Fuchs Re-Paint

[plhorner]

Just considering some jobs for the winter....... The centres of my wheels have a few marks and I'm thinking about re-painting my wheels (the non anodised portion obviously), however I can't make my mind wether to go for satin black, gloss black or even guards red to match the body colour.

What do you think, anybody got any piccies they could post of gloss black or red centres ? Seen them all in the past but not side by side to compare. I quite fancy a gloss finish as they always look a lot cleaner and more presentable.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Personally I would go for satin black, but whichever way you go, I would powder coat rather than paint for a tougher finish.

 

[zwhitea]

here our Red SSE Cab... came with red centres as standard, or so I beleive. As for black our coupe used to have a satin black, I still have the wheels but am Embarrassed to post pics of them... really need a referb...

 

[plhorner]

Urrm, I'd not considered powder coating. Can you powder coat specific areas, I always assumed that it was a dipping process where the metal was heated and then dipped in a powder suspension.

I'm still quite taken by red though, its all a question of personal choice and taste though I suppose.

Anybody got gloss black?

 

[911sse]

Mine are satin black with polished rims.

Look the part!

Will try and post a pic, since I have never managed to get it right yet!!

 

[Guest]

I'm no expert, but powder coating involves hanging the item via a wire/metal frame and an electrical current is passed though it. Coloured powder is blown onto the item with a spray gun and it sticks electrostatically (only to the un-masked bits). The item is then placed in an large oven baked at 200 celsius (gas mark 5 []).

They can coat virtually any colour you want (as long as you give them a RAL code).

I'm going to have my fuchs professionally polished, then I'll mask them up and send them to my local powder coater.

 

[Keith Calder]

i have a guards red 911 and have tried red, a bit bright, pearl white, nice but shows brake dust too easy, so i would go for satin black and spray them yourself, i seem to remember an article in 911 world about restoring them yourself, anyone remember what issue?

 

[plhorner]

Keith,
Thanks for that, I'll have dig through the old issues of Porsche World and see what I can find.

 

[Guest]

Mine were satin black but I polished them and they looked good (to me) glosssy. However, I had a set of 7's and 8's polished and really like them now!

Roy

 

[Guest]

What an amazing shine.... And how did you get the bodywork to look so shiny, too???

 

[Guest]

Thanks - I use Solvol Autosol on the wheels and Autoglym Super Resin and Extra Gloss on the bodywork. I've always fancied some Zymol or similar but wonder whether it would give a better shine. (When it rains and I'm driving the car doesn't really get wet!!)

Pictures were taken at the 997 launch in Newcastle last weekend (and I only managed a quick leather off rather than a wash due to time!)

Regards

Roy

 

[Guest]

I believe the closest to the original black is Wurth Satin Black FWIW.

I don't like black centres as it hides the detail of the Fuchs centre section, which to my mind is the best bit of the Fuchs, but to each his own. I am thinking hard about getting a set in RSR finish (though the cost is steep) but otherwise I like silver centres. There is also a fully anodised finish which is a nice twist.

RB

 

[Alan_Armstrong]

Here is my tuppence...

It depends on what you want.....if you want the porsche badge/logo on the centre caps to show....

If you go for any colour coded wheel, you really need to spray the centre caps as well. Mine was coloured coded from the factory and came with cast metal caps....I was really bored a couple of winters ago and hand painted the porsche logo casting with red/gold/black enamel model paints....still looks good today!

If you go the black route, you can by black caps with a detailed coloured porsche crest. The only other colour the detailed porsche crested caps comes in is silver/alloy, which would look crap (IMHO) against another colour on the wheel!

If you look at any porsche accessory supplier you'll get what I mean.

I response to the mention re Auto Glym and Zymol, I have just been 'converted' and the difference is very noticable in the depth of shine...and that is only after one application.....

Zymol wins!!

 

[Guest]

It looks truly fabulous, Roy. I've been using Meguiars Gold Class products to clean mine, including the Quik Detailer, and I was happy with that. But then I gave in and recently bought a Zymol Titanium starter kit. I haven't used it yet, owing to the weather not staying dry for long enough to apply it, so I bought some Zymol Cleaner Wax to go over it as it only takes about an hour and a half. I was completely amazed at the difference and couldn't believe the depth in shine I got so easily. I even did my wife's red Golf after that and amazed myself again - the colour was a kind of dull orangey red before but one hour later it was a deep and glossy red!

So - even though I'm waiting (now very impatiently) for a clear day to apply the full Zymol Titanium goodies, I can say that the apparent hype about Zymol is actually fact. Try it out!

JC

 

[Guest]

Great pics Roy, car looks amazing, am just about to powder coat and daisy polish my 7's and 8's and will post some pics in the SC Running Reports section when it's done

Stephen is right about powder coating, it's a greatfinish when done properly, wears much better than paint too, also not as dear as you might think (not cheap either mind)

Good for you though, your car really looks top class

 

[Guest]

Looks like Zymol may be worth a try. As you can gather I'm really pleased with the look of the car and also the protection given in the rain. The way the water beads off is great - as soon as you move the car dries itself out! I had looked at the Zaino system but found the european markup was ridiculous and I'm not sure when I'm next in the states. (I'm also not sure how SWMBO will react to a bag full of car polish as luggage).

Given that I'm Guards Red would anyone in the know recommend Carbon or Titanium? I'll obviously need to strip the car [:-][:-][:-] and would normally use 3M Imperial Hand Glaze for Swirl mark removal - would I really need to go for the full zymol system or just the wax?

Thanks

Roy

 

[IanHighfield]

My wheels were I believe powder coated before I bought the car, and the finish has stood up really well - they still shine like with just a simple wash. The centre caps are also colour coded.

Has anyone got experience of using the Swissol range of products? Saw them in use at Gmund Cars and they all looked very well presented there.

Am going to go for a 'full valet' on my car this winter (body wax, wheel cleaner, leather re-colour and plastic cleaner), so would appreciate any advice on which products work best.

Sorry - should have perhaps started a new post for this (hijacking original thread) - feel free to do so if replying.

 

[IanHighfield]

Phil,

Did you decide on what to do with your wheels ?

I have just bought (yet to collect though) a set of 8 X 16, where one is refurbished as polished with black centre, the other is I believe still anodised with black centre.

I have a number of options :-

1) Refinish both new 8 X 16 to match my 7 X 16 fronts (powder coat blue with anodised rims - I think !)
- two wheels to pay for.

2) Refinish one of the 8 X 16 to match the other (either both polished or anodised with black centres)
- and then refinsh both 7 X 16 fronts to match
- more expensive as three wheels involved.
- Does anyone know if you can have polished wheels re-anodised to achieve this option ?

If not, then I guess I will have a third option :-

3) Refinish the anodised 8 X 16 to match the other polished 8 X 16
- and then refinsh both 7 X 16 fronts to match (i.e. powder coat and polish them)

My preference would be to re-anodise one of the 8 X 16 and then powder coat both in blue to match the existing 7 X 16 fronts.

Can anyone recommend a firm local to me (Warwickshire) that could do this ? John Glynn please reply as I know you are having yours done (any ideas on cost ?)

Apologies for complex / disjointed post, but at least I have been able to track down some 8 X 16 which as John will testify, are not easy to come by.

One final question - do I need different studs for my 8 X 16 ?

 

[plhorner]

Ian,
Never came to a conclusion on it, like other I'd like a pair of 8x16's to give the car a more purposefull look. So the whole job might wait till then.
When I do eventually get around to it, I suspect that I'll keep the rims anodised and get the centres powder coated....... but do I go for red or black.......???!!!!

 

[Guest]

One final question - do I need different studs for my 8 X 16 ?

The obvious question is, as opposed to what other wheels ?

I have 7X16 front/8X16 rear, and they fit on standard studs - only the offset is different.