Duplicating original finish on 80s BBS wheels

[A930Rocket]

What about making a wooden disc and mount it to the car? Mount the wheel half to the wooden disc, start the car and try to create the pattern you’re looking for.

What could go wrong…?

[G50]

Haha, I thought of that already.
It would be easier than that, wouldn’t need a wooden disc, could just use the bbs centers, and mount them to the car on jack stands, and fire it up.
It would actually work.
And if not, at least I’d get a viral video out of it.

[sms1305]

I have the same wheels and have been thinking about getting them polished but I hadn’t thought about how polishing will actually change the finish. My wheels are in good original condition but one has some curb rash. G50, you have me wondering if I would devalue them by polishing like as shown in the video earlier in this thread? The video shows a really nice outcome but it does seem fundamentally different than original.

How you figured out your course of action, yet?

[ADDvanced]

I mean, I would pay slightly more for machine finished lips because of that stunning rainbow effect. But wheels in good shape will always command a premium.

[sms1305]

I don't know if reflects current consensus on the subject of BBS refinishing, but an old discussion in the Ford thread below indicates that according to BBS the heat cycle associated with powder coating will compromise the integrity of the wheel. Starting to think that living with a bit of curb rash and faded gold color might be the best course of action for my C4. That is, unless someone has a referral suggestion . . .

Thanks!

https://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/threads/refinishing-bbs-wheels-in-original-coating.27382/

[ADDvanced]

Wait..... nobody is suggesting powdercoating the barrels or lips. Faces are usually what gets powdercoated, and the temps of powdercoating aren't really that high. Could also do cerakote as well. Leave the lips polished and seal with a paint sealant to prevent oxidation.

[sms1305]

Oh. I misunderstood. So powder coating the face is ok? Thanks!

[Norm K]

Here's some guys complaining about getting an unwanted rainbow effect on aluminum. I didn't search any further than this one link, but perhaps if you can duplicate their problem it'll help you to solve yours.

https://www.finishing.com/565/81.shtml

_

[Zeke]

Powder coatings are activated and cured at 400ºF. Hardly enough to anneal.

[G50]

Originally Posted by sms1305

I have the same wheels and have been thinking about getting them polished but I hadn’t thought about how polishing will actually change the finish. My wheels are in good original condition but one has some curb rash. G50, you have me wondering if I would devalue them by polishing like as shown in the video earlier in this thread? The video shows a really nice outcome but it does seem fundamentally different than original.

How you figured out your course of action, yet?

I haven’t figured out what to do yet.

As you probably know, RS wheels are pretty popular these days, and “restored” ones bring big dollars ($3500-$6000 or more, depending on size).

But these “restored” ones are almost always just mirror polished lips and usually powder coated centers. Neither of which are original or correct.

So, to me a mint set of original finish RS's wouid be worth a big premium. But it seems like the market in general doesn't care, or even prefers the polished bling.

i myself can't stand it.

so I'm on hold until I can figure it out.

[Zeke]

This has been going on too long. Buy an orphan BBS rim and experiment. I'm sure there's a damaged one destined to be a wall clock. We are not going to solve the problem with a keyboard.

[vonsmog]

I thought I read somewhere that the restored rims are turned on a lathe and use a diamond cutter to get the fine finished edges and then clear coated some way, which duplicates the factory finish.
I have two sets of single piece BBS rims on my two Mercedes W123 cars. One set is RG's which are forged and the other set is RZ's which are pressure cast.

[unclebilly]

You need a shop with an old school tracer lathe. They set it up to trace the profile of the other wheel and take a 0.005” cut to get the finish you want.

[unclebilly]

Oh and those marks may not be from turning, likely these were rolled rims so the grooves are from rolling the lips as opposed to turning on a lathe.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by vonsmog

I thought I read somewhere that the restored rims are turned on a lathe and use a diamond cutter to get the fine finished edges and then clear coated some way, which duplicates the factory finish.
I have two sets of single piece BBS rims on my two Mercedes W123 cars. One set is RG's which are forged and the other set is RZ's which are pressure cast.

Those are such smart cars.