e30 basket weaves

[rxter]

92 e30

OEM 14" baskets are a bit corroded. Not too deep, but the surface has flaked and is a little pitted in spots.

I checked with a rechrome shop and they said they don't like to mess with older wheels as any corosion will screw up the results. I don't know if they are being honest or are just wimps (a local Honda dealer wouldn't cut a set of rotors because they were rusty - please).

I thought about getting new, but it doesn't look like BMW makes those anymore, and I feel a certain obligation to restore the OEMs rather than getting Ronals or BBS rims.

Can you folks help me with this set of rims? Trust me they don't look this good in person. Must have been the lighting of this pic.

Are they chromed or painted?
Know of any DIYs for prepping and repainted if painted?
Know of any chromers in SoCal?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Doughnut]

Woah, the wheels you have look to have been chromed at some stage, I was under the impression that weaves only came in powder coat silver.
Sanding back the original finish and having them powder coated is very doable.
Your wheels look fine, Personally, i wouldn't worry to much about them.

 

[Big Daddy]

I am not sure if those are chromed or just polished, they more poliched to me. Either way the originals were silver paint with a clear coat over them. A good wheel repair shop should have no problem restoring them.

 

[echothreezero]

I agree they look polished, not chromed.

In NZ we can buy these brand new off the BMW $tealership for $$$$$$, but you should be able to have them refurbished. There is almost no limit to what you can do to fix bent, kerbed and scuffed rims - as long as you are prepared to pay.

 

[rxter]

Thanks gents - Dough keep on working the rust - I am with you in spirit anyway.

 

[AWD_Guy]

I'm in the middle of refinishing mine. Those looks definately polished.

I'm using a industrial type paint stripper, brush it on and let it sit for 15-20 minutes then wet sand with a really tough grit sandpaper. Eventually I'll get to the finer sanding and polishing...Long process, work on them when I have time, but I got all winter.

Dont know what Im going to do, I was thinking of leaving the lip polished and going with a chrome black or hyper black color for the center.

I did the stock wheels on my focus like this and it worked out well.