*Update with Before/After Pictures* Matching Center Caps with Refinished Alloy Wheels
03-24-12, 08:10 AM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NC
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
*Update with Before/After Pictures* Matching Center Caps with Refinished Alloy Wheels
Hi everyone!
I have been reading these forums for a while before I bought my IS and have used these message boards as a resource since I purchased my car to better understand the vehicle and find answers to questions about my 2007 IS 350.
However, using the search function, I haven't been able to figure this out:
I want to get my wheels refinished due to some curb rash from the prior owner (which happened to be a boy
). I spoke with the alloy specialists about getting the wheels repainted with a gunmetal finish since I liked the darker color over the standard alloy. They said no problem and I picked which shade I liked from some samples, but after they took a look at the wheels, they noticed the centercaps have a chrome Lexus logo on them and they wouldn't be able to paint these to match the rest of the wheel. We talked about different options but the bottom line is the paint won't adhere properly to these centercaps but that I could perhaps buy a different style of centercaps without the chrome finish that they could repaint the same as the rest of the wheel.
Basically, I'm wondering if anyone has had their factory alloy wheels refinished a darker color and if so, how they dealt with the centercaps and got them to match. Do I need to buy replacement caps and if so, where can I get ones without the chrome logo that can be repainted to match the rest of the wheel?
Thanks for any suggestions! Hopefully you guys don't mind the long post and have some ideas or similar experiences/recommendations you can share!
I have been reading these forums for a while before I bought my IS and have used these message boards as a resource since I purchased my car to better understand the vehicle and find answers to questions about my 2007 IS 350.
However, using the search function, I haven't been able to figure this out:
I want to get my wheels refinished due to some curb rash from the prior owner (which happened to be a boy
). I spoke with the alloy specialists about getting the wheels repainted with a gunmetal finish since I liked the darker color over the standard alloy. They said no problem and I picked which shade I liked from some samples, but after they took a look at the wheels, they noticed the centercaps have a chrome Lexus logo on them and they wouldn't be able to paint these to match the rest of the wheel. We talked about different options but the bottom line is the paint won't adhere properly to these centercaps but that I could perhaps buy a different style of centercaps without the chrome finish that they could repaint the same as the rest of the wheel. Basically, I'm wondering if anyone has had their factory alloy wheels refinished a darker color and if so, how they dealt with the centercaps and got them to match. Do I need to buy replacement caps and if so, where can I get ones without the chrome logo that can be repainted to match the rest of the wheel?
Thanks for any suggestions! Hopefully you guys don't mind the long post and have some ideas or similar experiences/recommendations you can share!
Last edited by Lexie350; 04-05-12 at 05:49 PM. Reason: Edited thread title
03-24-12, 08:36 AM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NC
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Those do look good with the darker wheels Jeff. I'd prefer not to get rid of the chrome logo centercaps, but unfortunately the alloy specialists said they won't be able to paint them while keeping the logo untouched. Apparently if they did paint the entire caps the same as the rest of the wheel, the paint wouldn't adhere properly and would look like rubbish...
So I guess I'm left with the options of them not painting the wheels darker, finding centercaps without the chrome logo that they can paint, or the third option you suggested of buying black caps to match better.
So I guess I'm left with the options of them not painting the wheels darker, finding centercaps without the chrome logo that they can paint, or the third option you suggested of buying black caps to match better.
04-05-12, 05:15 PM
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NC
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi again everyone!
Got the wheels done this week and wanted to follow up to post some "before" and "after" pics. The photos are from my camera phone so they're not the best quality/a little shaky.
Anyway, I ended up getting black center caps (thanks Jeff!
) which I think go pretty well with the gunmetal/liquid graphite color. The guys who repaired the curb rash and repainted the wheels did a great job and used what they referred to as a "hypersilver" similar to the ISF wheels instead of a more standard gunmetal finish. The guys mentioned that they've redone/touched up ISF wheels in the past and used the same paint mix for these -- not sure it's exact (it's my understanding that it's almost impossible to match), but looks close enough for me!
Let me know what you think!
Before Front Side
After Front Side
Before Back Right
After Back Right
Before Front Right
After Front Right
Before Side
After Side
P.S. Next project is the brake calipers!
Got the wheels done this week and wanted to follow up to post some "before" and "after" pics. The photos are from my camera phone so they're not the best quality/a little shaky.
Anyway, I ended up getting black center caps (thanks Jeff!
) which I think go pretty well with the gunmetal/liquid graphite color. The guys who repaired the curb rash and repainted the wheels did a great job and used what they referred to as a "hypersilver" similar to the ISF wheels instead of a more standard gunmetal finish. The guys mentioned that they've redone/touched up ISF wheels in the past and used the same paint mix for these -- not sure it's exact (it's my understanding that it's almost impossible to match), but looks close enough for me!Let me know what you think!
Before Front Side
After Front Side
Before Back Right
After Back Right
Before Front Right
After Front Right
Before Side
After Side
P.S. Next project is the brake calipers!
Last edited by Lexie350; 04-06-12 at 04:51 AM. Reason: Added captions
