Chrome Wheels
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
Not to say today's wheels are not higher quality than those, but chrome must be a decent surface for the bead or millions would not be using them.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Jack,
That might sound great but that means they are casting the actual wheel... I don't buy it. To run a casting facility to make wheels of that many style is nearly impossible... if they do all OEM wheels. Casting involves having huge furnaces to keep the aluminum at 700 degrees C, you need dies (which are expensive and costly to maintain), casting machines, machine lines, it is a very involved process.
My guess is they take OEM wheels and knock it down to the substrate (remove all powdercoatings and paint). By doing this you will take off some of the substrate weakening the wheel. OEMs also have paint or powder on the tire bead surface, chrome is not a good surface for the tire bead.
Even if this company does infact cast the wheels (i doubt it) they probably are of inferior quality compared to the high pressure castings that MB uses. This means balance issues, runout (related to balance), possible deformation, etc. Especially if you plan on using this truck offroad which was your original intent of getting the GL, I would def not recommend aftermarket chrome. MB has some of the highest grade wheels in the industry.
That might sound great but that means they are casting the actual wheel... I don't buy it. To run a casting facility to make wheels of that many style is nearly impossible... if they do all OEM wheels. Casting involves having huge furnaces to keep the aluminum at 700 degrees C, you need dies (which are expensive and costly to maintain), casting machines, machine lines, it is a very involved process.
My guess is they take OEM wheels and knock it down to the substrate (remove all powdercoatings and paint). By doing this you will take off some of the substrate weakening the wheel. OEMs also have paint or powder on the tire bead surface, chrome is not a good surface for the tire bead.
Even if this company does infact cast the wheels (i doubt it) they probably are of inferior quality compared to the high pressure castings that MB uses. This means balance issues, runout (related to balance), possible deformation, etc. Especially if you plan on using this truck offroad which was your original intent of getting the GL, I would def not recommend aftermarket chrome. MB has some of the highest grade wheels in the industry.
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Mercedes-Benz
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
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From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
What did they do "back in the day?" Powder coating is a relatively new process, ~20 years. How did all those Crager SS chrome rims hold up in the 60's and 70's? I'd be willing to bet some vintage cars are still running on vintage chrome rims.
Not to say today's wheels are not higher quality than those, but chrome must be a decent surface for the bead or millions would not be using them.
Not to say today's wheels are not higher quality than those, but chrome must be a decent surface for the bead or millions would not be using them.
"back in the day" quality standards were not as tough. Wheels with greater runout may have been OK. They were also heavier and much more was done by hand back then, so filing and sanding was all done by hand. With regards to the tirebead, I can't say about older wheels but I am pretty sure the chrome allows the tire to "slip" against the wheel more easily which may knock it out of balance.
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I'm considering the same. Tough call. Some vehicles look good with chrome some look really bad - kind of takes away from the lux look more than it adds. I personally like when the chrome wheels blend in more (like a white or silver vehicle) than stand out. just happens that I have a white GL 
anyone with pics of chromed oem wheels on a white GL?
anyone with pics of chromed oem wheels on a white GL?
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Nope
I'm considering the same. Tough call. Some vehicles look good with chrome some look really bad - kind of takes away from the lux look more than it adds. I personally like when the chrome wheels blend in more (like a white or silver vehicle) than stand out. just happens that I have a white GL
anyone with pics of chromed oem wheels on a white GL?
anyone with pics of chromed oem wheels on a white GL?
Actually, sorry it's not great at short notice, but here's two concept vehicles; mine in white, and then mine if I covered the car in the blue plastic they protect the brushed stainless with. Flights of fancy, but maybe the white one will give a slight idea of what it would look like. Sloppy, sorry!
Steve
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From: Colorado Rocky Mtns.
'06 A6 & '08 GL550
Actually, sorry it's not great at short notice, but here's two concept vehicles; mine in white, and then mine if I covered the car in the blue plastic they protect the brushed stainless with. Flights of fancy, but maybe the white one will give a slight idea of what it would look like. Sloppy, sorry!
Steve
Steve
On a serious note, I was wondering if your Michelin's were OEM or if you had them installed after taking delivery? What is the sub-brand (Pilots)? How do you like them as far as handling and noise?
Thanks!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Michelins
Pilot... that's amazing! Thanks for taking the time to do a little image trickery. That blue is really wild!
On a serious note, I was wondering if your Michelin's were OEM or if you had them installed after taking delivery? What is the sub-brand (Pilots)? How do you like them as far as handling and noise?
Thanks!
On a serious note, I was wondering if your Michelin's were OEM or if you had them installed after taking delivery? What is the sub-brand (Pilots)? How do you like them as far as handling and noise?
Thanks!
As for the PhotoShop stuff, I kind of stumbled on that blue and realized it looked just like that tape they put on. I messed around with Nevada's signature S-class as well, but I don't know how to attach them in private message mode and I didn't want to annoy him publicly with them.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
However, I would not feel the same about chrome on the GL in OB and chrome on the S. I think the AMG wheels are really good looking and have a nice shine to them and don't think chrome would look good on the S. I have seen a few here in LV and I am not impressed with them.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Colorado Rocky Mtns.
'06 A6 & '08 GL550
Oh Jack... just imagine if you had the bubble mobile for the premier of Spiderman 3. You'd have been the toast of the town, considering those bubbles look more like a spider web.
BTW, I'm a little disappointed you didn't like the pink/red mix. I could just imagine that one pulling up to the casinos.
Thanks to the Pilot for bringing a little humor to the forum.
BTW, I'm a little disappointed you didn't like the pink/red mix. I could just imagine that one pulling up to the casinos.
Thanks to the Pilot for bringing a little humor to the forum.
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
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From: Indianapolis, IN
2008 C350
Just my opinion, but I think that looks bad. I don't mind chrome, but chrome on the GL wheels 
. If you are going to do chrome I would buy aftermarket wheels. Like I said that is just my opinion. 
. If you are going to do chrome I would buy aftermarket wheels. Like I said that is just my opinion.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Nevada Jack,
You are lucky you can drive to LA & do the exchange. Last time I wanted a set of chrome wheels, I had to pay $800 for shipping & buy them outright as the shipping for exchange would've cost another $800.
I like chrome; I say go for it!
You are lucky you can drive to LA & do the exchange. Last time I wanted a set of chrome wheels, I had to pay $800 for shipping & buy them outright as the shipping for exchange would've cost another $800.
I like chrome; I say go for it!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Sorry, just to be clear (and no offense taken - hell, that's why there's options on colors, interiors), you don't like the way my wheels look in chrome?
