Painting Rims

[gurneyeagle]

Okay, okay, before anyone goes ballistic and starts the "do a search" replies, I'm looking for something different here.

For all the guys that DIY'd their rims, how long ago did you paint your rims and how well are they holding up?

It seems the going rate for a pro paint job looks to start at around $200 a rim in Houston (includes dismounting, re-mounting/balance). From the threads I've read, it looks like a few sheets a sandpaper, some good self-etching primer, and a couple cans of Duplicolor - paint and clear.

If I do it myself, I know I can do it for less than $100. The big question is - How will it hold up?

Happy Holidays to all and Best Wishes for a great New Year!

Mike

[TXSpeedDemon]

I did mine 2 years ago this month. They are holding up great. I have 1 dime sized chip in one and one tiny chip in another. Other that that they still are perfect. I'll be touching up mine after I get new tires in the spring. Have put about 12K miles on them.

I ended up spending way more than $100 total, but less than the $800 you've been quoted. When all said and done I think I spent around $300-400. My photo album about the painting process may have a final cost.

A few pointers if you do this:
I used both wheel paint (white) and Engine paint (black). The black paint has not chipped at all. Engine paint has a bit of a more rubberized feel and I think holds up better to rocks and road debris. The wheel paint is harder and chips easier.

Do multiple coats. A lot. I'm pretty sure that's why mine has held up so well. If I remember correctly I have like 3-5 coats of primer, 5-6 coats of each color paint, and 3-5 coats of clear coat.

If you plan to do this now you'll want a heat gun for sure. The curing process in our current temps will take FOREVER. Seriously you'll only get about halfway through one wheel with multiple coats each day. So have a set of backup wheels or another car to drive for the weekend. Keep your heat gun below 300 degrees or you will yellow the clear coat. It will come out clear, but with a yellowish tint to it affecting your end color. Keeping it under 300 degrees will take a bit more time, but it will dry evenly and without any coloring/hazing. Without a heat gun you'll have to put on REALLY light coats or you will get drips and wrinkles in your clear coat. I have about 2-3 of these that you can see from 2 inches away, but any further you can't tell since they are so small. With the heat gun your drying time between coats goes from about 2 hours to only about 15-30 minutes.

Do worry if the paint seems a bit hazy or flat. The clear coat will do wonders to increase the visual depth and bring out the shine. I wasn't too happy with my "gloss" black until after I put the clear coat on it.

If you are planning on doing just one color I would say go for it. One color is super easy and wouldn't take longer than 1 weekend to do all four wheels including clean, sanding, prime, paint and clear. Going two colors is a lot harder to get clean lines. I had to hand paint all the edges of mine to get straight lines the way I wanted them.

All in all I say go for. I get compliments on mine from everyone who sees them in person. Just last week I was walking into Petsmart as 3 guys in their 20s were walking out and overheard them say "Check out that Z over there. Those wheels are SICK!!!" Feels good getting compliments on them and being able to tell them with pride you did the work yourself.

[toxik]

2011 Gun Metallic Touring 7AT w Sports Pkg & Nav, BAKER TUNING, Nismo Bumper, Tanabe Springs, H&R Spacers, Painted Hdls, GTR Start Button, Nav By-Pass, EVO R Fog Light

I think you can afford to powdercoat wheels... do it right once and from the begining, don't cheap out your car.

[vividracing]

I wouldn't pay anyone to paint wheels. Waste of money. I'd be willing to pay for powdercoating, though.

SpeedDemon gave some good advice, especially with the temperature part of his post. I'd wait until it's warmer out to paint anything, if possible.

[gurneyeagle]

Originally Posted by toxik

2011 Gun Metallic Touring 7AT w Sports Pkg & Nav, BAKER TUNING, Nismo Bumper, Tanabe Springs, H&R Spacers, Painted Hdls, GTR Start Button, Nav By-Pass, EVO R Fog Light

I think you can afford to powdercoat wheels... do it right once and from the begining, don't cheap out your car.

Thanks Tox - Point taken. It's not so much the money as the inconvenience of being without wheels, hauling them to and from a painter. One quote I got was $350 a wheel.

I've heard several people recommend not powdercoating because of the difficulty of fixing chips. Also, the color choices seem more limited for powdercoating.

I'm interested in painting the rims Nissan code K11 which supposedly approximates the GT-R wheels and lower trim.

I'm definitely going to check in to powdercoating, but don't mind a project either. I like to paint, and have been successful with rattle cans in the past. I've never painted rims and am curious as to how well the DIY jobs last.

Great points made by all and your responses are greatly appreciated!

[370guy]

Painted my sport wheels. Sanded each one down bare, primed (2 coats) painted with dupli color wheel paint (3 coats) and cleared them (2 more coats). Since then I've had the tires replaced and brakes replaced at separate times and it's holding up great. Also one word of advice, if it does chip buy some universal black touch up paint (matches the duplicolor well). Cost me about 80 bucks total.

[nmjaxx9]

Its been 5 months since i have painted my wheels and no chipping and/or issues.