trackpilot

Anyone have any luck refinishing the AMG rims? I just picked up a '12 GLK with the AMG package and all 4 rims are curbed. But the wheels look like they are sort of polished with a clear coat over them and not just regular paint? I'm wondering how it will look?

fabbrisd1

"Mobile" refinishing will make them silver painted and can be done same-day/few-hours.. $75/$125 per wheel

"Shop" refinishing will require the wheels to be sent to a depot - about $350-$550 a wheel.

rocketd55

I've refinished my rims with a mobile guy before. My rims are not AMG but they are 20 inch OEM. Got 3 of them repaired for $300 total including all taxes, etc.

He also taught me to refinish my own rims so it costs me less than $50 to fix my own rims now.

See my other thread about rim protectors. Good investment.

MKenM

I had all of mine done. Only needed two but wanted them all to match. It was done at the MB dealership by the mobile guy. They do not put the clear coat on but truthfully unless you have two vehicles side by side you don't notice.

rocketd55

Completely agree. The mobile guys actually works for the dealers. You'll notice that they work for a different dealer each day of the week. They don't do just Mercedes. My guy mainly did Toyota dealers but has been doing German cars on the side for a long time.

He did not clear coat my rims. He said the clear coat was mixed into the paint. This sounds hard to believe, but his paint (which he mixed right in front of me) was an exact match for my OEM rims. You cannot even tell my rims were repainted, even if you stared at them from a foot away.

mjhawkins2346

My experience is different. Here in Northern Cal I had all the wheels fully refinished (the PO had curbed all 4) at around $175 a wheel. He used powder coating which is far more durable and is like the factory finish.
The mobile guys use spray paint and it will look good but not be quite as durable for around the same price.
I made an appointment to bring in the car so I wouldn't wait too long. It took about 2 hours to do all 4 wheels. They look factory fresh.

rmfnla

You can have them chromed for less than that (assuming you want chromed wheels)...

MKenM

Not sure what you mean by durability. If you mean it looks better after a few years that's debatable. Other than that if you brush a curb nothing is durable.

Might want to try "Curb Feelers"

fabbrisd1

Unfortunately - you curb a chromed wheel and it's toast...

For easier cleaning - when clean use Einzsett Glanzwax (blue top) as a sealant every 9 months or so.

Factory paint finish easily duplicated by any decent wheel guy - amazing work actually all to the good !

Mr. JLT

if there curbed up they will have to add metal, reshape and weigh the wheel polish or powder coat them. You could buy a used set or get a set of replicas
http://www.powerwheelspro.com/shop/index.php?cPath=23

slk55er

See my post on Do It Yourself repair in the thread at

https://mbworld.org/forums/w218/4747...ml#post5647353

You can try several spray paints, depending on your wheel. The Caliper paint mentioned is suitable for the "standard" silver wheel. I have AMG wheels on my CLS63 AMG S and the Ace Hardware "Mirrored Silver" (1236595/17048A) is a perfect match for the highly polished, almost chrome rim.