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I have a white '13 F-Sport & i'm getting the wheels (currently chrome ) powder coated next week either in gunmetal, anthracite, or hyper black.
I'm leaning more towards the gunmetal & anthracite(both in semi gloss), as I feel it will compliment the grayish F Sport badges.
I'll def post pics up on this thread when they're done
I like the chrome actually but only because we have so many chrome accents on the car as it is. Like the window surround, grill surround, lower door moulding etc. If there wasn't any chrome I'd agree but I think with the thin spoked wheels it actually matches.
I like the chrome actually but only because we have so many chrome accents on the car as it is. Like the window surround, grill surround, lower door moulding etc. If there wasn't any chrome I'd agree but I think with the thin spoked wheels it actually matches.
Agreed! It def flows well with the chrome accents, however, IMPO there's too much "blingy" chrome on our cars. That said, I'll prob get all chrome accents (except front grill bcuz that's the only chrome trim that I like) wrapped in vinyl.
I've been modding cars for roughly 17 yrs, & chrome never appealed to me, but to each his own.
That would be awesome if you were closer to me. I would save $500!!!!
I agree with getting all the chrome wrapped. Would love my car totally blacked out. Who does that and do they have to pull the chrome off to do it ? I hate folks taking apart my car. They never seem to go back together the same!
I wouldn't black out my car personally. I think it would make it look like a narc from the impound. I like the subtle classy touched Lexus has made. That's black of course. With any other color I think you'd be able to create a different effect. I've seen blacked out S classes drive by and wondered "is that a Chrysler?!?". Of course to each their own.
I agree with getting all the chrome wrapped. Would love my car totally blacked out. Who does that and do they have to pull the chrome off to do it ? I hate folks taking apart my car. They never seem to go back together the same!
Are you located in SoCal? If so, there's a guy named Don Nguyen (google "Don Nguyen Vinyl") who works out of Anaheim Hills that does vinyl work for all types of high end cars: MBZ, BMW, Lexus, etc. I was quoted about $250 to get the roof wrapped in 3M black glossy vinyl. Damn cheap considering I was quoted upwards to $700 in my local area (Palm Springs) for the same type of vinyl.
I've emailed him a couple times, and he's prompt on replying.
Oh yeah, After hours & days of searching for colors for my wheels, I think I'm set on Tiger Drylac Argento 314 Metallic. I have an appointment to get them powder coated next Friday!!
Are you located in SoCal? If so, there's a guy named Don Nguyen (google "Don Nguyen Vinyl") who works out of Anaheim Hills that does vinyl work for all types of high end cars: MBZ, BMW, Lexus, etc. I was quoted about $250 to get the roof wrapped in 3M black glossy vinyl. Damn cheap considering I was quoted upwards to $700 in my local area (Palm Springs) for the same type of vinyl.
I've emailed him a couple times, and he's prompt on replying.
Oh yeah, After hours & days of searching for colors for my wheels, I think I'm set on Tiger Drylac Argento 314 Metallic. I have an appointment to get them powder coated next Friday!!
I am and i will google him and check it out! Thanks for the tip. i am about an hour from Anaheim hills.
After. Not too happy with the results. The finish was supposed to be black chrome, but it's not even close! At night & in the shade, it's a gloss black. In direct sunlight, it's freakin purple! Wheels came out completely opposite of the display sample they had at the shop. Luckily, I have multiple bubbles & imperfections on all wheels, so they're going to redo under warranty.
I've been researching a lot about HYPER finishes and PVD "Black Chrome" falls under that category from what I've read. All variations of the same theme.
Hyper Black is typically a gloss-black base coat then finished with a hyper bright, glossy silver spray. Variations of this depends on the base-coat color. It can be a lighter or darker base coat finished with a hyper silver top coat. It is a multi-stage process that takes time. Three coats typically, base coat, hyper coat and clear coat.
Did they do the same for your wheels categorized as "Black Chrome?" What color base coat and hyper coat did they use? You should ask them.
If you are after that blacked-out look, I would just go straight gloss black. If you are after that OEM darker silver look ("Hyper Black"), I would suggest the type of finishes suggested in the E46 forum. Also, brushed titanium, brushed dark clear are darker/silver finishes that look nice. Go to HRE's website and gallery section and in the pull-down menu are color examples.
They explained "their" version of black chrome having a chrome base coat & a smoke top coat. 2 step process having to go in oven after each coat.
The sample they had, resembled a typical black chrome finish that was darker at night & had a gunmetal finish in direct sunlight.
I'm changing the color when I get them redone. Thinking of an anthracite with a gloss finish, similar to the Fsport badges. I'm open to suggestions for color options too.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing: PVD Chrome base with a "smoke" top.
You ever think about going gloss-black base with a hyper silver finish?
Go here: I think HRE's finishes are some of the best. I personally really like their brushed tinted clear, brushed dark clear and my favorite, brushed titanium, although I have no idea how those finishes are done. I don't believe any of those are multi-stage, although they might be.
Also, those BBS rims that I like are hyper black. Gloss black base with a hyper silver finish or top coat, then clear coat.
Here is another example of a "black chrome." To me, at least from the photos, it looks very similar to the hyper black. No idea if this one is a chrome base. Seems more of a dark base with a hyper silver or even chrome top coat. The complete opposite.
Here is another example of a "black chrome." To me, at least from the photos, it looks very similar to the hyper black. No idea if this one is a chrome base. Seems more of a dark base with a hyper silver or even chrome top coat. The complete opposite.
This isn't what we're talking about when we're talking about PVD black chrome. PVD wheels have a chrome finish, not a painted finish.
This is a bright chrome PVD finish:
And a black chrome PVD finish:
PVD is a powder coated finish, but its a chrome look finish not a painted finish.
01-25-16, 10:38 PM
) powder coated next week either in gunmetal, anthracite, or hyper black. 
