CLS63 Wheel Refurb Day!

[Cyclone1]

I’ve decided to have my alloy wheels refurbished. Although from distance they looked ok, it was clear that the Dealer who’d prepared the car for sale had blown over a couple of the alloys and not to the best standard.

So it’s gone into the Wheel Specialists in Nottingham. I’ve asked for the colour of the wheel to be a shade darker than the OEM Matt Titanium Grey. This is mainly to accentuate the diamond cut edge. Originally this alloy came in two finishes, the one mentioned and also Matt Black. I’ll also stick with the Matt lacquer, I was tempted to go with gloss, but it’s a risky step away from the OEM look. It will hopefully be ready to collect tomorrow.

Pics Before;

Pics During the Process….


More pics later / tomorrow….

 

[Ted]

Agree 100% that the darker colour accentuates the diamond cut and looks better.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Stunning car before and I'm sure it will be after too

 

[SteveCLS]

The darker colour looks great, Im looking forward to seeing photos of the finished wheels on the car.

Lovely motor by the way

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I prefer Sliver wheels, but damn they look good!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Is the original grey Himalaya Grey?

 

[Cyclone1]

Is the original grey Himalaya Grey?

I did think this and so did the wheel place. But when I checked the data for the car it says Matt Titanium Grey. The other option on the CLS63 was the same wheel in Matt Black. Apparently Himalaya is a very similar shade but used more for gloss finishes.

 

[Matt58]

They look the business.

 

[AMGeed]

Looking good Jules.
I like the way they have retained the silver lip which makes the wheel stand out.
Most refurbs lose that lip and the wheel is ruined IMO.

 

[Cyclone1]

Looking good Jules.
I like the way they have retained the silver lip which makes the wheel stand out.
Most refurbs lose that lip and the wheel is ruined IMO.

Yes agree, these alloys definitely need the diamond cut or silver coloured lip, probably more so on the Black version and on darker coloured cars. I do get why many owners end up losing the lip though, as many wheel refurbish places will advise that. I think there is another version where all of the face is diamond cut, these look great when new or freshly refurbished, but like most diamond cut alloys, they suffer from lacquer lift over time.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Personally I like dark wheels.....But only on a light or even white coloured car....those don't look too far away from matching the cars paint which might look a bit odd...we will see tomorrow I guess. If it was my car I might have gone the other way with a lighter or more chromey finish.
I also avoid any alloys with diamond cut parts that are laquered over unless it's a fair weather car only.....in the UK it's only a matter of time before the moisture creeps under the clear coat and the white spiders start to grow!...happens even quicker after a small chip. Clear coat just does not bond to bare alloy as well as primer and paint....making lifting far more likely. The diamond cuts on my old A8 where more white than silver after about 5 years of all year high miles use!
But as always colour is a very personal choice and as long as your like it our musings area of no consequence.

 

[Gnasher141]

Were the wheels lacquered after the diamond cut process, or did you go for satin finish and bare rim?. Looking good

 

[Cyclone1]

Personally I like dark wheels.....But only on a light or even white coloured car....those don't look too far away from matching the cars paint which might look a bit odd...we will see tomorrow I guess. If it was my car I might have gone the other way with a lighter or more chromey finish.
I also avoid any alloys with diamond cut parts that are laquered over unless it's a fair weather car only.....in the UK it's only a matter of time before the moisture creeps under the clear coat and the white spiders start to grow!...happens even quicker after a small chip. Clear coat just does not bond to bare alloy as well as primer and paint....making lifting far more likely. The diamond cuts on my old A8 where more white than silver after about 5 years of all year high miles use!
But as always colour is a very personal choice and as long as your like it our musings area of no consequence.

It’s good to have different views and I totally get why you are saying.

The main objective for me was to have the main body of the alloy painted slightly darker and so maybe closer to that of the actual cars shade. Currently the colour they are doesn’t really accentuate the diamond cut lip and going a shade darker I think will help.

Appreciate your comments on recutting diamond cut alloys. I know there is a risk to longevity but happy to manage that and worse case in the future can have them redone without the diamond cut. My last set of CLS63 alloys (prefacelift) were diamond cut faces. I had them refurbished with a slightly darker main colour and a painted polished silver effect for the areas that should have been diamond cut, they looked amazing. Two years later I had them redone prior to sale, but this time had them diamond cut, again looked amazing.

Old CLS63 diamond cut alloys but painted:


Same alloys that were redone later but diamond cut;

 

[Cyclone1]

Were the wheels lacquered after the diamond cut process, or did you go for satin finish and bare rim?. Looking good

They will have satin lacquer applied as opposed to a gloss lacquer, so will be similar to the OEM look but with a very slight opaque effect.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It’s good to have different views and I totally get why you are saying.

The main objective for me was to have the main body of the alloy painted slightly darker and so maybe closer to that of the actual cars shade. Currently the colour they are doesn’t really accentuate the diamond cut lip and going a shade darker I think will help.

Appreciate your comments on recutting diamond cut alloys. I know there is a risk to longevity but happy to manage that and worse case in the future can have them redone without the diamond cut. My last set of CLS63 alloys (prefacelift) were diamond cut faces. I had them refurbished with a slightly darker main colour and a painted polished silver effect for the areas that should have been diamond cut, they looked amazing. Two years later I had them redone prior to sale, but this time had them diamond cut, again looked amazing.

Old CLS63 diamond cut alloys but painted:
View attachment 137445View attachment 137447View attachment 137446

Same alloys that were redone later but diamond cut;

View attachment 137448View attachment 137449

Who did your callipers, they look great?

I’d like to have some done but I’d want them to remove and keep the car whilst they do the calipers.

 

[Cyclone1]

Who did your callipers, they look great?

I’d like to have some done but I’d want them to remove and keep the car whilst they do the calipers.

It was a place called Dan Merrin Wheels near the Nottm / Derby border. The calipers were fully stripped before being recoloured and then rebuilt to a new standard. They looked incredible. He also did the alloys.

 

[Cyclone1]

Who did your callipers, they look great?

I’d like to have some done but I’d want them to remove and keep the car whilst they do the calipers.

AMG Alloys and Caliper Colour Change | AMG Lounge

After months of deliberating over buying new alloys, I decided to have my OEM alloys fully refurbished and coloured differently. As they are diamond cut I didn't want them diamond cut again, this is mainly due to the risk of them not lasting long regardless of how well they are done. I decided...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks for sharing. Looks ideal. I’ve dropped them an email

 

[Gnasher141]

They will have satin lacquer applied as opposed to a gloss lacquer, so will be similar to the OEM look but with a very slight opaque effect.

I will be interested in seeing the finished result, sounds good. I’m sure you will post pictures.

 

[Cyclone1]

Hopefully have some pics next week