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A number of people have powdercoated factor wheels and they have come out looking great. I am looking to do the same and have been told I would not need strip the the wheels before they can be powdercoated.
Of course, any dents or damage to the wheel needs to be fixed before the wheel can be powdercoated.
If you powder coat them make sure they know what they doing. Rims have failed due to overheating during powder coating.
I've seen plenty of rims that have been painted and they can look great, it's all in the prep work. There are plenty of wheel re-finishers around if you don't want to do it yourself.
There is a Wheels America in Miami. I have used the one in Los Angeles several times with outstanding results. They have a lifetime guarantee on their work too. I have paid them between $100 and $125 per wheel.
But it's hard to beat the factory finish because they usually have that small polished lip. Nice touch with a painted wheel.
FYI.
Painted with silver rim trim. I wanted what I understood was the look of the factory painted wheel option in 2000... the only option I regretted not getting. They are not powder coated. The transition between the Ocean Blue and the silver is perfect. I wish I remember what it cost but I do remember is was way cheaper than I originally thought.
The full car pics below are circa 150K miles after a compounding and Zaino. Not bad eh?
Painted with silver rim trim. I wanted what I understood was the look of the factory painted wheel option in 2000... the only option I regretted not getting. They are not powder coated. The transition between the Ocean Blue and the silver is perfect. I wish I remember what it cost but I do remember is was way cheaper than I originally thought.
The full car pics below are circa 150K miles after a compounding and Zaino. Not bad eh?
+1
The factory wheels, except Turbo, are cast and I've heard that powder coating can effect the strength of the wheel.
That's true, but with regard to forged wheels, like the 997 Turbo and Turbo II wheels. Most budget powder coating services bake their wheels at a temperature that's too high for forged wheels. This makes them brittle, and they end up cracking over time. Scary. Cast wheels can withstand a higher range of temperatures, and are therefore "safer" to powder coat. I'd still prefer paint, though, personally.
Forged wheels can be safely powder coated, but they need to be baked at a lower temperature. Only experienced and careful and properly equipped shops can handle this delicate process. I would never trust forged wheels that have been powder coated by an everyday, local shop.
01-16-2014, 11:44 AM
