Wheel refurb. Powdercoat or paint?

[sapphireblack]

Isn't the use of anthracite just a general term for describing a shade of grey?

[X5Sport]

If it’s a BMW it’s a more expensive shade of grey

[sapphireblack]

So true

[sapphireblack]

I remembered these for comparison purposes.

Both are BMW Orbit grey, the five spoke is a refurb in powder-coat, the multispoke is in paint. I think what this highlights is wheel design can make a visual difference with colours, regardless of whether paint or powder.

[StuBeeDoo]

Thank you for posting ^^^ that.

I think what this highlights is wheel design can make a visual difference with colours

You're absolutely right. Unfortunately I'm useless at visualising stuff. I've made this mistake several times when getting wheels refurbed.

As per my previous post, I'm now thinking that the colour of my wheels wouldn't be as bad if they weren't so glossy. But they're back in storage now that I've had the punctured Style 304 repaired, so I'm not thinking too much about it until they go back on the car in mid-November.

[sapphireblack]

In a way i think winter sets should be more regarded as less important? The five spoke set pictured are mine with as yet unused winter rubber. (I missed out on the other set on eBay) My thoughts when assembling them were for winter use with muck and salty roads was, i just wanted something pertaining to an X6 but with a colour change to my taste and more easily cleaned.

I liked the 4.6is wheels on my E53 for that very reason, five simple spokes, easily washed and dried, no fuss cleaning

[StuBeeDoo]

With an hour to spare this afternoon, I decided to clean the insides of the wheels as I only did the faces when I took them off the car. I found that 3 of the wheels had an excessive amount of weights on - to the point of having weights diametrically opposite each other (I had put the wheels on the car and taken them off again in such a hurry that I hadn't noticed all the weights). Two wheels both had over 100grams on! I've taken all the weights off, and will take the wheels to my preferred tyre place for balancing.

IMO balancing is something that a business specialising in wheels should be well on top of. I had already been thinking that I probably wouldn't use the refurber again, now I definitely won't. I'll be going back to a less local company who I have used before and have been pleased with. IIRC, they were more than happy to do exactly what I wanted, not try to fob me off with service I wasn't entirely happy with.

[sapphireblack]

Oh dear, not a happy or rewarding experience

[StuBeeDoo]

08 09 Gunmetal 305.JPG (269.51 KiB) Viewed 4568 times

If you look carefully, you can see a 10g weight near the valve. Now look at about the 5 o'clock position..... There's at least 30g there - probably more behind the spoke. The inside of that wheel would have had something similar. One or two of the wheels were even worse.

[sapphireblack]

Well, it will be interesting to see what they end up with after rebalancing. Did you note the total weight on each wheel?

[StuBeeDoo]

Did you note the total weight on each wheel?

I didn't. But I have all the displaced weights on my bench, and there's 375g in total.

I'll report back next week, when I've had chance to get them to the tyre place.

[Raj]

Definitely a fair bit of weight there. Only had that once where to get it to balance it needed nearly 100g of weight but you can try rotating the tyre slightly on the rim a quarter turn and try again. Might find it makes a big difference.

[StuBeeDoo]

I just got back from the tyre place. 3 wheels now have 40g on, and one has 20g. So 140g in total.
All the weights are on the inside edge of the rim, so will be barely visible when the wheels are fitted.

I think the refurber has been having a laugh right from the word go. I definitely won't be recommending him. He knows all the talk, but that's about it. So much for his good rep. on social media.

[sapphireblack]

Better outcome and the car will be quicker too

[Raj]

Superb outcome and crazy the difference.