Restoring a set of CSL Mahle wheels

[JFENG]

I have a set of 5 Mahle-BMW 14x7 basket weave wheels (same PN as the set which TF sold on BAT recently). These wear their original finish (worn thru to the primer in spots), and have almost zero corrosion/pitting except a 1/2” area around the valve stem holes. The letters/numbers and other manufacturing marks are sharp & likely original on the front and the back-side rim edge.

I am looking for advice on how best to

(1) strip the original finish without damaging the cast words/numbers. Is there a type of media blasting that won’t soften these and other regional details?

(2) paint selection/application for original appearance? The basket weave pattern has both closed holes and tight areas that seem unsuitable for a traditional spray gun finish. I do not want to powder coat because of the thickness. I will be doing the entire wheel, including the back side and area under the tire.

Thanks for all input.
John

 

[sfdon]

Chemical strip and paint only.

After strip:

 

[JFENG]

Don, what stripper did you use ?

 

[Oldbmwcoupes]

It’s either Trixie or Bambi….. sorry I couldn’t resist

 

[sfdon]

It’s either Trixie or Bambi….. sorry I couldn’t resist

Fifi Lamoure ….

 

[Arde]

Fifi Lamoure ….

Does O'Reilly's carry that one?

 

[Breiti]

I just did that with gruenbeck paint stripper and pressure washer.
Need to do that 4 times till I get off almost all of the paint.
Then I blast them with glas beads 100-200 qm size.

 

[JFENG]

I couldn’t find anyone near me who chemically strips metal parts for non-commercial customers. I anlso called some chrome shops, but none want to do a strip only job.

I also don’t think it’s worth the $$$ to ship all the way to Speedway in CA.

Fortunately these just barely fit into my little HF blast cabinet so I’m going to try soda blasting the front faces. I’m lazy and will use glass beads on the rear barrel where there is some corrosion-pitting and no delicate casting markings to ruin (except at the rim edge).

Once they are clean, I’m sure I’ll find many good places to get them painted to match the Wurth wheel silver.

 

[rsporsche]

be careful with the blasting - it tends to destroy the cast text

 

[JFENG]

be careful with the blasting - it tends to destroy the cast text

Hence the use of soda media to blast. I may first spot clean with paint strippper around those areas which have cast-in text. But soda blasting is supposed to be ideal for cleaning aluminum without changing the surface features.

 

[Stevehose]

How about some aircraft aluminum stripper?

 

[stphers]

I would think about spraying the wheels with Cerakote ceramic paint won't lose any features and is tough paint

Thanks, Rick

 

[Ohmess]

Gary Knox used a Wurth paint on his Weds and was very happy with the result. https://e9coupe.com/forum/posts/262335/bookmark