Feedback on Z4 Wheels E85 3.0i

[doane2u]

I'm thinking of getting new wheels or painting the stock #200 wheels. Thought I would get some feedback from all of you. I took a photo of the stock setup and then did some overlays in PS to see what stock wheels painted black or some Tirerack Anzo wheels look like.

Stock #200 wheels


Stock #200 painted black


Anzo Turn black


Andros Spec L black with machined faces


Thanks,

[3002 tii]

I would paint the stock ones to gunmetal or anthracite. Wonder how well those aftermarket ones would hold up to potholes.

[doane2u]

Thanks, the Anzio Turn is low pressure cast and is is a few pounds lighter at 21 pounds then the stock 200 wheels which are 22.84 pounds. The low pressure cast is supposed to be better than gravity cast and stronger. Only problem with having them painted is leaving them for a few weeks with the shop and not having the car available along with two charges for removing and installing the tires each time, etc., but I'm going to look into it.

[Our03z4]

Stock painted black. Would also paint the roll bars black to make it all come together. Oh and de badge, but that's just IMO.

[doane2u]

Here it is in gunmetal


and in anthracite

[Our03z4]

Black would still be my choice.

[doane2u]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Stock painted black. Would also paint the roll bars black to make it all come together. Oh and de badge, but that's just IMO.

Thanks, Our03z4, I'm going to look into the painting idea, not sure how much it will cost though.. it might actually cost quite a bit more then just buying new wheels and I could sell the stock ones on Craigslist.

Roll bars, yeah, I had also thought about doing them black, but am still not sure about it... maybe with plastidip so it can be removed if it gets to be too much black as the whole interior is black except for the dash and center console, etc.

[Our03z4]

You could always Plasti dip the wheels. I've been thinking about doing mine in black but just don't know. My car is red. I talked to a guy at the paint store and he was saying that most people mess up by not doing at least 8 coats. If you use cans it should take 1 for each wheel. Yeah, the paint could cost a decent amount, wonder if powder coat would be a good route?

[86Zed]

Originally Posted by doane2u

Thanks, the Anzio Turn is low pressure cast and is is a few pounds lighter at 21 pounds then the stock 200 wheels which are 22.84 pounds. The low pressure cast is supposed to be better than gravity cast and stronger.

Do yourself a favor a avoid the blue light special cheap wheels. Your safety, your passengers safety and the car depend on it. I'm not telling you to go out and buy HREs are $1400 a piece, but there are plenty of reputable wheel brands in the $200-400/wheel price range - Enkei, TSW, even Rota are more trustworthy outfits to purchase from.

Just my 2 cents.

[doane2u]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

You could always Plasti dip the wheels. I've been thinking about doing mine in black but just don't know. My car is red. I talked to a guy at the paint store and he was saying that most people mess up by not doing at least 8 coats. If you use cans it should take 1 for each wheel. Yeah, the paint could cost a decent amount, wonder if powder coat would be a good route?

I have Plastidipped three sets of wheels on two cars over the years and though they came out looking good, the problem is that the first time you get a tire changed the paint around the lug nuts will tear and it looks horrible, same thing with around the rim. Other then that, it can look really good if you like a very soft plasticy sheen look.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by doane2u

I have Plastidipped three sets of wheels on two cars over the years and though they came out looking good, the problem is that the first time you get a tire changed the paint around the lug nuts will tear and it looks horrible, same thing with around the rim. Other then that, it can look really good if you like a very soft plasticy sheen look.

That's what I'm worried about, well that and if it will look cheap. Don't want it to turn out looking like a ricer.

[doane2u]

I found a local Powder Coat place called Finishing Touch near the airport in Monterey. I took the car in yesterday morning and John, the owner, had it done this evening and it looks fantastic. I left the car with him; he took the wheels off, took them to a garage he uses to have the tires removed, prepped the wheels, powder coated them, took them back to the garage to have them remounted and balanced, then put them back on the Z.
He showed me a bunch of color samples and I went with this very dark gun metal that looks black in the shadows and has a low sheen... I really like the look, what do you think?
And, thanks everyone for the feedback and advice.

[IndyHo]

Big thumbs up on the powder coat. Looks great!

[Our03z4]

Turned out great! Good choice for sure. What did it run if I may ask?

[doane2u]

Thanks guys.. He charged $100/wheel if brought in sans tires. I had no way to do that so he charged be another $100 for a garage to remove the tires from the rims and reinstall with balancing and another $100 for his own time to remove the wheels from the car, take them to the garage and then reinstall them on the car again. So the total was $600 for the whole thing.. not too bad as the cheapest aftermarket wheels I found would have been about $800+ with shipping and garage work. And better quality ones would have been over $1k

I found a place in Salinas that would powder coat the wheels for $80 each, but it was a lot further away and they don't handle having the tires removed, etc.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by doane2u

Thanks guys.. He charged $100/wheel if brought in sans tires. I had no way to do that so he charged be another $100 for a garage to remove the tires from the rims and reinstall with balancing and another $100 for his own time to remove the wheels from the car, take them to the garage and then reinstall them on the car again. So the total was $600 for the whole thing.. not too bad as the cheapest aftermarket wheels I found would have been about $800+ with shipping and garage work. And better quality ones would have been over $1k

I found a place in Salinas that would powder coat the wheels for $80 each, but it was a lot further away and they don't handle having the tires removed, etc.

Man that's a great deal! I need to look into to seeing if there is a local place to me. I have the turbine wheels and I don't mind then but they are starting to look sad.

[doane2u]

The other reason I went dark was because I was so sick of trying to get brake dust off those silver OEM wheels, they got dirty so fast too! This dark gun metal color pretty much hides it.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by doane2u

The other reason I went dark was because I was so sick of trying to get brake dust off those silver OEM wheels, they got dirty so fast too! This dark gun metal color pretty much hides it.

I hear ya. I switched to ceramic myself and it made a world of difference. Rarely have to clean them now, use to seem like I had to every time I drove.

[doane2u]

Thanks, will remember that next brake job. Hmmm... next brake job.. will probably cost me more than the powder coating, I have a feeling.