Strippin factory finish off stock wheels - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Pilotx1 · #1 06-06-2002, 12:14 AM

Ive got a '84 190e 2.3l 8v with the stock alloy wheels. When I got the car the wheels had about 75% of the finish remaining on them, I took the worst looking wheel, and removed the rest of the finish with steelwool and elbow grease. Taking the finish off took me about 4-5 hours and really sore fingers but it looks sweet without the ratty finish on them. Does anyone know of a way to remove the factory finish without dulling the metal beneath. I tried acetone on a second wheel and found that while it dissolves the finish it also leaves a dull coating on the metal that is nearly impossible to remove without alot of sanding with a dremel tool and that takes about 5 mins for a square inch. Any help removing the finish would be geatly appreciated, or if anyone knows where the wheels could be sent to be stripped that would be awesome too. Thanks.

Ashman · #2 06-06-2002, 12:42 AM

you can try aircraft stripper or some other kind of strong stripper, then polish it with a polishing pad on your drill.

Should come out looking good. I believe Larry Bible did this on some wheels.

Alon

AV · #3 06-06-2002, 12:42 AM

Hello
Recently on a business trip to Seattle I had a friend send out wheels that were really pitted and scuffed on his Benz to a shop called Factory Direct Tire Sales (in Edmonds) and we were totaly amazed when they came back......like brand new especially one that i thought was beyond repair with serious gouges and abraisons.
I highly recommend them.Very professional shop indeed.

AV

#4 06-06-2002, 08:22 AM

I was talking about doing this on an odd set of wheels that I have to make them all look the same, but I wimped out. The stripper would lift the finish, but there was a really thick white undercoat of some sort. It was going to be very difficult and hazardous. The wheels looked pretty good, it was just that one wheel is brilliant aluminum and the other three are the painted silver type finish.

My 300E looks decent, but it is my work car. I decided to put the wheels on as is and see what they look like. I have my eyes open looking for a nicer set. I mounted and balanced the tires a few weeks ago and expect to put them on soon. I am closely watching the old tires after alignment to ensure no bad wear patterns before committing the tires to the car.

I considered taking the wheels to a body shop and see how much they would charge to strip them.

Good luck,