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[SE3P_to_E90]

Hi Guys, since winter is just around the corner, it's only going to be a matter of time until I get my summer set off. At the moment, I have the OEM 197's on my car now. Since these rims are getting a little older, I was thinking of painting these rims myself while my winter set is on.

Does anyone have any experience painting their own rims? I'm thinking of painting my rims black (gloss or flat, doesn't matter). If you've painted your own rims, do you have any pictures you can post? Also, what paint did you use, and did you clear coat the rims afterwards?

Overall, what's the entire process? If I were to do it myself, I would sand my wheels down, primer, base coat, 2-3rd coats, then clear coat.

Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Hey Ant]

You'll get tired of black in about 3-4 months, personally I would choose a color that allows you to feel like it shouldn't be repainted all the time.

You got the process down for painting, but I would use plasti-dip first to see how you like it. If you dont, it's easily removable by peeling it off.

[VMRWheels]

To save yourself a lot of sanding paint off, invest in some paint stripper or aircraft stripper. This should peel the finish off the old wheels fairly quickly. A couple of things I should caution you with though, is that for one you need to do this in a well ventilated area. The fumes are pretty intense from aircraft stripper. Second, the paint strippers will give you a chemical burn if they get on your skin, so be very careful when using products like that.

After you've stripped the wheels, you can sand out any curb rash you may have. Then just prime, base coat, add a few more top coats, then a clear.

[SE3P_to_E90]

HeyAnt, thanks for your insight. I've read about plastidip, and i've seen people do this all the time for their grills, but i've never seen it at autozone or pepboys or walmart, etc.

Also, for Plastidip, will i need to sand/prime beforehand, or do i just spray it on directly? My concern is that, with Plastidip, once they mount the tires, the dip will get all scuffed up/peeled, etc.

[E90MIA]

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

You'll get tired of black in about 3-4 months, personally I would choose a color that allows you to feel like it shouldn't be repainted all the time.

You got the process down for painting, but I would use plasti-dip first to see how you like it. If you dont, it's easily removable by peeling it off.

+1

I plastidipped my rims black and got tired of the look really fast. but the plastidip is a great easy alternative to powdercoating

[SE3P_to_E90]

VMRWheels, Thanks for your suggestions. I'm assuming that stripper is something along the lines of industrial-grade paint thinner? This will likely be the route I take... however, the prospect of not being able to "go-back-to-stock" is turning me off a little bit.


If I decide to go the plastidip route, will I need to take the tires off and do the entire wheel? Since people say Plastidip is so easy to peel off, I'm just scared that all that hard work will go to waste when my mechanic tries to mount RFT's back onto these rims. Also, Plastidip is a Flat/Matte black color - correct?

[Dr00mX]

no need to take the tire off. youtube for sum tutorials.

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by SE3P_to_E90

VMRWheels, Thanks for your suggestions. I'm assuming that stripper is something along the lines of industrial-grade paint thinner? This will likely be the route I take... however, the prospect of not being able to "go-back-to-stock" is turning me off a little bit.


If I decide to go the plastidip route, will I need to take the tires off and do the entire wheel? Since people say Plastidip is so easy to peel off, I'm just scared that all that hard work will go to waste when my mechanic tries to mount RFT's back onto these rims. Also, Plastidip is a Flat/Matte black color - correct?

Basically, yeah. You can get the paint stripper/aircraft stripper at Home Depot or Lowes.

If you decide to plastidip the wheels, you do not need to remove the tires. Just mask off the tires in case of overspray.

[SE3P_to_E90]

Thanks for your help guys. I guess I'll try Plastidip first... and if i don't like the matte finish, I'll just peel them off and go the whole 9 w/ the lung killer and paint and clearcoat, etc.

Thanks for your help guys. VMR, thanks for your support as well. When vendors actively participate in these types of discussions, it makes me feel great about buying products from them. VMR, i'll be sure to give you a buzz when i'm in the market for some new rims

[edirtaynine]

painted stock wheels = ghetto

[SE3P_to_E90]

beat stock rims = also ghetto

personally, as long as the wheels look good to me, i couldn't care less what other people think. it's not their car. to each his own; different strokes for different folks.

[Hey Ant]

You can always photoshop your car with the colored factory wheels you wish to have. If it looks good to you can proceed with the project. Photoshop will help save a lot of time and wasted labor.

[fdriller9]

I would do this in a heated garage or in the summer. Last time I painted something on my car in the winter, it started to crack because of the expansion in the summer.

And I did paint properly. I first sanded with about 1000 girt then sprayed primer then paint and clear, giving ample drying times in between.

I painted in 20 degree weather and that was my mistake.

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

You can always photoshop your car with the colored factory wheels you wish to have. If it looks good to you can proceed with the project. Photoshop will help save a lot of time and wasted labor.

Originally Posted by *********

I would do this in a heated garage or in the summer. Last time I painted something on my car in the winter, it started to crack because of the expansion in the summer.

And I did paint properly. I first sanded with about 1000 girt then sprayed primer then paint and clear, giving ample drying times in between.

I painted in 20 degree weather and that was my mistake.

EXCELLENT ADVICE. Thank you for your help guys! Looks like this project will be on standby -- for the proper method, of course. I still want to try Plastidip just for fun WITHOUT taking off tires lol.

[mkPOTO]

Yes a paint stripper is a must, and also get yourself some steel wool to help with the process, i used paint stripper and also sanded my wheels so that i could get rid of the curb rash. Here is my Rsx wheel I did back in the day, I used primer and a enamol paint, if you are going to pain them flat or gloss black I would suggest engine bay paint that stuff works great

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by SE3P_to_E90

Thanks for your help guys. I guess I'll try Plastidip first... and if i don't like the matte finish, I'll just peel them off and go the whole 9 w/ the lung killer and paint and clearcoat, etc.

Thanks for your help guys. VMR, thanks for your support as well. When vendors actively participate in these types of discussions, it makes me feel great about buying products from them. VMR, i'll be sure to give you a buzz when i'm in the market for some new rims

Sounds good!

[SE3P_to_E90]

mkPOTO, that looks like a real clean job. Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot of sweat and effort to get my rims painted -- because I have those OEM BBS 197 rims with a million spokes on them. Nevertheless, that looks great. As for the engine bay paint, that sounds like a great idea as well!

[mkPOTO]

Originally Posted by SE3P_to_E90

mkPOTO, that looks like a real clean job. Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot of sweat and effort to get my rims painted -- because I have those OEM BBS 197 rims with a million spokes on them. Nevertheless, that looks great. As for the engine bay paint, that sounds like a great idea as well!

just take your time, it took me almost a week to get them to where I wanted them, as you can see from the picture. Just because you have more spokes doesnt mean it gets harder, just take your time and you will be good

[MakkkD]

Originally Posted by E90MIA

+1

I plastidipped my rims black and got tired of the look really fast. but the plastidip is a great easy alternative to powdercoating

I plasti dipped mine...look http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=622879