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      01-23-2011, 07:28 PM   #1
mpower03
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Talking New wheels VT996 custom powdercoated

First off, I would like to thank Vortex Tuning and Kelvin at Vortex Tuning for their remarkable customer service. They were excellent, helpful, persistant through this whole process. I bought a set off wheels used off their track car from them. As with most used wheels there are flaws with them, and Vortex Tuning pointed them out to me before i made my purchase. They had offered to use and outside shop custom paint the wheels for me at an additional cost. I agreed with them and paid them. About five days later the wheels arrived back at Vortex Tuning leaving the unsatisfied with the job the outside shop provided. At their expense they had the wheels repainted. Same thing happened again. Vortex tuning was very upset with this shop, and had offered me many options like a different set of new wheels at a remarkably low price, but i still wanted these wheels custom painted. They told me they were going to have a different shop redo them, and at their expense. About one 4 days later i get an email saying that the wheels arrived back from being POWDERCOATED and they look absolutely flawless! I was excited, wheels were shipped out within the hour of them arriving and they were on the way to my house finally. This delay was not caused by Vortex Tuning, and they did everything in the power to provide what i wanted to the highest standards. Vortex Tuning really delivered! Thank you Vortex, and thank you Kelvin!

I would like to note: The wheels came with BMW center caps, but when they arrived i painted them black and clear coated them my self at home. Car in the background on a couple of them is my friends 2006 Mini Cooper S. Also, pictures were taken with two cameras.

Now off to pictures!











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      01-23-2011, 07:51 PM   #2
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      01-23-2011, 07:54 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diokaef View Post
Me like it
Thanks, I really want to drop the car. but i may need to wait a little while
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      01-23-2011, 08:26 PM   #4
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Very track oriented look! BTW, how's your radio reception w/ that stubby radio antenna?
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      01-23-2011, 08:31 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by esqu1re View Post
Very track oriented look! BTW, how's your radio reception w/ that stubby radio antenna?
Thanks! That is exactly the look i am going for! It wasn't effected at all. And i accidentaly broke it about 6 months ago. I hit it pretty hard with my elbow and i broked pretty much down to the base, so i put a plastic plug in the top to cover the hole it made and i worked to my advantage. It was smaller and reception wasn't loss!
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      01-23-2011, 10:20 PM   #6
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TE/LE style ftmfw
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      01-24-2011, 12:28 AM   #7
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looks great
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      01-24-2011, 02:11 AM   #8
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      01-24-2011, 02:50 AM   #9
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Nice!
What i the red thing behind the grill?
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      01-24-2011, 05:06 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StigJ View Post
Nice!
What i the red thing behind the grill?
RPI intake scoop

congrats!!! i was thinking of buying them but just a bit tight on money since after i bought my 19s in October
what's the weight on them? maybe i will get a set for tracking

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      01-24-2011, 06:50 AM   #11
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Looks good, glossy.

FYI, there is debate on whether or not powder coating forged wheels will weaken them or not. I don't know specifics - I was just reading in a forum thread about it - either here or on M3forum.net since these are the only two forums I frequent, I just can't find the thread this a.m. The bottom line is if forged aluminum is heated to a certain point, it can lose some of it's strength - this is hard fact that is based on metallurgy. I think it has to do with recrystallization temperature or how close to it the material is heated - man I wish I could find the thread. I don't know how much heat is used with powder coating, or what exact temp should not be exceeded, or relatively speaking how much weaker the wheels might be - regardless, it's a debate..... I'd like my RACs a different color, but I'm certainly not ready to get them powder coated until I know more about how the material might be affected....
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      01-24-2011, 07:06 AM   #12
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Thanks for the comments everybody. Yeah a splitter would look great. It is defintely on the wish list. About the powdercoating. It may very well weaken the wheel because I know metal geyts weaker each time it is heated up. But I don't think the temp. Of powdercoating is hot enough to do that I could be wrong though.
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      01-24-2011, 07:07 AM   #13
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Yes it is the rpi scoop. Wheels weigh I believe 25 pounds. wish it was lighter, but for the price it is hard to beat.
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      01-24-2011, 11:43 AM   #14
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The VT996 wheels are low pressure cast. I'm not sure how much different it would behave when heated though (compared to that of any other type of process or material used upon making a wheel).
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      01-24-2011, 01:18 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpower03 View Post
First off, I would like to thank Vortex Tuning and Kelvin at Vortex Tuning for their remarkable customer service. They were excellent, helpful, persistant through this whole process. I bought a set off wheels used off their track car from them. As with most used wheels there are flaws with them, and Vortex Tuning pointed them out to me before i made my purchase. They had offered to use and outside shop custom paint the wheels for me at an additional cost. I agreed with them and paid them. About five days later the wheels arrived back at Vortex Tuning leaving the unsatisfied with the job the outside shop provided. At their expense they had the wheels repainted. Same thing happened again. Vortex tuning was very upset with this shop, and had offered me many options like a different set of new wheels at a remarkably low price, but i still wanted these wheels custom painted. They told me they were going to have a different shop redo them, and at their expense. About one 4 days later i get an email saying that the wheels arrived back from being POWDERCOATED and they look absolutely flawless! I was excited, wheels were shipped out within the hour of them arriving and they were on the way to my house finally. This delay was not caused by Vortex Tuning, and they did everything in the power to provide what i wanted to the highest standards. Vortex Tuning really delivered! Thank you Vortex, and thank you Kelvin!

I would like to note: The wheels came with BMW center caps, but when they arrived i painted them black and clear coated them my self at home. Car in the background on a couple of them is my friends 2006 Mini Cooper S. Also, pictures were taken with two cameras.

Now off to pictures!
[/IMG]
Thank you very much for the kind remarks. It's our pleasure.

Car is looking awesome! The deep gloss black VT996 wheels really set her apart!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpower03 View Post
FYI, there is debate on whether or not powder coating forged wheels will weaken them or not. I don't know specifics - I was just reading in a forum thread about it - either here or on M3forum.net since these are the only two forums I frequent, I just can't find the thread this a.m. The bottom line is if forged aluminum is heated to a certain point, it can lose some of it's strength - this is hard fact that is based on metallurgy. I think it has to do with recrystallization temperature or how close to it the material is heated - man I wish I could find the thread. I don't know how much heat is used with powder coating, or what exact temp should not be exceeded, or relatively speaking how much weaker the wheels might be - regardless, it's a debate..... I'd like my RACs a different color, but I'm certainly not ready to get them powder coated until I know more about how the material might be affected....
Concerning the powder coating metallurgy, it depends on the aging specifications of the alluminum alloy used for the wheel construction and the heat treatment during powder coating. It's always a good idea to consult the wheel manufacturer and the shop before proceeding.

Without going into technical details, our wheels are perfectly safe for the process used by the shop. In fact, our factory offers production powder coating options for our wheels. We have also consulted the shop about their process with our tech data. They have confirmed that the process is safe, since they have been power coating for road and race applications for more than two decades we trust their experience. Seeing how great they look, may be we should powerder coat the next batch at the factory!
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      01-24-2011, 02:45 PM   #16
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Das ist sehr gut! Ich liebe dein Auto.
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      01-24-2011, 04:53 PM   #17
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^which means lol
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      01-24-2011, 04:56 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vortex_tuning View Post
Thank you very much for the kind remarks. It's our pleasure.

Car is looking awesome! The deep gloss black VT996 wheels really set her apart!



Concerning the powder coating metallurgy, it depends on the aging specifications of the alluminum alloy used for the wheel construction and the heat treatment during powder coating. It's always a good idea to consult the wheel manufacturer and the shop before proceeding.

Without going into technical details, our wheels are perfectly safe for the process used by the shop. In fact, our factory offers production powder coating options for our wheels. We have also consulted the shop about their process with our tech data. They have confirmed that the process is safe, since they have been power coating for road and race applications for more than two decades we trust their experience. Seeing how great they look, may be we should powerder coat the next batch at the factory!
T.hanks I have gotten more compliment on my wheels in the last two day s then in all ruhr time I have had the car lol
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      01-24-2011, 05:15 PM   #19
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Hats off to Vortex for great customer service.

Your car looks great. I'm liking the gloss black.
Now I miss my 19's though
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      01-24-2011, 09:14 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vortex_tuning View Post
.......Seeing how great they look, may be we should powerder coat the next batch at the factory!
See, my thought exactly considering how much better powdercoat can hold up compared to paint. I've got maybe 2k miles on my RG63s, being super careful to try and avoid gravel, grit, etc and I've already got a couple of dings that I bet wouldn't have happened with powdercoat. I guess I'll have to find out from RAC if there is a risk of weakening an 8000 ton cold forged wheel with powdercoating....I'm thinking gunmetal or the like....say, I'm assuming all of the old finish has to come off - what's the best way to accomplish that, media blasting?

Anyway, OP, they look fantastic, nice work and it's great that Vortex helped you out so much.
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      01-24-2011, 11:01 PM   #21
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Thanks, hopefully my other plans workout.
Quote:
Originally Posted by crfine88 View Post
Hats off to Vortex for great customer service.

Your car looks great. I'm liking the gloss black.
Now I miss my 19's though
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      01-25-2011, 10:40 AM   #22
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I like the RPI Intake Scoops, do you have and aftermarket intake system? Also, what paint did you use for your brakes?
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