M3 18 inch wheels paint touch up...

arctic335i · 07-05-2009, 12:46 PM

Dear All:

I have the stock 18 inch wheels on my M3 - they have a thick application of gray paint, as you know. Unfortunately, I have a large stone chip on one of them. Does anybody know a good touch-up paint to match? I did a search but couldn't find anyhing. Thanks!

Lemans_Blue_M · 07-05-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arctic335i

Dear All:

I have the stock 18 inch wheels on my M3 - they have a thick application of gray paint, as you know. Unfortunately, I have a large stone chip on one of them. Does anybody know a good touch-up paint to match? I did a search but couldn't find anyhing. Thanks!

Sorry to have to tell you this...but you won't be able to find any 'touch up paint' to color match the Dark Graphite finish on the OEM 18's...

That's because it doesn't exist...

The Dark Graphite color on those wheels is a rather complex (multi-stage, multi-color) finish, and it's virtually impossible to duplicate outside of the factory. Knowing the intricate details of how this is done, I would advise you to just buy the closest touch paint color you can find at a nearby autoparts store.

The factory process used, is very similar to what BBS does to produce their highly sought after Diamond Black wheel finish. You can't buy 'touch-up' paint for that color either...

Just touch the stone chip up the best you can. That's the best you will be able to do.

WCH · 07-06-2009, 09:39 AM

Unfortunately this also true of the gray color in the windows of the 19" OEMs too.

Nawaaz · 07-06-2009, 09:44 AM

Just paint the all 4 wheels black! (I may)

mPlasticDesign · 07-06-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemans_Blue_M

Sorry to have to tell you this...but you won't be able to find any 'touch up paint' to color match the Dark Graphite finish on the OEM 18's...

That's because it doesn't exist...

The Dark Graphite color on those wheels is a rather complex (multi-stage, multi-color) finish, and it's virtually impossible to duplicate outside of the factory. Knowing the intricate details of how this is done, I would advise you to just buy the closest touch paint color you can find at a nearby autoparts store.

The factory process used, is very similar to what BBS does to produce their highly sought after Diamond Black wheel finish. You can't buy 'touch-up' paint for that color either...

Just touch the stone chip up the best you can. That's the best you will be able to do.

Not surprising, since the 18's are made by BBS for BMW

arctic335i · 07-06-2009, 04:51 PM

Thanks guys!

cchan · 10-08-2009, 09:53 PM

FWIW, Space Gray touch up paint is fairly close to the 18" wheels. The base coat looks a little lighter than the original paint, but it gets a little darker and closer in tone if you add the clear on top. From some angles it is almost perfect, from others it is a little bit lighter/more silvery. Not sure if that is due to reflectivity. Might be able to play with how much metallic flakes get applied to make it lighter/darker (it is dark gray paint with metallic particles that kind of "float" to the top as it sets - it looks too dark on the brush, but turns out OK).

major_kusanagi · 10-09-2009, 10:22 AM

go to a local hobby shop and try to get Tamiya's gunmetal. It's a little dark, but you can mix it with chrome silver.

SlammedR8 · 10-09-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cchan

FWIW, Space Gray touch up paint is fairly close to the 18" wheels. The base coat looks a little lighter than the original paint, but it gets a little darker and closer in tone if you add the clear on top. From some angles it is almost perfect, from others it is a little bit lighter/more silvery. Not sure if that is due to reflectivity. Might be able to play with how much metallic flakes get applied to make it lighter/darker (it is dark gray paint with metallic particles that kind of "float" to the top as it sets - it looks too dark on the brush, but turns out OK).

i would think it is closer to sparkling grahite than space gray

cchan · 10-09-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slammedm3

i would think it is closer to sparkling grahite than space gray

That was the other color choice I was considering, so if someone tries or has tried it and gets good results, it would be good to know/compare. I decided to go with space gray over sparkling graphite based on pictures posted on this site, which looked like sparkling graphite was darker than the wheels with a bit of purple in it.

I'll try to post up a picture of my space gray touch up soon.

07-05-2009, 12:46 PM	#1
arctic335i arctic335i 5 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	M3 18 inch wheels paint touch up... Dear All: I have the stock 18 inch wheels on my M3 - they have a thick application of gray paint, as you know. Unfortunately, I have a large stone chip on one of them. Does anybody know a good touch-up paint to match? I did a search but couldn't find anyhing. Thanks!
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07-06-2009, 09:39 AM	#3
WCH Lieutenant Colonel 347 Rep 1,844 Posts Drives: '20 M8C convertible Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (8) Garage List 2022 Porsche Cayenn ... [0.00] 2020 BMW M8C [0.00] 2017 Porsche Macan GTS [0.00]	Unfortunately this also true of the gray color in the windows of the 19" OEMs too.
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07-06-2009, 09:44 AM	#4
Nawaaz Brigadier General 221 Rep 4,643 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Just paint the all 4 wheels black! (I may)
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07-06-2009, 04:51 PM	#6
arctic335i arctic335i 5 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys!
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10-08-2009, 09:53 PM	#7
cchan Private 11 Rep 91 Posts Drives: '12 F30 328i/'11 C2S/'04 GT3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SF Bay, CA iTrader: (1)	FWIW, Space Gray touch up paint is fairly close to the 18" wheels. The base coat looks a little lighter than the original paint, but it gets a little darker and closer in tone if you add the clear on top. From some angles it is almost perfect, from others it is a little bit lighter/more silvery. Not sure if that is due to reflectivity. Might be able to play with how much metallic flakes get applied to make it lighter/darker (it is dark gray paint with metallic particles that kind of "float" to the top as it sets - it looks too dark on the brush, but turns out OK). __________________ Golden Gate BMWCCA - Car Control Clinics '13 C4S/'12 328i/'04 GT3 Past: '09 M3 DCT/'03 M3 SMG/'95 M3... missing an E30 I suppose...
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10-09-2009, 10:22 AM	#8
major_kusanagi SWARM & COIN 17 Rep 466 Posts Drives: 09 AW/FR/CF E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (3)	go to a local hobby shop and try to get Tamiya's gunmetal. It's a little dark, but you can mix it with chrome silver.
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