Are snowflake wheels painted?

[ocoinji]

My snowflake wheels are badly stained. My original plan for the winter was to paint them. In the process of doing some other work and cleaning the engine case, i discovered a great way to clean the aluminum. I use "Noxon" with a stiff nylon bristle bush and then polish with some "never dull". I want to try it on the snowflakes but noxon says not to use on painted surfaces. I tried searching the forum but could not find anything definitive.

Thanks,
Jim O'Coin
1982 R100RT
1971 R75/5

 

[20774]

According to Tom Cutter, the paint BMW used on these wheels is made by Wurth. They called it Silver Wheel Paint. A possible source might be:

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

Otherwise, google "Wurth silver wheel paint".

 

[ocoinji]

Thanks Kurt.

 

[lee]

According to Tom Cutter, the paint BMW used on these wheels is made by Wurth. They called it Silver Wheel Paint. .

Yep, I've used it on several BMW wheels with good results.

 

[SCBuckeye]

Sometime down the road, I want to powder coat my snowflakes - that is, when I can justify the cash.

I got the price of around $85 each for complete stripping and powdercoating at a professional powdercoating company down in Spartanburg South Carolina.

They had around 8 different choices of silver, and one matched perfectly.

 

[lkchris]

Unless you have a '79 RT in brown/beige in which case your wheels are painted Phoenix Gold!

 

[ocoinji]

The instructions for the lacquer say to remove the old finish first. Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[PAS]

I solvent cleaned mine then scuffed up lightly then sprayed with Duplicolor silver metallic then a light coat of clear. They look great!
81 R100RT

 

[lee]

The instructions for the lacquer say to remove the old finish first. Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Jim

On a couple wheels that I just needed to touch up, I only cleaned them good before painting.
One wheel I completely painted and on that one I used a very fine sandpaper to rough the finish before painting.

If I remember right, the wheels on my R100RT had a rough finish, so you may only need to clean them good.

 

[SCBuckeye]

The instructions for the lacquer say to remove the old finish first. Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Jim

I have two front 19" Snowflakes, and one is painted very nicely with what looks like a regular coating of paint - perhaps the brand recommended above, but surely re-painted, not original. The other has some coating that looks original but in places, it is very thick like it was more than just paint. Doesn't look as nice as the other, but looks more like my rear snowflake (18" with a drum brake).