Hmmm, right, before I get butchered for being a chav....

I had an idea....

My alloys need a refurb - have very slight kerbing on a three of the alloys but it does my head in. I have a very good bodyshop guy that I trust for the job.

Now, here it comes...

Whilst they are off having a refurb, Im tempted to ask him to spray them slightly darker - only very slightly - not black gloss like all the Corsas and Astras seem to be roling around on in 'Norf Lundan' lately

When the car is due its fortnightly wash I cant help but stand back and think the front ones actually look spot on in terms of colour (dirty greyish) against the Race Blue Metallic and dark (b pillar back) tints of the car.

So, what do people think? If it was a subtle shade change, would it look better on the car?!

Thanks in advance,

Lee

ps this is when i wish I could use photoshop!

Would this give you a rough idea ?

I was always trying to convince Steve that he should have had anthracite on his black RS.

Would this give you a rough idea ?

God dam, Ive just had an accident

That has made my mind up. Think I'll have them done just a little lighter than that but that looks great to my eyes.

Thanks guys,

Lee

go for it

They look good. Mine are looking quite tatty so this could be an option.

I'm not sure this will work.

I had a set of Pegasus 17s as my 'winter wheels' last year and before fitting had them refurbished in 'Dark Anthracite'; objectively and on reflection they made the car look 'dirty'. Since then I have switched to some Audi S-Line 17s in standard silver that look, well - standard silver. My OE wheels that I currently use in the summer are B14s (18s) in Black Chrome that look brilliant.

Here are some pics of all three, I know they are on a red vRS but I'll let you decide;-

Hmm - I was about to load links to my photos on photobucket.com but can't get on, get message 'website not found'. Had this a couple of days ago as well. Anyone know what's up?

PS> Found photobucket; was entering the wrong address (it doesn't have www. Doh!)

Edited 2 October, 200817 yr by bahnstormer vrs
found photobucket!

Yep, wish swmbo would allow me to get mine done, prefer the darker colour.

This is all pretty positive - many thanks guys.

I'll be looking at a colour chart at the body shop tonight and I'll post picks of the final results....

Lee

Hmm - I was about to load links to my photos on photobucket.com but can't get on, get message 'website not found'. Had this a couple of days ago as well. Anyone know what's up?

My photobucket was playing up too...thats why i ended up just attaching the image.

This is all pretty positive - many thanks guys.

I'll be looking at a colour chart at the body shop tonight and I'll post picks of the final results....

Lee

i like the darker wheels also, dark silver tho rather than grey.

i'll have to come and have a look at your car in the flesh when u have got them done as i may also get mine done, although my wheels are not curbed (well only a 1 slight graze on an edge of 1 alloy where a brick at work just touched it, but luckily you cant see it unless i point it out)

Hels

i like the darker wheels also, dark silver tho rather than grey.

i'll have to come and have a look at your car in the flesh when u have got them done as i may also get mine done, although my wheels are not curbed (well only a 1 slight graze on an edge of 1 alloy where a brick at work just touched it, but luckily you cant see it unless i point it out)

Hels

Yep, I agree, dont want them too dark - I want to be able to clearly distinguish the tyres from the alloys from a distance - the picture above does look a little sort of milky grey - Im after a definite silver colour but darker. (I think)

Glad you considered getting yours done - thought you may just swap with mine when I wasnt looking!

Found my pics - see post #7 above.

Yep, dark silver sounds awesome Lee, not anthracite of grey, dark silver. Make sure you get plenty of flake put in there too.

I've literally just finished refurbing mine in "steel" which is darker than standard, but a little lighter than anthracite!

Once they're all dried and lacquered I'l post up some pics...

If the car wasn't black I would have done the same. Seen some dark gray ones on a white Golf, and they looked awesome.

I've literally just finished refurbing mine in "steel" which is darker than standard, but a little lighter than anthracite!

Once they're all dried and lacquered I'l post up some pics...

OT - Just seen your company car with the lights on in Wickham, typical - some action goes down and you're messing with your car

Ooooo, now its getting technical

Just spoke to the guy and he says there are three different grades of alloy paint ranging from fine to course. He picked up on my saying I wanted a good sparkle in the paint (very technical I know) so he recommended a course paint.

He then said did I want the flecks to be silver or did I want them to be blue flecks to match the paintwork?! :confused:

I double checked what he meant and he said that the alloys could be painted whatever colour I wanted ('dark silver' is my current very general name for the colour Im thinking of) but put a blue metallic fleck so it glimmers blue when the sun hits it!

What do I go for?!

Opinions welcome

I wouldn't do the blue flakes. Makes it look boy racer.

I wouldn't do the blue flakes. Makes it look boy racer.

Hmmm, ok, I gather it can be very subtly done as that was my first reaction to him but thanks for the opinion

Any others?

Lee

I avoid washing my wheels a lot as the 'Brake Dust Grey' finsih suits the Black bodywork...

If i intended to keep the car next year, i'd whip them off and give them a going over with the Anthracite Grey i have on my Vauxhall wheels...

Sparkly silver flake like the flake you get on the standard wheels, just more of it

I've been experimenting with darker wheels (via the simple, "don't wash the wheels" technique). I think the darker they get the smaller they look (they are the std 18"). I'm nearly ready to give them their first wash, to see if I like the shiny light silver (ie stock) look better than the current dark matte (brake dust) grey.

Following from my earlier post #7 with pics, just to clarify my opinion;

Dark Anthracite - makes the wheels and car appear 'dirty'.

Standard Silver - not much wrong.

Black Chrome - Excellent. The black element has the desired styling effect of a darker wheel, whilst the chrome side of things emphasises the size (18") of the wheels; best of both world.

Black Chrome - Excellent. The black element has the desired styling effect of a darker wheel, whilst the chrome side of things emphasises the size (18") of the wheels; best of both world.

Not my cuppa Im afraid but thanks for the input

Thanks to all infact!

Im going with a dark silver finish with silver flecks (not blue). He's offered for me to go down there for a discussion on exact colour and to be there once he starts the mixing - he can vary this adding a darker colour bit by bit unitl I reckon it looks right.

Its going in to be done in 10 days time. I'll post some before and after photos.

Thanks again,

Lee