polishing NB8B wheels (reposted here)

redshoes · Postby **redshoes** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:33 am

Hi guys I contacted GLM Metal Polishers in Adelaide as suggested by Terry to get a quote on polishing my NB8B wheels to look like that amazing picture in Saboteur's wheel thread on the General forum. Price seems pretty good: $85 per wheel for a \"mirror bright finish\".

BUT (and isn't there always a \"but\"?)... I have to deliver naked wheels to them and it'll take 2-3 days to do the polishing.

So anyone have any thoughts on how I would achieve this? The 5 is my only car. I have no way to remove the tires though perhaps a tire place would do that for me. But then what do I do with a wheel-less 5 for the 2-3 days??? :shock:

I'd appreciate any thoughts, suggestions or whatever....

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:56 am

That price seems very cheap. When I enquired 5 years ago on the cost it was around $180 - 200 per rim. Consequently it was never done.

OK to your wheel problem. Are you in the SA MX-5 Club? If not why not join and then see if anyone can lend you a spare set of wheels. Even a set with some old track tyres would do for a week or so. Otherwise just use public transport or a taxi to get round during the short period it's off the road.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:51 am

Polished rims will eventually tarnish. You will need to maintain them. That picture of the shiny rims I think are chromed. Years ago I had my rims chromed and looked OK. Wouldn't do it again though.

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:56 am

Charlie Brown wrote:That price seems very cheap. When I enquired 5 years ago on the cost it was around $180 - 200 per rim. Consequently it was never done.

OK to your wheel problem. Are you in the SA MX-5 Club? If not why not join and then see if anyone can lend you a spare set of wheels. Even a set with some old track tyres would do for a week or so. Otherwise just use public transport or a taxi to get round during the short period it's off the road.

Good thinking, Gail should be a member anyway!

The price does seem very good :shock:

redshoes · Postby **redshoes** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:13 am

Hmmm. Good point about the need to maintain the wheels. I quite enjoy washing & polishing Bluey but not sure about the enjoyment level of being on my knees polishing the wheels...

Charlie Brown, the problem isn't getting around for the 2-3 days. I could either rent a car or use public transport. It's where does the car live when it has no wheels for the 2 or 3 days?? And the tires?? All that stuff.

And yes, I hear you Okibi :roll:

It's been on my mind for a while but there's a story to tell. Will PM you!

BTW, still on track for your visit to Adelaide on the way home from Natmeet?? We need to get some stuff locked in and it may take a while to round up the Adelaide Boys! :mrgreen:

Tezzax5 · Postby **Tezzax5** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:27 am

Gail ask the polishers how much to seal each rim after polishing?

Clear Coat :idea:

As in the other thread I meant we would have your car looking BLING before you could change shoes,mind,etc and whatever else girls change..lol

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:41 am

Borrow a set of rims from somebody. Maybe even borrow 2 at a time and get 2 polished, etc.

If you want shine, get them chromed. Have a look in the yellow pages under chromers and ring around.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:54 pm

I'm sure one of the adelaide people would have an old set of na6 wheels or something like that they could lend to you for a few days. If it were melbourne you could borrow mine.

Col · Postby **Col** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:12 pm

The polished wheels on the 10AE seem to have a clear coat applied to them. I guess this helps to keep them permanently shiny without having to regularly polish them.

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:37 pm

redshoes wrote:...BTW, still on track for your visit to Adelaide on the way home from Natmeet?? We need to get some stuff locked in and it may take a while to round up the Adelaide Boys!

Yup yup, will arrive on Friday the 4th? April, and fly out Saturday arvo. :mrgreen:

Casey · Postby **Casey** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:16 pm

Once they're polished just wax them every 2-3 months. That's what I used to do and it kept them looking spanking.

You should wax your regular factory finished wheels anyway. It's brilliant how the brake dust just hoses off.

redshoes · Postby **redshoes** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:03 pm

Casey wrote:Once they're polished just wax them every 2-3 months. That's what I used to do and it kept them looking spanking.

You should wax your regular factory finished wheels anyway. It's brilliant how the brake dust just hoses off.

Yup! That's exactly what Greg at GLM said. He also said he didn't recommend putting a clear coat on them because they could yellow with age and sun. Now I just need to figure out the rest of the logistics. (why can't he just take the whole car for the 2-3 days? Would make it way easy then...

)

Tezzax5 · Postby **Tezzax5** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:19 pm

I so hope this works out for you...

Strongly considering getting my BBs rims polished as well...

For the amount of k's i travel cleaning with a bit of wax.

..Too easy