Chrome Rims - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TX76513 · #16 01-23-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARINUTS

I hate chrome. I have chrome wheels on my 300sd and they leak, I have to fill up one tire everyday in the winter, In the summer it's not that bad but I still have to fill up that one tire every few days. I wish I could just strip all the chrome off. It's horrendous. I've gone to the tire shop about a dozen times for that one tire, the dismount the tire each time and put sealer around the bead, lasts for a few weeks, then it starts to leak again.

Stop buying cheap tires

KAdams4458 · #17 01-23-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Stop buying cheap tires

I was somewhat puzzled by chrome being blamed for severe leakage... The chrome wheels on my Chrysler are completely leak-free - The only leak-free alloy wheels I've ever owned.

Maybe those leaky wheels just have corroded bead seats, it's not uncommon on chromed alloys if they aren't maintained properly.

TX76513 · #18 01-23-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAdams4458

I was somewhat puzzled by chrome being blamed for severe leakage... The chrome wheels on my Chrysler are completely leak-free - The only leak-free alloy wheels I've ever owned.

Maybe those leaky wheels just have corroded bead seats, it's not uncommon on chromed alloys if they aren't maintained properly.

Yeah - my SDL doesn't have any issues either. Bad tires or Bad Rim

babymog · #19 01-23-2009, 06:51 PM

Chrome plating doesn't degrade the strength of aluminum-alloy wheels, it can actually enhance it slightly.

The plating process doesn't have any heat. If anything, polishing the wheels (properly) will add strength by removing surface roughness (aka: stress risers).

Once the aluminum is buffed & polished, it is zincated, copper plated, buffed, sometimes copper plated again (to build surface for plating, depends on the surface quality), nickle plated, then chrome plated.

The reason I suspect that Mercedes prefers polishing to plating is that plating is all heavy metals and that added weight (along with the poorer heat-transmission properties) negates part of what the light-alloy wheels are attempting to do.

Also, polished aluminum is much brighter (shinier?) than chrome, which is why aluminum is used for light reflectors instead of chrome (silver is brighter still, but aluminum is the most common). Unfortunately though, most clear-coats on aluminum tend to dull the finish.

KAdams4458 · #20 01-23-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

Chrome plating doesn't degrade the strength of aluminum-alloy wheels, it can actually enhance it slightly.

The plating process doesn't have any heat. If anything, polishing the wheels (properly) will add strength by removing surface roughness (aka: stress risers).

Once the aluminum is buffed & polished, it is zincated, copper plated, buffed, sometimes copper plated again (to build surface for plating, depends on the surface quality), nickle plated, then chrome plated.

The reason I suspect that Mercedes prefers polishing to plating is that plating is all heavy metals and that added weight (along with the poorer heat-transmission properties) negates part of what the light-alloy wheels are attempting to do.

Also, polished aluminum is much brighter (shinier?) than chrome, which is why aluminum is used for light reflectors instead of chrome (silver is brighter still, but aluminum is the most common). Unfortunately though, most clear-coats on aluminum tend to dull the finish.

What brought about this warning from manufacturers such as MB is that copper on aluminum will result in galvanic corrosion. You're absolutely right about them being zincated first - if done properly, they are double zincated. Some platers chose to skip the double process, and insufficient isolation of the copper and aluminum resulted. I can't tell you how many times I have seen this in person. Also, as you suggested, damage to the chrome finish that penetrates through the chrome and down to the aluminum can kickstart the galvanic corrosion, and once it starts, it develops rapidly. Such damage can be inflicted by careless tire shop workers, and the bead seat could become dangerously corroded without even being visible.

That, my friends, is why MB dislikes chrome plating their aluminum wheels. Chrome on aluminum that is properly plated and properly cared for will not do this. The proper plating process itself does not weaken or damage the aluminum. Only when the copper and aluminum get together do bad things happen.

Yes, chrome on aluminum is sort of like playing with fire. All it takes is a mild ding on the lip of the rim or a stray rock to start the chain reaction of destruction. I fully understand why MB doesn't recommend applying chrome to their wheels. It could make their product look to be faulty if they didn't put the kibosh on chroming.

Hey, sometimes I'm pretty smart!

jpjp22 · #21 01-23-2009, 11:04 PM

Joe, Nice looking rims.

Go onto ebay and get some chrome center caps from importbaron (no connection to the guy) He's cheaper than the rest and mine shipped quickly (arrived today). The quality seems good too.

I have the same color car (Champagne Metallic) and although I always preferred the look of the regular alloy colored wheels on these cars, I think the chrome sets of the "gold", at least in most lighting situations. (This paint sometimes reflects a little pinkish which is maybe where they got the "Champagne" name?)

Anyway, I bought the same rims from a local guy off craigslist and really was not going to buy them becuase the visible inside "lip" surface is filthy. As I suspected, it's going to take some kind of mircale to get all that off. I guess I need some kind of attachment for my dremel and some nasty chemicals?

Some people might not care and just leave it dirty (it's almost uniformly black) but I think it looks crappy. It is indeed shiny under there. Maybe I shoudln't have looked at the pics of new ones at the LA Wheel and Tire website? Anyway I could swear I saw a sale they had where these were $480 including caps and lug bolts and you had to give them your old wheels.

At any rate, I paid over $200 for my wheels and now almost $100 for chrome lug bolts and center caps. I hope they look good when I finally get them installed this spring. The chrome looks pretty flawless.

BTW, I thought they left the factory chromed, but maybe they just left the dealership chromed? Or maybe not even that? But mine are OEM wheels.

Also mine are 15 x 6.5 ET 21.5mm offfset, while the ones on the car now are 7J x 15H2 ET 25mm offset. I didn;t know this until I got home and scrubbed the area pretty good. I think I read somehwre that these will work fine. I would really love to hear from someone that this is true. I'm gonna try them out anyway eventually.

ARINUTS · #22 01-23-2009, 11:51 PM

The tires are not the problem, the leak(s) are clearly around the bead seat. you can see the little bubbles all around it when it's submerged into a water tub. I won't argue that they weren't maintained properly. that's just they way I acquired them.

Is there anything I can do about the leaks?

jcciem · #23 01-24-2009, 12:16 AM

They look spectacular!

'91 350SD 535,000
'87 300SDL 235,000
'94 SL500 45,000

JordaanDMC-12 · #24 01-24-2009, 01:00 AM

DAMN

those look so good! I wish I could have found a pair like that when I had my 300E!

KAdams4458 · #25 01-24-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpjp22

Joe, Nice looking rims.

Go onto ebay and get some chrome center caps from importbaron (no connection to the guy) He's cheaper than the rest and mine shipped quickly (arrived today). The quality seems good too.

I have the same color car (Champagne Metallic) and although I always preferred the look of the regular alloy colored wheels on these cars, I think the chrome sets of the "gold", at least in most lighting situations. (This paint sometimes reflects a little pinkish which is maybe where they got the "Champagne" name?)

Anyway, I bought the same rims from a local guy off craigslist and really was not going to buy them becuase the visible inside "lip" surface is filthy. As I suspected, it's going to take some kind of mircale to get all that off. I guess I need some kind of attachment for my dremel and some nasty chemicals?

Some people might not care and just leave it dirty (it's almost uniformly black) but I think it looks crappy. It is indeed shiny under there. Maybe I shoudln't have looked at the pics of new ones at the LA Wheel and Tire website? Anyway I could swear I saw a sale they had where these were $480 including caps and lug bolts and you had to give them your old wheels.

At any rate, I paid over $200 for my wheels and now almost $100 for chrome lug bolts and center caps. I hope they look good when I finally get them installed this spring. The chrome looks pretty flawless.

BTW, I thought they left the factory chromed, but maybe they just left the dealership chromed? Or maybe not even that? But mine are OEM wheels.

Also mine are 15 x 6.5 ET 21.5mm offfset, while the ones on the car now are 7J x 15H2 ET 25mm offset. I didn;t know this until I got home and scrubbed the area pretty good. I think I read somehwre that these will work fine. I would really love to hear from someone that this is true. I'm gonna try them out anyway eventually.

It sounds like you have a nasty case of brake dust and road grime build-up. What you need is some Castrol Super Clean, a few soft scrub brushes, a can or Eagle One Nevr-Dull wadding polish, and plenty of running water.

Working on one wheel at a time saturate the wheel front and back with Super Clean, let it work for a minute or two, agitate with a brush, and rinse. Repeat as necessary until the wheel is free of nastiness, and rinse it extremely well when finished. Let it dry and then hit it with the Nevr-Dull.

I actually envy you. Bringing filthy chrome wheels from black and neglected to bright and shiny must be one of the most rewarding cleaning jobs ever. You will feel awesome once they are clean.

KAdams4458 · #26 01-24-2009, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARINUTS

The tires are not the problem, the leak(s) are clearly around the bead seat. you can see the little bubbles all around it when it's submerged into a water tub. I won't argue that they weren't maintained properly. that's just they way I acquired them.

Is there anything I can do about the leaks?

Maybe.

If the tire shop has glopped sealant on there several times, but has never taken the time to clean the bead, they may simply be making matters worse. This isn't a suggestion anyone wants to hear, but you might consider starting with the worst leaker by having the tire pulled and bead properly and completely cleaned. You'll either find damage that will require the wheel/s to be replaced, slight damage that can be repaired by painting on a new sealing surface, or just a nasty layer of rotting tire residue and over-applied sealant preventing a leak-free seal.

ARINUTS · #27 01-25-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAdams4458

Maybe.

If the tire shop has glopped sealant on there several times, but has never taken the time to clean the bead, they may simply be making matters worse. This isn't a suggestion anyone wants to hear, but you might consider starting with the worst leaker by having the tire pulled and bead properly and completely cleaned. You'll either find damage that will require the wheel/s to be replaced, slight damage that can be repaired by painting on a new sealing surface, or just a nasty layer of rotting tire residue and over-applied sealant preventing a leak-free seal.

Well, I have , in the past, watched the tire guy work on the wheel, and I saw him take the tire of , and then use a wire brush on the wheel. then he would apply the black bead sealer and install the tire. This would last for a few weeks then the leak would start again, slowly, then it would gradually get worse. and it gets worse in the cold weather.

lkchris · #28 01-25-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAdams4458

Sure are a lot of chrome haters here.

Does acknowledging Mercedes' prohibitions around chroming its wheels make you a hater?

Or does it make you informed and one who prefers function over form?

You're aware, I assume, chromed wheels are prohibited in NASCAR as a safety measure?

KAdams4458 · #29 01-25-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARINUTS

Well, I have , in the past, watched the tire guy work on the wheel, and I saw him take the tire of , and then use a wire brush on the wheel. then he would apply the black bead sealer and install the tire. This would last for a few weeks then the leak would start again, slowly, then it would gradually get worse. and it gets worse in the cold weather.

I don't know, but I'd consider that sufficient grounds to go shopping for another set of wheels. That just doesn't sound good.

KAdams4458 · #30 01-25-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

Does acknowledging Mercedes' prohibitions around chroming its wheels make you a hater?

Or does it make you informed and one who prefers function over form?

You're aware, I assume, chromed wheels are prohibited in NASCAR as a safety measure?

Hold on there, I didn't intend for that to be an inflammatory statement, hence the little "heh" that followed it. Let's relax and exchange information. That's what this forum is for, right?

Anyway, being informed is excellent, so long as the information is accurate. I see in this thread that some people thought chroming an aluminum wheel actually weakened it, and have seen that sentiment echoed several times on this forum, but it is not accurate or factual. I did my best to clarify the facts in a previous post. Choosing form over function makes perfect sense, but without the facts it is impossible to make a properly informed decision. Here in this thread are some very good facts about the effects of chrome on alloy wheels, as well as the real reason MB doesn't like it. Anyone that reads the thread can now make better decisions about whether to run chromed wheels or not, and that is a good thing.

About that NASCAR chrome ban - It's based on a completely different reason than MB's anti-chrome stance... Banning chrome in NASCAR for the reason they banned it makes sense, as chrome can hide cracks in the wheel. I'm guessing it happened once, and so, chrome is banned. I don't know that it is a common problem, but I suppose it would also hide cracks in a Mercedes wheel as well. I've never given it much thought, as wheels on a street car don't see the sorts of stress that a wheel on a cup car is going to see. It is a fact, nonetheless, and is something worthy of consideration. Also worth considering is that it has never, to my knowledge, been cited as a reason for MB advising not to chrome their wheels. It is undoubtedly a lot less common than galvanic corrosion, which is the sole reason MB doesn't want chrome put on their alloys.

Chrome is a pain in the butt no matter what. It scratches and can't be polished out. it bleeds rust on steel wheels and can lead to galvanic corrosion on alloy wheels, which means if you care about your safety and the safety of others, you inspect your chromed alloys constantly in order to know if the wheels are still safe. It's a high maintenance cosmetic treatment with practically no positives other than appearance, and that is entirely a matter of personal taste. Even with all of the negatives, I still find some cars look good with some chrome wheels.

Again, I'm only trying to present the truth about chrome on alloys. Practically speaking, everyone should stay the heck away from them, but darn if they don't have the ability to look good!