how do u restore stainless steel-like shine on alloy rims? - United Bimmer Community

**320de46m47** · 11-02-2008, 04:01 PM

Before putting it all back together I want to tidy up the rims. They are polished brushed alluminium with clearcoat. Colour is stainless steel- like.
I have sanded out the scratches and areas where the clearcoat had lifted being careful to follow the grain and maintain the brushed finish.
problem is now the sanded areas are duller after clearcoat.
how do you restore the same steel-like shine? is it a certain type of clear coat i need?

**320de46m47** · 11-04-2008, 05:18 PM

boing

**blewfuzz** · 11-07-2008, 08:12 PM

320de46m47 i've got the same rims as you. Mine need some restoring. Exactly what did you do with your rims and what materials did you use?

**320de46m47** · 11-08-2008, 02:43 AM

have you separated the centres without snapping any bolts? if you snap bolts youll need a machine shop to drill them out and insert M7 hellicoils. i paid 10 euros for every one snapped. i think mine had been overtightened in the past and possibly paint had also entered the holes! (so be sure to tape them over when redoing).

on the rim edge i used a drill with a plastic sanding disc to remove all the old clearcoat (paintstripper might have been an easier option but i wasn't sure it wouldn't stain the alloy). then coarse emery cloth on the outer edge for an hour or two per wheel keeping your hand following the direction of the circle always. the final finish is identical to the original but slightly duller but hey.

i didn't do anything with the centres as they are fine.

BBS USA confirmed torque bolts to 18 ft lbs (24 NM) and use blue loctite.

**blewfuzz** · 11-08-2008, 03:59 PM

if i risk snapping bolts then forget separating them. The clear cote is coming off on the lip of my rims and the center pieces are pitted pretty bad. no curb rash though. Any way to just clean the rims up, take off the clear coat and then respray fresh clear on them?

**320de46m47** · 11-09-2008, 12:32 PM

rim edge isnt fully accessible without centres removed. and centre isnt fully accessible without rim removed.

i think my case was unusual ... just put a medium pressure on xzn the bolts ..if they move youll be fine especially if it hasnt been messed around with in the past like mine had

as a compromise you could sand a uniform strip ie just the edge facing out leaving a line where old clearcoat meets new

but if they are completely as they were when leaving factory i think youll have no issues with snapping bolts

**vermontrican** · 03-09-2009, 02:28 AM

Is a product call "Mothers" use for rims and bring that shiny luster once again. Good Luck