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Thread: Wheel Restoration Thread - BBS RC041s

  1. #1
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    Wheel Restoration Thread - BBS RC041s

    Decided to track my progress on bringing these wheels back to stock condition. Lots of similar split wheel threads but these are kind of rare Stateside so why not.

    Current condition after someone painted the faces gloss black. Plan is to strip the paint, media blast, polish the barrels and powder coat sparkle silver:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Remove bolts with 10mm 12-point socket:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Punch them out with a H12 allen socket:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Would prefer new bolts but this is a budget job and they're a little bit grimy so into the hot bath they go:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Crock pot from the local thrift store and some aluminum safe degreaser:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    First batch out of the hot bath:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Wire brush to remove excess paint:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Trip through the vibratory tumbler to remove remaining corrosion:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Medium of choice for the tumbler cleaning:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Advance look before experiencing an overnight polish job:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Aluminum faces with some road grime needing a polish job:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Light curb rash requiring a sand and refinish job:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Stay tuned for additional installments.
    `

  2. #2
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    I like the crock pot idea... Never seen that before

    Sent from my Z983 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
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    It won't remove rust, but it's a good way to dissolve grease and loosen old paint before polishing nuts and bolts. Soaking for 24-48 hours in a 50/50 mix of CLR also works and acts on the rust, but because it's acidic it can pit the finish if you leave them in the solution too long.

  4. #4
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    Removed the valve stems with a utility knife and punch:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Hardware came out of the tumbler reasonably well-polished. May still zinc plate them for corrosion resistance:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Went with Jasco paint remover. Burns if you get it on your skin so I used relatively thick nitrile gloves:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    You can see the clear coat peeling once the paint remover starts its job:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Aluminum rim starting to look better after the second pass with the Jasco and microfiber towel:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Barrels after clear coat removal and tar and road grime cleaning. Haven't started to hand polish yet.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    The prior paint application was a double coat of enamel - wasn't a powder coat job so hopefully removal will be easier.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Close-up after the Jasco has been allowed to set-up for a bit. These will be going into the blast cabinet when I finish stripping in order to prep for new paint:

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

  5. #5
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    Nice.

    Love these wheels. Had a set back in 2007.
    1998 BMW M3 3.2 Cabrio • Alpinweiί III on Schwarz • German spec • 1 of 12
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  6. #6
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    Subd. I LOVE diy projects

  7. #7
    mslevin's Avatar
    mslevin is offline Have you checked RealOEM? BMW CCA Member
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    Looking good! Love that crockpot idea, I'll have to look out for one at Goodwill.

  8. #8
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    Thanks for the positive comments. Slow going this weekend. Got the hardware cleaned up on the other two wheels and continued working on paint stripping including the waffle caps. Hoping to media blast them this weekend and just ordered my powder and clear from Eastwood. Traveling a lot for work so paint will get delayed a bit but I'll keep at it.

  9. #9
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    Very good job! We're waiting for happy end!

  10. #10
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    Started working the faces in the blast cabinet today. Had trouble with the media clumping - lots of humidity in the air. I must have drained a full pint or more out of the water traps in my air system.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Glad the waffle caps on the RC041s are metal - it will enable me to paint match them with the powder coat. Still waiting on paint to arrive to finish these off.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Next fall project - need to paint match my hardtop and redo the headliner. Found a local body shop who will do it for a reasonable price.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

  11. #11
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    Thanks for sharing the updates

  12. #12
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    Love these wheels. Looking forward to seeing the progress.

    - 98 m3, techno/anthrazit cloth, 124k and officially worthless - 89 m3, alpine/black 143k and officially old - 2000 323it, tiag/grey, 169k and officially boring

  13. #13
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    Nice

  14. #14
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    Finally finished stripping the black paint from all four wheel faces. Probably should have paid to have them professionally dipped or had the finish baked-off. I have way more hours into this phase of the restoration than I thought it would require.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    I can finally see the original BBS stamps and part numbers. They were previously buried in layers of paint.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    My wheel paint arrived. Next step is powder coating the faces once I can find a free weekend.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

  15. #15
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    Great write-up; excellent looking wheels. I spent a lot of time refinishing my RS wheels for my E36 (in sig) and it was time very, very well spent. When I got to refinishing my E30 wheels (Italian made OZ Ruote Fittipaldis), I took the same approach and went a step even farther making them exactly how I wanted them. It does take a long time, but it really makes you appreciate what you've done, and when you do it right, it lasts much longer. Do it once, do it right! Good work.

    1997 328i/4/5 - Cosmosschwarz Metallic on Dove Grey - Auto/Manual Swap - M3 Bilstein Sport/H&R Sports (95 M3 mounts) - Offset M3 LCAB - 20mm M3 rear sway bar - X-Brace - AA Tuning Strut Tower Bar - Rogue Engineering RSM - Dinan Cat-Back - 3.38 LSD - E46 330 front/328 rear brakes - SS Brake Lines - E36 fitment Style 42's (staggered) - M3 Front Bumper - M3 side moldings - M3 Rear Diffuser - DJ Auto Headlights (6k HIDS) - Frenched Fogs - OEM Clear Tails - E65 Rearview Mirror (Homelink controls + Autodim) - Alpine Type S Cabin Speakers (6x9 Retrofit) - 8" JVC woofer - Black Kidneys - Red Needles/Chrome Gauge Rings - OEM Alarm - Full Interior/Trunk LED Lighting - Mishimoto Full-Aluminum Radiator - More to Come!

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Twistytee View Post

    Next fall project - need to paint match my hardtop and redo the headliner. Found a local body shop who will do it for a reasonable price.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr
    Just curious. What was the quote. I am picking up a hardtop next week, and will also need paint. I may just plastidip it for the time being.
    1997 328ic
    1999 528i

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by StealthBimmer View Post
    Just curious. What was the quote. I am picking up a hardtop next week, and will also need paint. I may just plastidip it for the time being.
    I'd consider the plasti dip route and see how you like it. They quoted $500, but turned out they were assuming leaving the window in-place and masking the trim. You can probably add another $200-300 to that in labor if they remove the window and all the trim for full paint. You're definitely better off finding a matching top or going with a black one. And they almost all need a new headliner by now given the foam backing fails with age.

  18. #18
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    Back at it this weekend. Sanding down the rim that had some curb rash using 80, 220, 400, 800, 1,500, and 2,000 grit. Followed-up with some Meguiars rubbing compound and metal polish.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Pretty happy with the final finish considering these wheels are 23 years old.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Did the wheel caps next. Used a similar process with the various grades of sand paper and finished with the Meguiars polish.

    Left one has been polished and the one on the right is still pitted with road grime.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Had a spare set of graphite BBS center caps from my RX wheels that happened to fit so will probably go with these over replacement BMW caps.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Set-up my powder coat station and got to work painting the centers.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Waffle caps getting powder coat too.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

  19. #19
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    Exciting!

  20. #20
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    Test fit for color comparison. I haven't shot with clear yet and also still need to re-plate the bolts. I was originally intending to go with a closer match to the OE silver finish but ended-up using a more contrasting rally silver. Gives a bit of a two-tone look with the polished rims, but I'm not 100% sold. My car is Mauritius Blue Metallic. Opinions?

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

  21. #21
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    Contrast is nice, but not this color. Then I’d go oem silver.

    Here’s an old pic (2007) when I had these wheels, to give you an idea.

    1998 BMW M3 3.2 Cabrio • Alpinweiί III on Schwarz • German spec • 1 of 12
    SMG • SRA • PDC • AUC • OBC • GSM • HK • UURS • IHKA • FGR • MFL

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  22. #22
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    Got around to applying a new coat of Sparkle Silver over the base coat of rally silver. I think this will look nice when I get them bolted back together.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr


    Mock-up

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

  23. #23
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    Love the combo!

  24. #24
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    Thanks! Found a local plater who does zinc. Plan to clear chromate the spline bolts and put them back together soon. Hope to finish the job and mount 'em later in November.

  25. #25
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    Getting very close.

    Switched to the Mother's aluminum polish to complete final stage finish since it was available locally, lot's of black dust and tarnish coming off the rag.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Used some Meguiars mirror glaze and good 'ole Klasse - German sealant to protect my German wheels...

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Got my original BBS bolts back from the plater. Went with zinc clear chromate finish for corrosion protection. Pretty happy with the end result.

    Untitled by Twistytee, on Flickr

    Need to bolt these back together and order tires. I know the early Ms ran square 235/40/17s on the 17x7.5" wheels. Anyone know if I'll have clearance issues with non-M Koni struts up front on a 325i? I'm on OE sport springs if that matters. I may get spacers later to get them flush, but would prefer to bolt them sans spacers for now. Since this tire size gives me relatively limited options, should I consider 225/45/17 instead?

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