Give me Chrome- where to go, how much should it be

F

Flys Helicopters

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16 March 2007
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I am considering chroming my stock 04 wheels and live in Nor Cal. Any reccomendations on where to go and what will this cost? Obviously quality is paramont.

thanks for any inputs:biggrin:
 
Why not just get new wheels that are already chromed?

That way you don’t destroy the OEM wheels.

If you don’t want to have the option of returning your car back to stock sell them on prime to help pay for your new rims.

That is what I would do:smile:

Charles
 
Flys Helicopters said:
I am considering chroming my stock 04 wheels and live in Nor Cal. Any reccomendations on where to go and what will this cost? Obviously quality is paramont.

thanks for any inputs:biggrin:
Click to expand...

You sure about this? I don't think Chrome looks good on an NSX. Its more for blingy cars... like escalades... why put chrome on a performance car? what factory performance car has chrome wheels? No Ferrari, Lambo, no Porsche, no exotic like a Zonda, a Veyron, no Koenigsegg, S7, none of these cars come with anything other than Carbon Fiber, Magnesium, forged aluminum, etc.

Do you really like the way chrome looks on an NSX? I mean to each their own, I am not telling you what to do... but it just seems like the wrong thing for this car. :frown:
 
thanks for the inputs, all pretty interesting to consider

it might be cheaper to pick up aftermarket wheels and not take away from the OEM configuration

it might look cool in black chrome

and your right I have never seen a Ferrari with Chromies, however I have seen the Saleen with Chrome and it is pimp'n

If the cost of doing chrome to the OEM is unreasonable, it would make sence to purchase some aftermarkets. I have had brushed and polished wheels on all my sports cars and never had chrome, I think thats why I was thinking down this path.

So who knows how much this costs, that might answer the questions at hand.

my next question will be if I do go aftermarket, what wheel what tire for everyday driving?? the $64M question

:eek:
 
I think chrome has its own look on the NSX depend on what kind of wheels but other just give the NSX a better look. When I bought my NSX, it came with the chrome Enkei 5 spokes wheels. They look pretty nice but I plan to powdercoat them to be Glossy black on my Formula Red NSX.


Good luck with your decision.:smile:
 
I have Volk CE28N's and was planning on having them chromed to get rid of the dull Titanium Silver paint that they come in. I am very interested in this Permastar finish. It sounds like it may hold up better than chrome plate in a tropical climate and it's supposed to be a lot lighter and more durable than chrome plate. The option of having a less "blingy" shade of "chrome" is also appealing to me.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this Permastar finish?

Any comments would be GREATLY appreciated!
 
Flys Helicopters said:
I am considering chroming my stock 04 wheels and live in Nor Cal. Any reccomendations on where to go and what will this cost? Obviously quality is paramont.

thanks for any inputs:biggrin:
Click to expand...

Check out Wheel Techniques -

http://www.wheeltechniques.com/

I too have been thinking about chroming my stock 03 wheels to black chrome... I saw them at HIN last year and their work looks good. They're also local (Norcal)...
 
.
ANYTIME said:
After having wheels in traditional chrome for many years and currently using the powdercoating, I can comment on the traditional chroming process and the new age powdercoating chrome look.

Traditional chrome: Flakes and peals if subjected to salt water and or chemicals. Finish is only shiny on the outer surfaces. Looks pretty good for the first 2 years, after that it slowly starts loosing its luster without proper maintenance. Pricing is around $125 per wheel, depending on size.
1-2 year warranty

Powdercoat chrome: Awesome imitation of chrome. Chrome like finish coverage on every exposed surface, including the barrel. Black Chrome available. Pricing is around $200 per wheel, depending on size.
5 year warranty (Goodrich Technology)

What you are looking for is a patented process called PermaStar.

For more info on PermaStar powdercoating of wheels, check out Pacific Rims


Good luck in your search,
John :biggrin:
Click to expand...
 
Vapor deposition is not a cheap process. I wonder about the depth of the deposited coating.

Chrome on aluminum in the salt belt is a bad idea. If the chrome is breached it sets up an automatic galvanic cell. Not good for the aluminum.
 
Alan C. Thanks for the comments... The vapor chrome is very thin. The website said it's thin enough that you would be able to scratch it off with a fingernail if they didn't put on the clear topcoat. They do guarantee the finish for lifetime and guarantee the clear coat for 5 years against yellowing or peeling.

I am seriously considering the power coated chrome finish for my Volk CE28N's for the light weight and durability of the finish.

Now I have to decide what would look better on my red NSX...Bright Chrome or Black Chrome.

What do you guys think?

If anyone has any photos, or black chrome on a red NSX, please post pics!

Is it possible to photoshop a picture of a red NSX with chromed/black chromed wheels i.e.CE28N's?

Much Thanks.
 
Last edited:
I would definitely go with black chrome. Much more sporty IMO.
 
I saw an actual example of a black chrome wheel last night at a car show. It was VERY black. I would prefer something more like a smokey silver color similar to some "hyper black" wheels I've seen. Has anyone else seen black chrome wheels? If anyone has photos to post, that would be great!
 
Not all black chrome is the same color. Some use the true black chroming process which is naked and needs a clear coat to be stable. Some are powder coat. The best one I've seen is the Permastar PVD. If you search around on their website, you will find some wheel manufacturers use the Permastar process for their OEM wheels. You can't really show the color through pictures. I'm with you on wheels that are too black, I think black wheels are a sin. But black chrome is quite unique, rare and not played out.

ACF86
 
This is really turning out to be some discussion but I have not seen any reccomendations on plating houses or some estimate of costs. Has anybody out there done this with success? Or is it just best to go directly to aftermarket and maintain the OEM package for down the road?

I noticed a statement on the degradation properties associated with Chrome including a time duration and would only add that depending on composition thickness on the Ni-Cu-Chrome, one my think those fact vary.

I am going to give these folks in the central valley a ring on Monday and see what they have experienced and a quote that I will post on this string.
http://www.westernchrome.net/index.php3?ShowPage=process

thanks all for the inputs, keep em coming
 
Malibu, Thanks for posting the pic.
I agree, It's difficult to judge color of a reflective black finish in photos. I've checked out Permastar's website and can't really tell how black their chrome is. I am hoping that they can make it a silvery black color.
 
Alan,
I agree. I would ideally like a silvery "Black Chrome" center with bright chrome Lip. I don't know if this can be done on my CE28N's. But I would pay $1,000 if someone could do it well. The quote I got for the Permastar bright chrome from Pacific is $175 per wheel and $200 per wheel in Permastar black chrome. I'm concerned that an all bright chrome wheel may look too "Bling" for my otherwise "sleeper stock looking" car.
 
I agree, I wouldn't go for all chrome. I just picked up a set of the HP Evos with siver centers and polished stainless lips. But I really like the look of the black/silver now that I have seen it on a red NSX
 
TURBO2GO said:
You sure about this? I don't think Chrome looks good on an NSX. Its more for blingy cars... like escalades... why put chrome on a performance car? what factory performance car has chrome wheels? No Ferrari, Lambo, no Porsche, no exotic like a Zonda, a Veyron, no Koenigsegg, S7, none of these cars come with anything other than Carbon Fiber, Magnesium, forged aluminum, etc.

Do you really like the way chrome looks on an NSX? I mean to each their own, I am not telling you what to do... but it just seems like the wrong thing for this car. :frown:
Click to expand...

Chrome is an option on Ferrari, Lambo and Porsches ;) ....and on our beloved NSX too.

These luxury, high end sports cars have a "bling" appeal as well. That's why they're featured in some music videos as a status symbol :)
 
Chrome is an option on Ferrari, Lambo and Porsches ....and on our beloved NSX too.
Click to expand...
I had forgotten that Porsche used a vapor deposited smoke/black chrome on a MY '2000' special edition. The car was a deep burgundy metallic. Came off looking pretty good. I wouldn't want to be on the paying end for a set of those.
 
Thanks for the lead, I will have a look.

The good folks at Goodrich Technology provided the following professional response. Nice option, good price for an CVD chrome.
Jack,
You might contact our dealer. They may have the stock wheels done in our process in stock. That way you can do an exchange with them and speed things up and they may be able to work a better deal with you.
Our lead time is about 2 weeks after we receive them and we charge $175.00 each. I have attached a price list for you if you wish to come to us directly.
Regards,
Patrick J. Colahan
Vice-President & COO
Goodrich Technology Corporation
Office 925-432-7782 x12
Fax 925-432-7785
Mobile 925-864-1756
Email [email protected]
URL www.goodrichtechnology.com


still awaiting the response from western
 

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