About Fuchs wheels

sylvesterthekat · 10-16-2012, 06:35 PM

hi folks

i'm new here so be gentle. i have a 1989 carrera cabriolet with (i believe) original fuchs wheels. they're in bad shape with peeling chrome everywhere. i'm not sure why but they have chrome on the rims as well as the raised center areas, possibly because they were rechromed at some earlier date before i owned it (car supposedly went thru a sand storm). i've had the car 13 years and they've gradually been getting worse over time.

anyway, today i went to a wheel refinishing place to enquire about having them rechromed. they said that they can do the entire wheel (after sand blasting them) but that the areas that are currently painted midnight blue (to match the bodywork) would also then be chrome. the other option, if i understood him correctly, is to entirely powder coat them black so no chrome or metal anywhere (unlike original fuchs which seem to be polished steel on the rim and black in the middle). he said that painting the currently midnight blue areas would not be possible with the chroming option.

so, i then wondered if buying a set of 'new' or aftermarket wheels would be a better choice and there are some on ebay for about 1200 for the set (they look like the originals). but now i'm not sure what size my original wheels are. how do i measure them or is there a code number somewhere on them? i can't remove them so my only means of doing it would be the old fashioned way with a tape measure. assuming they're original, what would the size be?

thanks for any input, including anything you might have to say about the options presented to me and if any of you know of somewhere in the los angeles area that can do the wheels like the originals i'd love to know where!

bill romero · 10-16-2012, 06:54 PM

My opinion... If you like shiny, remove all the chrome, have them polish & paint with a clear powder coat over everything... Remember it's your car for you to enjoy.. Good luck...

scotricker · 10-16-2012, 07:19 PM

Hi,
Can you post pictures of your wheels? Most of us here could probably identify them, and help with evaluation of their condition. The numbers on the tires will also be a clue of their size. I am sensitive to your situation, because I too, am working on different wheel choices..

canamfan · canamfan's Garage

It's just my opinion, but if your existing Fuchs are 7" & 8" they're worth keeping & I would prep them for polishing (versus chroming) a much more natural way of finishing, though I would give myself the option of either high polished lips &/or painted centers/pedals body colour or satin black

(this combo really POPS)

. & it might even be a little more cost effective compared to a complete polish. The polsihed look is a more durable/liveable finish (though some light cleaning maintenace is required once in a while). Again just my opinion, but I beleive Fuchs are ever increasingly holding in they're value (especially the larger sizes) & tires are usually available there's even a resurgence in being available now (new) 17" to 19" for newer porsches from the original manufacturer, but most of all I think they really finish the 911 look.

JMHO

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Did any Fuchs supplied by Porsche ever have Chrome plating? I was not aware of any, although I have seen replica Fuchs that have "Chrome" plating.
I think the fist step here is to look closely at all markings on the inside of the 5 petals, and post some photos. Once it is determined what wheels you have, finishing options will be more relevant.

sylvesterthekat · 10-17-2012, 06:09 AM

I already tried to post a link to a picture but so far that post hasn't been approved by a moderator, despite my having done it shortly after the initial post (?). I'll try again

Are the markings on the back side of the petals? Don't know if I could get a wheel off by myself (i'm just a girl!). I have a feeling these were rechromed as an easy fix after the car was damaged in a sand storm before i owned it.

Hopefully that picture will show up this time and you can see what I'm dealing with and tell me if you think they could be polished up or not.

Thanks

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

All the size & manufacturing info is on the inside of each wheel. Since you can't get them off easily, perhaps tell us what size tires are on the front wheels, and what size is on the rear. On the sidewall of the tires there should be a number like 205/55-VR 16, or maybe 225/60-VR 16. This should help us determine if they could be the original wheels, or not.
You might also try to get by a shop like TRE there in the LA area, and get some expert advise before you get sold on something that you may not really need.

TRE is located at:TRE Motorsports Inc

15854 Strathern Street, Van Nuys, CA
(818) 509-0257
3 Google reviews

DON'T give up, you can do this.

sylvesterthekat · 10-17-2012, 11:37 AM

Well, i went back to the place I visited yesterday and asked about polishing. He got onto his polishing guy who seemed to be very familiar with these wheels and said he can polish them up where they're currently chrome (or not!) and also do the paint like the originals so in theory, they'll come out the way they were originally, no chrome on them anywhere. They said there may be some slight imperfections, as in don't expect them to be absolutely like new, but i think this will be a much nicer outcome than either all black powder coat or all chrome. I'll post a picture when i get them back. I've asked them to tell me the numbers on the insides of the wheels for future reference.

Thanks for your input everyone.

megerian · megerian's Garage

I think thats the ideal approach... if you don't mind me asking, whats the ballpark estimate?

Cairo94507 · Cairo94507's Garage

Those wheels always look best in their stock finish or the RSR finish, depending upon the car. Chrome, IMHO, just does not belong on a P-car.

sylvesterthekat · 10-17-2012, 01:19 PM

Cost is going to be $700 for all four, including storing my car there for two weeks while they do it.

sylvesterthekat · 10-17-2012, 01:30 PM

TRE is located at:TRE Motorsports Inc

15854 Strathern Street, Van Nuys, CA
(818) 509-0257
3 Google reviews

Have you personally used them? I looked them up and reviews are mixed.

WPOZZZ · 10-17-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvesterthekat

Hopefully that picture will show up this time and you can see what I'm dealing with and tell me if you think they could be polished up or not.

Thanks

The Fuchs on my turbo suffered the same fate as your wheels. I took them off and installed some Hartmann rims I had and sent the wheels to the sandblaster to get dechromed. You need to do this to see what you're dealing with. I then sent it out locally to get polished and the guy was encountering lots of pits from the corrosion on the face of the wheel. There was also corrosion at the inner flange of the wheel. So I left the wheels like that a few years ago.

I would contact Harvey Weidman to see what can be done with pits on the face. Perhaps he has a technique to fill and polish or most likely, fill and re-anodize.

sylvesterthekat · 10-17-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

The Fuchs on my turbo suffered the same fate as your wheels. I took them off and installed some Hartmann rims I had and sent the wheels to the sandblaster to get dechromed. You need to do this to see what you're dealing with. I then sent it out locally to get polished and the guy was encountering lots of pits from the corrosion on the face of the wheel. There was also corrosion at the inner flange of the wheel. So I left the wheels like that a few years ago.

Love your handle there lol WPOZZZ.

I guess if your car has always lived close to the ocean in HI you're more likely to have corrosion. I don't think there's any corrosion on my car anywhere, just this pitting on the wheels. We'll see how it turns out, hopefully it'll come out looking good without further intervention needed. If it's 'good enough' I'll be satisfied. They've looked bad for years so anything at this point is going to be a huge improvement!

WPOZZZ · 10-17-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvesterthekat

Love your handle there lol WPOZZZ.

I guess if your car has always lived close to the ocean in HI you're more likely to have corrosion. I don't think there's any corrosion on my car anywhere, just this pitting on the wheels. We'll see how it turns out, hopefully it'll come out looking good without further intervention needed. If it's 'good enough' I'll be satisfied. They've looked bad for years so anything at this point is going to be a huge improvement!

I think my friend that has my wheels called Harvey today. I saw the wheels packed and ready to go at his shop this afternoon. My car didn't have any rust either, but the corrosion on the chrome Fuchs was almost as bad as yours. I even had the center caps sand blasted and they were pitted as well. I have them stored at another house. I'll go there tomorrow and get a pic of it. The pitting on the center caps are really bad!

sylvesterthekat · 10-17-2012, 08:26 PM

My center caps don't seem too bad. The main problem with mine is that they're mismatched. At some point at either the repair shop or a tire place, someone put a 'wrong' center cap on one of my wheels. Grrr! But they're going to sort that out. Are your wheels in LA?

rob911 · rob911's Garage

Does $700 seem resonable over there? Hope the shop does a good strip and inspection as all genuine fuchs are now quite elderly.

here in UK about £400 would get wheels back almost like new. Stripped. blasted, repaired then powder coat & paint finished.
My preference for fuchs is satin black centres with polished rims. Next favourite maybe body coloured centres, then polished petals (early cars only).
Of course its your party - so do what makes you happy!

Ofishbein · Ofishbein's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvesterthekat

TRE is located at:TRE Motorsports Inc

15854 Strathern Street, Van Nuys, CA
(818) 509-0257
3 Google reviews

Have you personally used them? I looked them up and reviews are mixed.

TRE is among the most-respected shops in So Cal for air-cooled Porsches. TLG in No Ho is another. Southern California is an embarrassment of riches for Porsche enthusiasts.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvesterthekat

TRE is located at:TRE Motorsports Inc

15854 Strathern Street, Van Nuys, CA
(818) 509-0257
3 Google reviews

Have you personally used them? I looked them up and reviews are mixed.

I have done business with TRE, know f many that have with good results. Your results may vary, of course.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Pick up a Hot VWs magazine (or do a web search) and look for Mag Masters, no one beats there prices on polishing Fuchs and they can paint the fuchs like what you have. And yes, I have seen some of there work, and was very pleased, even sent one of my picky concours buddy's Fuchs (chromed, 7X15s, but there were spairs for a track car) to have the chrome removed & polished, and even he was happy, plus, very surprised & pleased with the price.. One bit of advise, take pictures front & rear, and all the numbers & date codes on the back of the rims..