AMG wheel corrosion - don’t want powder coating

[rorywquin]

I have done some research but not found any good answer except to powder coat.

My wheels have the beginnings of corrosion at the center caps. I like the current look of my wheels so would prefer a good repair. Leaning toward wirebrushing off the bad bits and re coating with a clear epoxy paint.

Any recommendations / success stories please?

Photo of wheel for reference.

 

[vtaylor78]

I agree, I like the diamond cut finish they just don’t last, I think I’m correct in saying you can only refurbish them once ?
Looking at your style of wheel, i think It would be hard just to do a Localised repair.

 

[sl500amgsport]

I have done some research but not found any good answer except to powder coat.

My wheels have the beginnings of corrosion at the center caps. I like the current look of my wheels so would prefer a good repair. Leaning toward wirebrushing off the bad bits and re coating with a clear epoxy paint.

Any recommendations / success stories please?

Photo of wheel for reference.

View attachment 68398

Snap, you can get them Diamond Cut refurbished but after 2nd time need to get the special powder coat that mimics diamond look..


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[S500 Pete]

I have done some research but not found any good answer except to powder coat.

My wheels have the beginnings of corrosion at the center caps. I like the current look of my wheels so would prefer a good repair. Leaning toward wirebrushing off the bad bits and re coating with a clear epoxy paint.

Any recommendations / success stories please?

Photo of wheel for reference.

View attachment 68398

Most repair shops will do a proper job of stripping them back to bare metal and then either powder coating the whole wheel or doing a combination of powder coat and diamond cut. I have just had mine done and replace the centre caps with ebay ones

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I’ve just done localised repairs on all 4 of my son’s W213 AMG 20in turbine alloys. What I didn’t realise was that the wheel manufacturers are using a bright base coat and then finishing with clear lacquer on the ‘diamond cut’ highlights of the wheel which makes it impossible to match. I was quite happy with the results but they don’t pass a close inspection. Saved him £500 so he’s quite happy and they are passable.

 

[sl500amgsport]

I’ve just done localised repairs on all 4 of my son’s W213 AMG 20in turbine alloys. What I didn’t realise was that the wheel manufacturers are using a bright base coat and then finishing with clear lacquer on the ‘diamond cut’ highlights of the wheel which makes it impossible to match. I was quite happy with the results but they don’t pass a close inspection. Saved him £500 so he’s quite happy and they are passable.

Sounds good any pics?

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[malcolm E53 AMG]

Sounds good any pics?

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I’m visiting him tomorrow so I’ll see what I can do

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Incidentally this is the lacquer I used it dries in 5 minutes and overall very impressed - just don’t breathe it in and use eye protection

Pardon our interruption...

 

[rorywquin]

I’ve just done localised repairs on all 4 of my son’s W213 AMG 20in turbine alloys. What I didn’t realise was that the wheel manufacturers are using a bright base coat and then finishing with clear lacquer on the ‘diamond cut’ highlights of the wheel which makes it impossible to match. I was quite happy with the results but they don’t pass a close inspection. Saved him £500 so he’s quite happy and they are passable

WHat did you do? Wire brush and paint? The damage on mine is barely noticeable but I want to get on it before it spreads....

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

WHat did you do? Wire brush and paint? The damage on mine is barely noticeable but I want to get on it before it spreads....

The wheel(s) were removed from the car and thoroughly washed and cleaned, I found lifting them onto a workmate a good height to work. I then used masking tape to protect the surrounding areas to minimise damage to the wheel finish, wet and dry 800 grit to rub down, then 1200 grit and finishing off with 2000/3000 grit, washed the wheel again and dried with a heat gun.
I used meths as a pre paint cleaner and masked all round the wheel rim to protect the tyre and then gave the whole wheel 3 coats of U-Pol lacquer using the heat gun between coats. The U-Pol product is astonishing as it dries almost immediately so that three coats can be applied within 30 minutes - just take extreme car with health and safety.
I’m visiting my son today so I’ll take a few photos of the results. The only downside (as I said above) is that MB are using a bright base coat on the ‘diamond cut‘ areas of the wheel so in my case you can see the merge at close quarters where the new lacquer (straight onto alloy) merges. He’s very happy with the results both aesthetically and financially.
Looking at the damage to your wheel (his were far far worse) the above remedy would be a relatively easy solution with care. I’d also take the opportunity to treat the whole wheel with extra coats of lacquer as added protection.

 

[rorywquin]

The wheel(s) were removed from the car and thoroughly washed and cleaned, I found lifting them onto a workmate a good height to work. I then used masking tape to protect the surrounding areas to minimise damage to the wheel finish, wet and dry 800 grit to rub down, then 1200 grit and finishing off with 2000/3000 grit, washed the wheel again and dried with a heat gun.
I used meths as a pre paint cleaner and masked all round the wheel rim to protect the tyre and then gave the whole wheel 3 coats of U-Pol lacquer using the heat gun between coats. The U-Pol product is astonishing as it dries almost immediately so that three coats can be applied within 30 minutes - just take extreme car with health and safety.
I’m visiting my son today so I’ll take a few photos of the results. The only downside (as I said above) is that MB are using a bright base coat on the ‘diamond cut‘ areas of the wheel so in my case you can see the merge at close quarters where the new lacquer (straight onto alloy) merges. He’s very happy with the results both aesthetically and financially.
Looking at the damage to your wheel (his were far far worse) the above remedy would be a relatively easy solution with care. I’d also take the opportunity to treat the whole wheel with extra coats of lacquer as added protection.

Thanks. I may just give that a try.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Thanks. I may just give that a try.

A Sunday motorist pushed me into the kerb a few months ago so I ended up with a slight kerb rash on one of the front wheels of the BMW. Resolved without taking the wheel off in this case. Same procedure as above but just localised and finished the lacquer with a fine sable brush - so very much horses for courses, this is what I’d do with the slight amount of corrosion on your wheel.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Managed to take a photo of each this afternoon, they are a bit dirty but give a good idea of what can be achieved over a couple of days and three of the four were quite bad - nothing looks worse than white powdered corrosion. I’ll be quite interestEd to see how they hold up.

 

[V6Matty]

One of the worst things that causes this discolouration is high acidic wheel cleaning products, it’s nasty stuff and really gets under any little lip of damage

 

[Blobcat]

One of the worst things that causes this discolouration is high acidic wheel cleaning products, it’s nasty stuff and really gets under any little lip of damage

38% Hypochlorite is very common amongst the unlicensed hand car wash fraternity… does a great job of removing brake dust, lacquer, paint and alloy….

 

[Frontstep]

Wire brushing will make a mess.

You need to replicate the circular pattern of diamond cutting.

I suppose some heath robinson set up could be achieved to cut the alloy as it is spun but I would go for a firm that refurbs them with some good gear and lacquer.

I had my youths VW powder coated after a very good refurb company pointed out the issues.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

One of the worst things that causes this discolouration is high acidic wheel cleaning products, it’s nasty stuff and really gets under any little lip of damage

Exactly what happened to my son’s wheels, he tries not to use pop-up car wash outfits now and if he does he tells them not to use their liquid wheel cleaner

 

[V6Matty]

Even the home use stuff is pretty bad, I’ve been trying to find a cleaner as close to neutral as I can but seem to be failing miserably at the moment

 

[alexanderfoti]

As above, if you really want to keep them diamond cut, then get used to refurbing them every few years, UK environment is just no good for them.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Powdercoat & forget