DIY Wheel refurb

[Colin_E]

I did something similar a year or so back - but on a very small scale as just a short section of rim on one wheel got lightly grazed, and it seemed too small a blemish to justify a full refurb. As Pondrew says, I decided a DIY approach was a risk worth taking as if anything went wrong, i'd just splash the cash and get the full refurb instead.
One trick I picked up (from somewhere online no doubt) was to deflate the tyre and tuck old playing cards between tyre and rim for masking purposes if you need to spray very close to the rim . Even deflated its quite difficult to jam them in but worth taking time to do.

 

[obewan]

I did something similar a year or so back - but on a very small scale as just a short section of rim on one wheel got lightly grazed, and it seemed too small a blemish to justify a full refurb. As Pondrew says, I decided a DIY approach was a risk worth taking as if anything went wrong, i'd just splash the cash and get the full refurb instead.
One trick I picked up (from somewhere online no doubt) was to deflate the tyre and tuck old playing cards between tyre and rim for masking purposes if you need to spray very close to the rim . Even deflated its quite difficult to jam them in but worth taking time to do.

Yeah, I used the same trick (worked a treat) but used 5x3" index cards. I must admit though it was a doddle to fit them.
I'm just wondering if I've been lucky with the rim protector tyre profile. Pondrew was also saying he was struggling to get to the rim edge.
As you can make out from the pics below mine is quite exposed

 

[Special Kay]

Hey Obewan, how are your refurbed wheels holding up to a few months of grime, brake dust and dare I say it scratches or scrapes?

 

[obewan]

Hi Special Kay

They still look great , no scrapes or scratches - touch wood :wink:
Brake dust washes off easily. However, I did put a coat of Auto Glym Super Resin Polish and Extra Gloss Protection (paint sealant) on them before fitting back on the car, so that may have helped.

Did you have a go yourself in the end?

 

[Special Kay]

That's great to hear. I'm glad they're holding up so well

 

[Pondrew]

Almost a year on from obewan's thread, I finally got around to doing my 326s at the weekend. Thanks to him for the idea.

Took a while, as three of four of my wheels were pretty chewed up on the outer rims (from before we bought the car). I had to grind some bits of alloy back as some of the scuffs had ripped the metal upwards and outwards. I used a Dremel rotary for this.
I had real trouble getting filler (and sanding it) on the outer rim edges with the tyres on. It took me three days to do all four wheels. partly due to the weather being a bit cold so the paint and lacquer took an age to dry.
I didn't use primer, I sanded each wheel completely with 320 grit wet & dry (wet), then filled with Isopon wheel filler, sanded, 2 coats of paint then 2 coats of clear lacquer.
I got everything from Halfords; paint was their own BMW Titanium silver. Cost about £50 for everything, plus £8.99 for a new set of wheel centres and //M badges off the 'Bay.
I will post a picture when it's dry outside!
I just hope the finish lasts!.

 

[Zedebee]

Almost a year on from obewan's thread, I finally got around to doing my 326s at the weekend. Thanks to him for the idea.

Took a while, as three of four of my wheels were pretty chewed up on the outer rims (from before we bought the car). I had real trouble getting filler (and sanding it) on the outer rim edges with the tyres on. It took me three days to do all four wheels. partly due to the weather being a bit cold so the paint and lacquer took an age to dry.
I didn't use primer, I sanded each wheel completely with 320 grit wet & dry (wet), then filled with Isopon wheel filler, sanded, 2 coats of paint then 2 coats of clear lacquer.
I got everything from Halfords; paint was their own BMW Titanium silver. Cost about £50 for everything, plus £8.99 for a new set of wheel centres and //M badges off the 'Bay.
I will post a picture when it's dry outside!
I just hope the finish lasts!.

I hope you don’t end up regretting not using primer, I’m not sure how well paint is going to stick to bare aluminium. Still, it was good practise for next time

 

[Pondrew]

I’m not sure how well paint is going to stick to bare aluminium.

I only sanded back the lacquer and 'keyed' the original paint. I hope to God it is OK, as I ain't doing it again. My fingers are red raw from all the wet sanding.

 

[obewan]

Nice one Pondrew, glad to hear you got around to it.

Mine are still looking good a year on, chuffed to bits

 

[inkey$]

Looking really good, OP.
Which YouTube how-to did you follow?

 

[obewan]

Looking really good, OP.
Which YouTube how-to did you follow?

In general, this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vMoHzBvu6w&ab_channel=PaintSociety

 

[Pondrew]

Pictures of my refurbed wheels. Just hope they last!

 

[pvr]

That doesn't look bad (if you ignore the overspray on the tyres )


Where is the before picture?

 

[Pondrew]

That doesn't look bad (if you ignore the overspray on the tyres )


Where is the before picture?

That's not overspray, that's dried gunk from wet sanding. I haven't had chance to get something thin enough to get it out yet!
I didn't take before pictures (too impatient to get them done) but the below is one of the rears taken a while back. It wasn't the worst one!

 

[Zedebee]

Nice job Pond

 

[pvr]

So where is your step by step documented process or were the steps:

- Drive to refurb place
- Have them done
- Drive back home and take pics

:evil:

 

[Pondrew]

So where is your step by step documented process or were the steps:

- Drive to refurb place
- Have them done
- Drive back home and take pics

:evil:

It would have been a bloody lot easier. But where would the fun be in that?

 

[obewan]

Looking good Pondrew

Good to see the Centre hubs are aligned with the M badge :wink:

 

[Pondrew]

Good to see the Centre hubs are aligned with the M badge :wink:

Of course!

 

[MikeyH]

Yes nice job