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      03-02-2008, 03:19 PM   #1
T Bone
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Question Powdercoating Wheels - weaken wheels?

Gents,

I would like your opinion. I am interested in powdercoating an extra set of OE M6 wheels. They are forged.

I want to powdercoat my OE wheels, but the 400 degree F curing process scared me as this may wreck the forging.

I will be tracking my car and don't want to weaken the wheels.

I have already painted one set of wheels but I am interested in powdercoating the other set.

Any opinions on whether the 400 degree F would weaken forged wheels?

Anyone know of a good place in the Toronto area?

Thanks.

I have posted this thread on the M5board but there is no definitive answer there.
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      03-02-2008, 10:45 PM   #2
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I have heard about this happening but yet to see this happen... just get it powdercoated by a professional and you shouldn't have any problems...
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      03-03-2008, 08:07 AM   #3
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Pwder coating forged wheels

This from Ralph Sheppard of RAC, "I cannot speak for anyone else's wheel - ours is a components of heat forged and can take anything up to 900 F."
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      03-03-2008, 08:28 AM   #4
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What is the alloy exactly, and how long will be wheels be cured at 400 degrees F? If you give me the answers, I'll ask my material scientist friend.
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      03-03-2008, 09:54 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lucid View Post
What is the alloy exactly, and how long will be wheels be cured at 400 degrees F? If you give me the answers, I'll ask my material scientist friend.

Your guess is as good as mine..... What ever materials BMW uses for their forged wheels is the best answer.
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      03-05-2008, 12:14 PM   #6
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So, I spoke to my materials scientist friend. Too many unkowns for you to have a straight answer. If the wheels were simply forged and not heat treated afterwards in any way, which he thinks is most likely the case, by curing them at 400 degrees F for "long enough" you might indeed weaken them as the the beneficial effects of strain hardening that occurs during the forging process might be reversed. That was going to be my initial response based on the introductory materials science class I took 15 years ago, but here we have it confirmed by an expert. Regardless, a specific answer cannot be reached without knowing if the wheels were heat treated after being forged and how long they will be cured for during powder coating at 400 degrees F.
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      03-05-2008, 12:29 PM   #7
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Are the M3 wheels forged too? I plan on powder coating mine when it gets here.
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      03-05-2008, 12:38 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cowmoo32 View Post
Are the M3 wheels forged too?
I think so.
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      03-05-2008, 12:47 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cowmoo32 View Post
Are the M3 wheels forged too? I plan on powder coating mine when it gets here.
The 19s are, not the 18s. I would paint instead of powdercoat. Powdercoating is much more difficult to repair when you get the eventual curb rash.
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