I had the bundt wheels from my '83 300TD powdercoated recently and thought I would share the spec of the powdercoat product used to match the original paint color. The goal was to match the wheel to the center "hubcap" which is painted plastic. Clear coat was also applied to the color.

Of course it makes sense to have a sample plate coated before doing the wheels to make sure you wil be happy with the color.

Peter

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Wow, that wheel looks excellent. Congratulations. And thanks for posting the powercoat specifications - excellent information.

I do have a related question that I've been carrying around for years that I'll throw out here and perhaps someone will help cure me of my ignorance.
So, the 4 bundt wheels on my 1985 300D are chromed - orginally not, of course.
Question: Is it possible to get rid of the chrome (however the pros do so) and then powdercoat to bring the wheels back to like OEM?

Thanks for any clarifications.

I am guessing you would get out cheaper buying four good bundts and having them powder coated - or repaint them yourself.

Thanks. This does cause me to remember another related question, LOL:
Once these wheels have been chromed, are they essentially kaput as far as finish is concerned outside of someone re-chroming them or is even that not financially/practically feasible?

Did you media blast them first or was that part of the service?

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92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

Anything can be de-chromed in the same way it was chromed in the first place, with electrolysis. If you're handy you could probably do it yourself but any pro shop will do it. That's SOP for old bumpers before putting new chrome on.

You won't find many pros that will paint or powder coat over old chrome.

Yes, media blast was included as part of the powdercoat service. The original factory finish on the wheels was pretty dodgy with most of the clear coat flaking off.

Peter

Interesting. Sounds straightforward for re-chromning old bumpers.

Do mean:
1. Old chrome that is still there...hasn't been dealt with through electrolysis?
or
2. Even after the old chrome has been dealt with through electrolysis?

Thanks-

Once something is just bare steel or aluminum you can do whatever you want with it. If there's still chrome left on something it's not a good surface to paint or powder coat. My first body shop job was at this place where the owner completely botched every job he did and even he still removed chrome before doing anything to it, so that should tell you something. LOL

Poor guy, LOL. Ah well, at least he had a small meaasure of good sense or the awareness to know that NO MATTER WHAT, remove that chrome before doing anything else. Funny.

Having successfuly done a W123 head gasket and full front end rebuild, I'm fairly handy, I think. Hence, I'll do some searching about electrolysis. Maybe doing it is in my wheelhouse. I have the space for it. So...

Thanks again-

chroming is multistep. 2 or 3 with different acids IIRC
copper, then nickel, then chrome?

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1977 240D auto w/OM616.916 engine
2005 Matrix 5spd
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I'm definitely not advocating chrome plating at home, it's pretty nasty to do it right. I don't even know what all is involved with de-chroming, but I do know you can electrolytically remove rust, etch, and do certain types of plating at home very simply, and I know there are de-chroming videos out there.

Just be aware that it's not the end all be all solution .

It chips and them when moisture gets underneath it the moisture travels and causes severe corrosion elsewhere, Motocycle frames have been known to collapse from being powder coated .

Many powder coating shops don't do stellar work so not only check Yelp and other online places for shop comments but GO AND LOOK IN PERSON ~ most of the shops I checked out had items that looked great from 10 feet away but had fish eyes and other defects close and thought that was acceptable .

My first place did good works but, didn't use the proper color I'd selected, they painted them some odd shade of gray .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better