New Wheels - Need Paint Opinion

**Lorenz** · 20-07-2008, 10:46 PM

Ok so I bought a set of AutoStrada Modena's a few weeks ago and have spent some time cleaning them up and getting them repaired due to some nasty dents and flat spots on the wheels!
Finally got some tyres for them (only temporary) and test fitted one to the car (cant do them all due to some are missing the valve stems

)

Now I want to see what you guys think, do I leave the centres silver or paint them black? Here's a quick photoshop to represent what I mean

Silver:

Black:

**Jarred** · 20-07-2008, 10:49 PM

I vote silver. I'm a fan of silver wheels really.

Maybe even polish the lips and/or the edge of the spokes..??

**Golf Houso** · 20-07-2008, 10:51 PM

black centres look fantastic, just make sure the lip is as bright and polished as possible. Those are some fantastic rims I must say

**Preen59** · 20-07-2008, 10:52 PM

Black with polished lips and edged spokes.

**Lorenz** · 20-07-2008, 11:01 PM

The lips are polished, but you cant tell in the pics as they are ****ty phone pics!

Now if I was to go black, do I paint the centres like I have in the pic, or paint the whole centre (ie around the nuts aswell) and leave just the lip and nuts polished? Working out how Im going to paint them (do I pull them apart to paint them or mask them off or what?!!!)

Have to weigh up costs of painting them, and decide if I do it myself or send them off to get done (pending price of course!)

Decisons, decisions.......

**Golf Houso** · 20-07-2008, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Lorenz

The lips are polished, but you cant tell in the pics as they are ****ty phone pics!

Now if I was to go black, do I paint the centres like I have in the pic, or paint the whole centre (ie around the nuts aswell) and leave just the lip and nuts polished? Working out how Im going to paint them (do I pull them apart to paint them or mask them off or what?!!!)

Have to weigh up costs of painting them, and decide if I do it myself or send them off to get done (pending price of course!)

Decisons, decisions.......

I reckon just tape the lip up very carefully and paint the rim as your picture describes. You could just spraybomb them, generic primer, good old PK0080 gloss black paint and a can of clear and you should be able to do all 4 rims for around $60 all up in paint. It'll probably cost that much just to do the one rim at the panel beater, and thats with little or no prep work.

See how you go, ask around and find out what your options are.

**Jarred** · 20-07-2008, 11:11 PM

shouldn't be too hard to mask up and spray with a rattle can. you're pretty DIY, seems the obvious choice to me..

and In the end if it turns out bad, you've only spent 10-15 bucks, and can still go off and get them painted..

**Preen59** · 20-07-2008, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Lorenz

The lips are polished, but you cant tell in the pics as they are ****ty phone pics!

Now if I was to go black, do I paint the centres like I have in the pic, or paint the whole centre (ie around the nuts aswell) and leave just the lip and nuts polished? Working out how Im going to paint them (do I pull them apart to paint them or mask them off or what?!!!)

Have to weigh up costs of painting them, and decide if I do it myself or send them off to get done (pending price of course!)

Decisons, decisions.......

Good etch primer and good pressure pack paint will be fine. Auto1 sells good pressure pack paints. I use them all the time!

**Lorenz** · 20-07-2008, 11:18 PM

Hmmm maybe I will go painting them myself a go then. Painted a fair few things before and getting good with the old pressure pack cans now days haha!
Seems I can fit thin cardboard between the edge of the centre part and the outer nuts which will make masking them up easier and prevent overspray, so that might be the way to go. Will get some quotes this week

Still keen on more opinions though and ideas!