[ronime]

Anyone had a 400M wheel refurbed and been entirely happy with the colour match?

I had the N/S front wheel refurbed yesterday by the BMW dealer and it is a poor match to original factory finish on the rear wheel; looks too light a shade of silver, less depth of gloss and less evident metal flake/pop.

They don't appear to have been over-generous with the clearcoat (it is quite "dry" in places, especially between the spokes) so I wondered if it might simply a case of not having the same depth of clearcoat as the original factory finish to darken the perceived shade of silver and lack of surface refinement to allow the flake to pop.

I bowled back down to the dealership this morning to discuss the issue with them.

The lad who fronts the bodyshop operations didn't seem to appreciate the way in which depth of clearcoat affects the perceived colour tone (especially on silvers). He thought that the colour match was just about spot-on as well.

The BMW parts catalogue listing for 400M wheels includes "Dekor Silver 2" in the description. The paint code for Dekor Silver 2 is B20, I have a small amount of this paint mixed from the B20 formula for minor scratch/scuff repairs and it is a reasonable match to the original factory finish.

The lad at the dealership claimed that they use Felgen Silver (paint code 144) to refinish all silver wheels and was adamant that B20 did not exist until I showed him the genuine BMW paint for sale on the internet.

Does anyone know if Felgen Silver (144) and Dekor Silver 2 (B20) are one and the same? I know that VAG sometimes use different names for paint colours across their various brands but at least the paint code is consistent.

[Mr Whippy]

Do BMW really strip/wet paint alloys?

I though most did powder coating as it's cheap and quick.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

Do BMW really strip/wet paint alloys?

I though most did powder coating as it's cheap and quick.

Powder coating isn’t done because it’s cheap and quick, it is done because it’s far more durable than spray paint.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

Do BMW really strip/wet paint alloys?

I though most did powder coating as it's cheap and quick.

Repaired via wheel and tyre insurance claim so grind and paint with minimum amount of chargeable labour time spent.

[Mr Whippy]

Originally Posted by teaston

Powder coating isn’t done because it’s cheap and quick, it is done because it’s far more durable than spray paint.

So why do oem do wet paint and still look fine at 20yrs old if looked after?

[Mr Whippy]

Originally Posted by ronime

Repaired via wheel and tyre insurance claim so grind and paint with minimum amount of chargeable labour time spent.

Minimum time, labour and paint expense, so using a generic paint?

Body shops charge a fortune for paint as a base cost, so I doubt the wheel repairers will use exact code for a tiny job?

[JLR1969]

Powder coat is hugely better than just painting them, I would say that no BMW dealer will be able to powder coat in house so they will always send wheels away that need powder coating

Most dealers will repair alloys with a local repair to the damaged area only.

I have seen the type of job a BMW bodyshop is capable of when repairing wheels so now I take them to be powder coated properly.

This is the proper process for a superior finish

http://platinumalloys.com/our-services/the-process/

[Mr Whippy]

So why don't BMW powder at factory if it's cheaper and better?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

So why don't BMW powder at factory if it's cheaper and better?

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

So why do oem do wet paint and still look fine at 20yrs old if looked after?

BMW don't make wheels, they are outsourced to wheel manufacturing companies, who do always powder coat the wheels as far as I'm aware.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

Minimum time, labour and paint expense, so using a generic paint?

Body shops charge a fortune for paint as a base cost, so I doubt the wheel repairers will use exact code for a tiny job?

I suspect that you are not too wide of the mark with this.

I found this thread that suggests that Felgen Silver (144) hasn't been used by BMW as a factory finish silver on standard equipment wheels since 2006. Some digging around SMART repair suppliers websites suggests that this is the only BMW silver that is available as a SMART repair paint formulation though ...

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ronime

I suspect that you are not too wide of the mark with this.

I found this thread that suggests that Felgen Silver (144) hasn't been used by BMW as a factory finish silver on standard equipment wheels since 2006. Some digging around SMART repair suppliers websites suggests that this is the only BMW silver that is available as a SMART repair paint formulation though ...

Good find! I've just ordered some cheap A44 touch up paint for my 400M's, so I guess I'll find out if it matches when I get time to try it!

[ronime]

Originally Posted by teaston

Good find! I've just ordered some cheap A44 touch up paint for my 400M's, so I guess I'll find out if it matches when I get time to try it!

As mentioned earlier, I sourced some B20 from an eBay seller in Norn Iron and it is a close enough match for me to the original factory finish on my 400Ms. Keep us posted on how the A44 works out.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ronime

As mentioned earlier, I sourced some B20 from an eBay seller in Norn Iron and it is a close enough match for me to the original factory finish on my 400Ms. Keep us posted on how the A44 works out.

I hadn’t seen that, can you post a link for the B20 you bought please.

[Mr Whippy]

Originally Posted by teaston

BMW don't make wheels, they are outsourced to wheel manufacturing companies, who do always powder coat the wheels as far as I'm aware.

I've always noted powder coated wheels delaminate when chipped, while original finishes react like bodywork paint.

Also original wheels the paint is thin around the hub mating and high tolerance surfaces and tapers/fades as if sprayed thinly.
Powder needs masking instead, with a sharp pronounced edge.
Powder always seems lumpy 'orange peeled', while originals seem much flatter and smoother.

I'm not convinced the powder coating is what oem do, or if it is, the ones you pay for at places like the wheel specialist is far inferior.

I had my Z4 wheels done by wheel specialists 8 years ago and they're knackered looking now.
Over those same years my wife's older car that was looked after less well with original wheels, looked very good still.

Maybe I've had a bad experience but powder is imo cheap and nasty.

Apparently Lepsons are very good and show some good results, but until you try and see if you get mirror like lacquer and 10 years of looking ok with decent wheel care, is another matter!

[ronime]

Originally Posted by teaston

I hadn’t seen that, can you post a link for the B20 you bought please.

Sure: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201338439056

Or direct via: http://autocolourz.co.uk/bmw-touch-u...ries-268-p.asp

Or if you are feeling flush: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172372522501

Can't comment on the genuine BMW B20 but I have the EB II version and I'm not all that impressed. Admittedly I have only used it on a couple of tiny stonechips on the bonnet edge, it might be better on a slightly larger area but I hope I never have to find out.

The autocolourz paint has clearcoat "built in" for want of a better description but in practice works out better than it sounds. I use it with an 00 or 000 modellers paint brush dipped in cellulose thinners first and apply several thinned layers of paint to build up the coverage. My specs prescription is no good for near work so I use a 10x jewellers loupe for accuracy.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by teaston

BMW don't make wheels, they are outsourced to wheel manufacturing companies

Plastic bumpers are supplied to the factory pre-painted as well, which is why they are typically a piss-poor match to the manufacturer's painted bodies.

Audi used to be the worst offender (especially silvers and lighter coloured metallics) but BMW seem to be wearing that crown now.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

I've always noted powder coated wheels delaminate when chipped, while original finishes react like bodywork paint.

Also original wheels the paint is thin around the hub mating and high tolerance surfaces and tapers/fades as if sprayed thinly.
Powder needs masking instead, with a sharp pronounced edge.
Powder always seems lumpy 'orange peeled', while originals seem much flatter and smoother.

I'm not convinced the powder coating is what oem do, or if it is, the ones you pay for at places like the wheel specialist is far inferior.

I had my Z4 wheels done by wheel specialists 8 years ago and they're knackered looking now.
Over those same years my wife's older car that was looked after less well with original wheels, looked very good still.

Maybe I've had a bad experience but powder is imo cheap and nasty.

+1. I'm pretty sure OE wheels are wet finished.

A moderate powder coat on a well prepared bare metal casting can look more than acceptable but there is often a temptation to apply a very heavy coating to mask kerb damage and other imperfections in the metal as filler is not really an option under polyester powder coat. Then it flakes off quite badly when the coating is chipped or otherwise compromised.

I had a powder coated set of A4/Exeo winter wheels on my Leon; they looked great but the powder coat was that thick that the fitter really struggled to get the tyre beads seated on the rims and they were a ridiculously tight fit on the hub spigots.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ronime

As mentioned earlier, I sourced some B20 from an eBay seller in Norn Iron and it is a close enough match for me to the original factory finish on my 400Ms. Keep us posted on how the A44 works out.

I tried the A44, it is noticeably too light so I have ordered some of the cheap B20 from the links above.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by teaston

I tried the A44, it is noticeably too light

Welcome to my world! Hopefully the B20 is more acceptable.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ronime

Welcome to my world! Hopefully the B20 is more acceptable.

I just started to refurb my Winter 400M's, B20 Decor Silver looks to be a perfect match!

[JD6]

I have bought brand new (delivery mile) 400Ms for £75 per wheel from BMW dealers to use as winter wheels. There are a surplus of these wheels due to people wanting larger sizes or M Performance wheels, so I would probably just ask a few local dealers rather than bothering to refurb.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by JD6

I have bought brand new (delivery mile) 400Ms for £75 per wheel from BMW dealers to use as winter wheels. There are a surplus of these wheels due to people wanting larger sizes or M Performance wheels, so I would probably just ask a few local dealers rather than bothering to refurb.

Is that including tyres or tpms valves?