OEM Silver Vs Gunmetal Wheels

a_ok2me · 19th September 2005, 04:24

Does anyone know why my wheels are silver and not gunmetal like everyone elses?

My wheels DSC_0013.jpg
http://www.sportscarimage.com/Events...s/DSC_0013.htm

Everyone else
http://www.sportscarimage.com/Events...s/DSC_0032.htm

mottati · 19th September 2005, 04:51

they must have been refinished at some point in time. It's common for shops to mess up the process a bit when they try to replicate the shadowchrome. I have a spare wheel that looks a bit like yours in the pics.
Mike

BKH · 19th September 2005, 05:29

In the early years there were apparently batches of wheels that were much more silvery than others. A few posters commented on cars being delivered from the dealer with "mismatched" OE wheels. I have a brand new spare OE rear wheel that is less black than what came on the car. Of course, yours may be refinished also...

a_ok2me · 19th September 2005, 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKH

In the early years there were apparently batches of wheels that were much more silvery than others. A few posters commented on cars being delivered from the dealer with "mismatched" OE wheels. I have a brand new spare OE rear wheel that is less black than what came on the car. Of course, yours may be refinished also...

I did a search on this here and it led to related topics stating the early model wheels were different, but it wasn't clear to me why. Maybe I wasn't reading everything. I would be surprised if the wheels were refinished because the previous owner kept the car in immaculate condition. I commend him. I'm sure I could tell if it was refinished; I see no grit lines and uneven depths. But, you never know. However, my car is an 01, but it was built in 12/00, so the early year theory could be true in this situation.

Kin Mak · 19th September 2005, 10:06

Your wheels are that colour because of refinishing. I have a very early 99 car and mine has shadow chrome.

aaronmiles · 19th September 2005, 10:50

It can be done though (shadow chrome), I got mine done here in OZ and the job is quite spectacular ... AU$1,100

a_ok2me · 24th September 2005, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kin Mak

Your wheels are that colour because of refinishing. I have a very early 99 car and mine has shadow chrome.

There was an old post where someone mentioned that a few batches for Le Mans Blue were silver instead of gunmetal shadow chrome. However there is no conclusive answer since then.

Here's a picture to an '02 Le Mans Blue M5 on ebay today. It also has silver wheels. It could be a coincedence that two Le Mans Blue M5s had refinished wheels, but what are the chances?

All I know is that the Le Mans Blue silver wheels myth could be true.

E34Girl · 24th September 2005, 22:38

Why not refinish them in gunmetal with silver rim edges?

Gunmetal metal grey alloys, kidneys and silver rims - Perf :-)

bmwusa · 24th September 2005, 22:58

different look but they still look good though, Josh

Kin Mak · 25th September 2005, 02:29

Just seems odd to me that they would finish the wheels in a different colour for a batch of cars. It is not cost effective, unless someone got the paint mixed up and a batch of wheels came out wrong. If that happened I would still think BMW would refinish them right. Just my thoughts...

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_ok2me

There was an old post where someone mentioned that a few batches for Le Mans Blue were silver instead of gunmetal shadow chrome. However there is no conclusive answer since then.

Here's a picture to an '02 Le Mans Blue M5 on ebay today. It also has silver wheels. It could be a coincedence that two Le Mans Blue M5s had refinished wheels, but what are the chances?

All I know is that the Le Mans Blue silver wheels myth could be true.