polishing wheels>>>BBS RA's (VW)

sprocket007 · 05-06-03, 11:58

Hello, i am new here and do not know what has been posted in the past on this subject...or i may have to go to a more specific wheel board for the info i require...

I have a set of BBS RA's that came stock on 90-92 VW GTI's...i like the wheel but they are aluminium and painted...i wanns remove the paint and polish em up...

what do i need to do the job? I dont mind spendin the time and i am banking that it will be quite an investment of time!

i figure i will need some sort of power tool, polishing pads and polishing paste...any hints would be great...

so, i get them polished...then what? Clear coat???
Thanks Wade

bravo261 · 05-10-03, 03:08

woah, removing paint and such is probably getting way in over your head to get a clean finish.

i'd really suggest just getting new wheels

bretfraz · 05-10-03, 03:52

This is a really really big job for the novice. First thing I'd suggest is doing a web search on aluminum polishing. Get an idea of what's involved. Stripping the wheels of paint is prolly best left to a pro - common methods of stripping are media blasting or chemical strippers.

Even if you do all this work the maintenance will be rather high. If it were me and I wanted OE wheels to look bling-bling, I'd have them chrome plated. Send them off, wait a week or so, get em back shiny. Will cost $100-150 per wheel.

Calestus · 05-10-03, 08:23

if you really REALLY want to do it by yourself you could just wetsand them down to the metal...or get them blasted with some type of media...or find some paint stripper that is strong enough to do what you want...either case its gonna be a PAIN. After you get the paint off you can either chrome plate them or polish them with a dremel type tool and some rouge...if you go the dremel route after you have them polished you are going to have to get them clear coated or be CONSTANTLY polishing them...not only that but once you strip them they will be mmuch more suspectable to pitting.....G'Luck

sprocket007 · 05-10-03, 10:48

Thanks for the input guys...I think that it is the special touched that make a car unique and i am willing to put in the time to get the result i am looking for...sure i could buy new wheels...but why? BBS wheels are unique to VW and BMW and really set the vehicle off...I think i'm tankin em and takin the dremel to them them clear...I do not always wanna be polishin them! thanks for the tips keep them comin'
Wade