Anyone Have An F25 With 20” Style 311?

[Lyons]

Just picked up a set of style 311’s for our F25 (LCi M Sport) to replace the factory fit style 310.

Just wondering if anyone else had them on a facelift F25? I’m keen to see how they look to help me decide whether to paint them gunmetal or silver.

Thanks in advance.

[sapphireblack]

I dont own the same car but what colour is yours?

Silver wheels always look a bit 'contrasty' on dark bodies imo

[StuBeeDoo]

I’m keen to see how they look to help me decide whether to paint them gunmetal or silver.

Don't get caught, like I did! There seem to be as many different variations of "gunmetal" as there are wheel refinishers. I have documented my refurb woes on a thread here. I've been onto a company locally who will strip the very dark "gunmetal" powdercoat from my wheels and repaint them in any colour paint that can be mixed. I'm currently thinking BMW Silbergrau.

[Lyons]

I say gunmetal just to give a general steer of the look I’m after. I’ve had several sets done in Ferric Grey and this is usually my go-to colour (though in saying that I fancy something a bit darker this time).

Our car is silver. I agree on dark wheels on a dark car, but like them on a lighter car.

[sapphireblack]

To keep it 'BMW' i'd be tempted to go for the darker Orbit Grey. It hides brake dust quite effectively as a bonus.

Similar wheel in Orbit Grey.

[Lyons]

That looks a wee tad lighter than other examples of Orbit Grey that I’ve seen.

[sapphireblack]

Could be the angle or colour reproduction.

Screenshot_20191116-121947.jpg (184.72 KiB) Viewed 3178 times

Heres a factory example.

I think a lot depends on the wheel style. Chunkier spokes look darker.

[Lyons]

Thanks. The second photo of the 259 is definitely darker than I’d want. It would be nice if there was something in between Ferric and Orbit!

Edit- did I end up selling you those 259’s?! I actually can’t remember now!

[sapphireblack]

We abandoned that after your local refeurb business had a couple of issues with them.

The other long thread here on the subject of wheel colours highlights (to me) how we can all see the same thing differently.

I like the colour in my first image, i don't like what i see in the second example but its the same set of wheels. The third image is the set i nearly bought and to my eyes that wheel looks nicer and quite different in colour. Much depends on who does the refurb work of course. I've had disappointments in the past like others.

Maybe you're heading for a Ferric/Orbit mix?

[StuBeeDoo]

The other long thread here on the subject of wheel colours highlights (to me) how we can all see the same thing differently.

True. Trying to get an idea from images (either printed or electronic) is a minefield, as well. I've come to the conclusion that there's absolutely no substitute for seeing your chosen wheel colour at the very least with tyres fitted, and preferably either on your car or one the same colour.

Chunkier spokes look darker.

It took me years to realise this. Every set I've had refurbed in various shades of grey have had chunky spokes (Styles 44, 157 and currently 305). All were done grey because I was fixated on Ferric. I'm now of the opinion that Ferric only "works" on thin spokes. Every time I've gone for grey ("anthracite" on the 44s and 157s, and a different company's "gunmetal" on the 305s - which I'm still convinced was actually the same shade*) it has always been darker than I had hoped-for when the wheels were on the car. What I've been searching for is probably a darker silver than BMW's standard Felgen silver (144) or Reflex Silver (A44).

* see images below for a general idea, but with the proviso above.

E46 style 44.jpg (96.07 KiB) Viewed 3160 times

E46 style 157.jpg (179.47 KiB) Viewed 3160 times

Autumn public.jpg (151.11 KiB) Viewed 3160 times

As I posted previously in this thread, I'm going to have the 305s on the F25 stripped and painted in BMW A08 Silver grey (the same as the E46, coincidently). When the time comes to have the summer 304s for the F25 refurbed, I'll get them painted - probably in A80 Ferric, because I think (hope??) it will be OK with the thinner spokes.

[sapphireblack]

You emphasise "painted" like that is superior in some way. Colour is just and only that, spray painting is simply a means of applying it, so is powder

Powder is a harder wearing process .Your negative experience of if is a result of the operator and a misunderstanding on colour choice, not the process.

[StuBeeDoo]

You emphasis of "painted" like that suggests it is superior in some way. Colour is just and only that, spray painting is simply a means of applying it, so is powder

Powder is a harder wearing process .Your negative experience of if is a result of the operator and a misunderstanding on colour choice, not the process.

On colour choice/description it is a fact that all the three powdercoaters I've dealt with cannot (or will not...) entertain any colours outside the ones supplied by their preferred powder supplier. The painters I have used have mixing schemes and can mix very specific colours to manufacturers colour codes.

My dislike of the powdercoat finish is 3-fold...
1. Limited range of colours with discrepancies in colour naming - specifically the gunmetal/anthracite debacle.
2. Two out of three of my most recent jobs have had a significant orange-peel texture which has been exaggerated by.......
3. High-gloss finish, which seems to come as standard - glossier than factory finished wheels, which (to me) makes them look obviously non-original.

Paint may not be "superior" for everyone, but I prefer the finish. I also dispute your hard-wearing claim - one of the latest wheels I had coated chipped between leaving the refurbers and going into my garage, without ever being on the car, in spite of them being treated like new-born babies. The last wheels I had painted were totally unblemished after 4 years on the car, and 2 changes of tyres.

[sapphireblack]

Top/finishing coats can be matt, satin or gloss in wet laquer or powder coat. But i think we'll just agree to disagree as my experience is the polar opposite of yours ☺

[StuBeeDoo]

But i think we'll just agree to disagree as my experience is the polar opposite of yours ☺

There will be good and bad powdercoaters. I've probably been unlucky with all three I've used.

[sapphireblack]

I'll just say this, if i may.

Wherever i have been for wheel refurbs, three different businesses, they've all had a wall of wheels showing their most popular colours, you choose from those so you have a reference, or you provide a RAL reference, or they'll mix you a special (in paint) for approval. Just saying gunmetal, or whatever is open to interpretation as you have found.

These guys used to be A1+, though i had one set done three times before they got them right. It put me off and i go elsewhere still when needed, but tbf to Lepsons, they never actually argued.

They have done some impressive work, some nice examples here
http://www.lepsons.com/customer-cars-and-wheels/