Picked up 17" Style 42s; how do I refinish them?

[BMWCCA1]

So I was on vacation at the beach and, like any good BMW owner, I checked the Craig's List ads for the area I was visiting. Lo and behold I saw this ad:

4 BMW SPORT WHEELS 5-SERIES 1997 to 2003 - $200
These BMW Original Equipment 5 Series Sport Package Wheels are in structurally great shape. The problem is that the finish has dull spots where the topcoat has begun to fail. They work great. You can use as they are or have them refinished. Spare wheel and tire available for additional $375 firm.
Seems I was the first to email the seller (midnight the evening the ad posted), met his wife Friday to look at them and bought them (and some straps at WalMart so the wheels can ride home on the roof rack of the van in the boxes for the OE copies he bought to allow room for my wife and three kids inside the van).

Unfortunately these are the BBS Composite-II Style 42s, not the style 5's, so they're not as good looking and the rim sections have ugly blobs of aluminum corrosion. Hard to believe how nasty that can get. Anyway, I figure at fifty-bucks a wheel they'll make someone a nice set, maybe even my E34 (yeah, I know, already have the hub-centric rings), but I have to fix the ugly. These outer rims seem to have a machined finish rather than the polished Style 5 look, but I'd settle for a sanding and polishing if that's a solution. I'm looking for any suggestions on how to go about polishing aluminum rims. Anyone ever had a set apart? Anything in particular to watch out for? What worked for you?

Thanks in advance.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/BMWCCA1/DSC_0550.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/BMWCCA1/DSC_0551.jpg

[Tiger]

That's two piece wheels. The center will come out if you unbolt them. You have to strip off the clearcoat and then polish the wheels. Do NOT use sandpaper on the machined lips You can use wetsandpaper... like 5000 grit or something or try some Brasso (brass polisher) to see if you can get that black spot off.

[shanek]

I haven't personally tried this. I was going to, until I found out how bent the
style 5s I bought are. http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=199388
Not too sure how those come apart. If they have the nut on the back like the style 5s do, I used a 12 point 10mm socket.

[Rick L]

Nice RIMS! ;) Don't do it yourself! Take it to the pros! Unless you know someone from a machine shop and know how to machine the lip. I have taken my rim to here and got a very good result. Check the link below... Cost $100 but have a lifetime warranty on their work.

http://fixrim.com/

http://home.comcast.net/~jungerishere/BMW5.JPG





So I was on vacation at the beach and, like any good BMW owner, I checked the Craig's List ads for the area I was visiting. Lo and behold I saw this ad:

Seems I was the first to email the seller (midnight the evening the ad posted), met his wife Friday to look at them and bought them (and some straps at WalMart so the wheels can ride home on the roof rack of the van in the boxes for the OE copies he bought to allow room for my wife and three kids inside the van).

Unfortunately these are the BBS Composite-II Style 42s, not the style 5's, so they're not as good looking and the rim sections have ugly blobs of aluminum corrosion. Hard to believe how nasty that can get. Anyway, I figure at fifty-bucks a wheel they'll make someone a nice set, maybe even my E34 (yeah, I know, already have the hub-centric rings), but I have to fix the ugly. These outer rims seem to have a machined finish rather than the polished Style 5 look, but I'd settle for a sanding and polishing if that's a solution. I'm looking for any suggestions on how to go about polishing aluminum rims. Anyone ever had a set apart? Anything in particular to watch out for? What worked for you?

Thanks in advance.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/BMWCCA1/DSC_0550.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/BMWCCA1/DSC_0551.jpg

[leicesterboy15]

I have a set of style 5's that are in dire need of a refurb. I tried to get someone to do it but could only find one person who would do them and would charge around £120 per wheel!! Needless to say they are still waiting!