[Watsey]

Long story short : a tyre fitter damaged three of my wheels last year and paid to have the refurbed - they're 403s, so diamond cut faces. I also got compensation from BlackCircles.

The quality of the diamond cutting wasn't great and left some fine burring around the wheel bolt holes and also in a few places on the spokes. As the faces of the spokes are only lacquered, white worm has now started to develop. To top it all, it looks like the wheels were lathed quite heavily, and a local wheel specialist has said that they probably can't be done again.

So it looks like it's time to have the wheels stripped and powder coated. Not the perfect solution, but should look OK with a careful choice of colour, not too expensive, and it does mean that the wheels can be re-finished if I happen to kerb them.

If any owners of Mineral Grey F30/31 have also had their 403s powder coated and can post some pics (whole car, and the wheels up-close) I'd be grateful.

Thanks.

[siross]

Not sure whether it's helpful but these are my ferric grey alloys on my Melbourne Red F31.

Not sure whether they're powder coated as I bought them like this:





Simon

[Donny_1962]

Hi Not mineral Grey Car but EB11

But powdercoated, tungstan, 403's approx £60ish each, to give you the idea. Carried out at the Wheel Specialist in Nottingham 8 months ago, i think about have held up very well, no marks/corrosion yet, and they have been swopped over to my summer alloys now,so plenty of use.

Before anyone says it, photos over 6mths ago, now with ACS.......so no stilts!

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by siross

Not sure whether it's helpful but these are my ferric grey alloys on my Melbourne Red F31.

Not sure whether they're powder coated as I bought them like this:





Simon

Thanks Simon. They definitely look like they've been 'done' - no cut faces to the spokes - and done well. Ferric Grey looks good on the 403s, but might be too mono on my Mineral Grey F31 ?

Interested on comments from the Forum on this. Black is definitely a no-no; silver seems too 80s.

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by Donny_1962

Hi Not mineral Grey Car but EB11

But powdercoated, tungstan, 403's approx £60ish each, to give you the idea. Carried out at the Wheel Specialist in Nottingham 8 months ago, i think about have held up very well, no marks/corrosion yet, and they have been swopped over to my summer alloys now,so plenty of use.

Before anyone says it, photos over 6mths ago, now with ACS.......so no stilts!

Thanks Donny. Likely I'll be using The Wheel Specialist near me, so good to hear that the finish has held-up well. Your price is lower than they've quoted me, so that's useful info.

From your photos (get those wheels cleaned ! ) it looks like there's a nice gloss from the lacquer. Correct ? I don't think a matt/satin finish will suit the car.

[Rich9600]

Configurator image of ferric grey 441M's on MG F31.

I have silver 441M winters and was considering getting them re-finished as I knocked one over last year and did some minor damage. I think ferric grey looks fine on a MG car.

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

Configurator image of ferric grey 441M's on MG F31.

I have silver 441M winters and was considering getting them re-finished as I knocked one over last year and did some minor damage. I think ferric grey looks fine on a MG car.

Cheers for that Rich.

[siross]

Might be worth someone having a go with Photoshop to see how they look?

What colours were you thinking other than black/silver/grey?

[Donny_1962]

HI, Yes there is a nice lacquer "when clean" just been outside and took a couple, cleanish. Mainly to show the diff with my wife's mini with black gloss alloys.

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by siross

Not sure whether it's helpful but these are my ferric grey alloys on my Melbourne Red F31.

Not sure whether they're powder coated as I bought them like this:





Simon

Si. Can you post a close-up of one of your wheels, specifically of spoke & rim ?

Thanks.

[siross]

I'm at work but can do it when I get to the car park if the app lets me. They're not clean though...

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by siross

I'm at work but can do it when I get to the car park if the app lets me. They're not clean though...

No probs, and thanks.

[dobbo99]

Black chrome or smoked chrome is what you want! Not bright silver, but not anthracite either.

Have a look here on the lepson site http://www.lepsons.com/photo-gallery/ for some examples.

theres a place in NW London called FAWheels, and they do an exchange service, you give them your wheels plus cash, and they give you some genuine wheels that have been refurbished properly.

[teaston]

Ferric Grey all day long!

I'm tempted to get my winter 400M's done in ferric as the silver does look a bit pants.

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by dobbo99

Black chrome or smoked chrome is what you want! Not bright silver, but not anthracite either.

Have a look here on the lepson site http://www.lepsons.com/photo-gallery/ for some examples.

theres a place in NW London called FAWheels, and they do an exchange service, you give them your wheels plus cash, and they give you some genuine wheels that have been refurbished properly.

Thanks dobbo - I'll take a look.

[335d Touring Xdrive]

Shadow chrome looks nice. Sorry I don't have any pictures though.

[siross]

Hi mate, sorry for late reply I completely forgot.

See if this works from the mobile site...

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by siross

Hi mate, sorry for late reply I completely forgot.

See if this works from the mobile site...

Thanks.

Ferric grey is the factory colour on 403s. I think I'll stick with that, but obviously without diamond cut spokes this time.

[DexGC]

I've been thinking about doing my 403s with the Orbit grey from the 442s and diamond cutting them, but not been able to find any pics of anyone who's done it.

Orbit grey without diamond cutting might look good. I had Ferric wheels on my e91 and sometimes thought they could have been a little bit darker grey

[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by teaston

Ferric Grey all day long!

I'm tempted to get my winter 400M's done in ferric as the silver does look a bit pants.

I agree. I actually prefer the 5 spoke style of my 441M winters over my summer 403M's. However, the silver finish just looks dated.

BMW are switching them to TPMS valves as part of my new car deal. I wonder how much refinishing would cost?...

[F15CCT]

This was my old Leon Cupra r in shadow chrome. Going to get my 403s done the same when white worm sets in. Had them done in a place lap tap in Birmingham who did a day turn around service.

[robwils]

Most of the photos show grey wheels with other body colours and look good.
IMO, wheels look good when it's a contrast (although black / black does look stealth).

OP has mineral grey (as I do) so may be a bit trickier.
There was a thread on main forum showing mineral grey cars , might be worth checking out ? I'll see if I can find it.


I'm going to the local wheel specialist next week with my spare 442s to see what they can do.

Rob