader (you can use a plastic gift card)
and start filling in where the wheel is damaged. Don't start using a lot of spot putty, do it in layers. Go over the wheel once with spot putty and repeat filling any gaps and dings.



Step 5.

Sand down the spot putty with 600 grit sandpaper wrapped in a plastic gift card or something hard. I do it in a criss cross pattern to get all the sanding marks even.



Step 6.

Now that you sanded all the spot putty apply a coat of filler primer. Don't worry if the edge is not perfect yet.



Step 7.

Get the spot putty again and star filling in where the filler primer wasn't enough. Do this all over the wheel and repeat till you get all the dings out of the wheel.



Step 8.

Got the wheel perfect? Now prime and paint any color you want.



You will need the 3m rubbing compound if you plan to do a clear coat. I will also suggest some 2500 sand paper for color sanding. Once the clear coat is dry you will use the 3m rubbing compound to rub out the clear coat and make it look like glass.

 

awesome, thanks man. The forum could really use more write ups like this!

 

Great post, I don't really have any scuffs on my rims, but this could come in handy one day. Good write-up, it is appreciated.

 

So then te wheels can never hae a polislip again huh?

 

Pretty much correct. I have the e430 sport wheels, and they came with a polished lip. I repainted them and theres no way to get that back unless you either a) don't paint the lip, or b) re-polish the lip by yourself.

which would be rather hard to get the original look back

 

good write-up but I see thats a lot of shaving if you want a polishedlip again

 

Well, some curb rash can be polished out professionally. If it's really bad and you know how to weld aluminum you can just fill in all the curb rash. My options basically cost $25 in materials and welding cost 180-250 a wheel to refinish.

 

Oh, no I'm not complaining at all if that affended you, I just put that out as a warning.

 

Here are my re-finished wheels.

In the sun:


In the shade:


I used a silver metallic with a little bit of rainbow flake.

 

Don't worry, I wasn't offended at all. I know what you mean because I wanted to polish the lips on those wheels at first but that option cost more than the wheels. This was my plan B to refinish the wheels.

Good job, STLe320!

 

you have more car stuff at your house than anybody... your wife must hate you!

 

I keep it at my parents house lmao!....she doesn't read the forums so i'm cool..You should see all the new parts i have for my mustang....