New didn't last long! Why is the wheel material black?

[Guzzi SVT]

I drove my new car from the dealer to home to drop off my wife, then to a pull through car wash, the kind with an attended to line you up, I have used for years, even with my Jag XKR w/20-285 BBS wheels, without a problem, then to work and home, only to notice big scrapes on my front and back drives side wheels!!!
Under the paint of my 20" wheels is black, not silver like you would expect aluminum to look. What are these wheels made of?

 

[mjhpadi]

I think the reason that a dark primer is used under the paint is that it will make the paint look better...I'm sure that someone who paints could give a better explanation then I have, but for years I have discovered that most light colors have a darker color primer underneath and that dark colors usually have a lighter color primer. I'm surprised that you use a car wash that actually touches the car...I have never seen one that doesn't scratch the paint...also, some of the cars that go through those car washes are really dirty and a lot of the residue remains on the brushes. Touchless is the only way to go or hand wash with a high quality mitt that you can clean after using. I'm about to hand wash my car in a few minutes...I am sorry that you have scratches on the wheels, you can probably remove them with Mequiar's Scratch X or a chemical like that and then coat them with a wax. Good luck.

 

[SHOrod]

Are you absolutely positive that you are seeing scratches that are through the paint rather than some other material being deposited on the wheels? I'd try wetting an old sock with some lacquer thinner (not paint thinner or mineral spirits) and rubbing the black to see if it comes off.

I have seen where dark backing colors are used to make light metallic paints really pop, but would be surprised if that's the case with the OEM wheels. Recently they came out with some chrome-look paints for lexan R/C car bodies, and the key to making it look right is to back the chrome paint with a uniform, heavy black paint. I don't know the reason behind that though.

The only reason I can think of to use a contrasting primer color on automotive finishes would be to make it easier to determine if the coverage of the color coat is uniform. For a robotic paint finish that would not seem like a necessary step.

-Rod

 

[Crash712us]

SHOrod your right about backing up chrome paints will with black. And primers due play a major role in your paints appearance even when applied roboticly. Many color base coat paints are some what transparent. Where this is the case with our wheels, I don't believe to be so. Reason being when I agreed to buy my demo car several of wheels had curb rash on them and ask to be replaced. I don't recall ever seeing black where wheels where scuffed up. I think more than likely what may have occurred seeing the wheels only left side where damaged, and that happens to be the same side the conveyor pulls your car thru the wash is your wheel rubbed the guide rail going thru, hopefully this just black plastic that rubbed off the guide rail on to your wheel. And this most car washes have disclaimers about vehicle damage, if you must use a car wash. when you pull in stay as far right as you can that the guide rail will only rub the inside of the wheel.

 

[mjhpadi]

The wheels are black under the silver color. I remember that my wheel that was damaged by stone chips and the one that got a curb scrape both showed black under the paint. I can verify that Guzzi is correct that there is black primer under the silver paint.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

I have the same issue with my Breytons that are on my G8... Black underneath silver.

 

[hawkeye18]

The Brembo wheels on my GT are a three-stage paint, just like your SHO's. Black base-coat, silver top-coat, and a clearcoat on top. Gives it a silvery mercury look that adds a lot of depth - and a lot of cost to repairs.

 

[SHOstopper1992]

 

[steve142857]

I think the reason that a dark primer is used under the paint is that it will make the paint look better...I'm sure that someone who paints could give a better explanation then I have, but for years I have discovered that most light colors have a darker color primer underneath and that dark colors usually have a lighter color primer. I'm surprised that you use a car wash that actually touches the car...I have never seen one that doesn't scratch the paint...also, some of the cars that go through those car washes are really dirty and a lot of the residue remains on the brushes. Touchless is the only way to go or hand wash with a high quality mitt that you can clean after using. I'm about to hand wash my car in a few minutes...I am sorry that you have scratches on the wheels, you can probably remove them with Mequiar's Scratch X or a chemical like that and then coat them with a wax. Good luck.

I have the same issue and I have been several times to car wash... I think he went to a touch less car wash (the only ones I use), but there is metal tubing on the floor to align the car and it seems that they are the ones scratching the mags. I realized it lately but the damages have been done. I will have to buy something to hide those black scratches...

 

[yamahaSHO]

Brembo wheels?

 

[Unknown_Driver]

I drove my new car from the dealer then to a pull through car wash, the kind with an attended to line you up, I have used for years, even with my Jag XKR w/20-285 BBS wheels,

why the **** would you do that with any nice car? you've probably marred your clearcoat to shit...
i want you to visit autopia.org and understand what you are doing to your paint when visiting these types of car washes (i'm pretty sure not a touchless car wash)

new paint on one side and abused/neglected what sounds like how you treat your paint on the other




correcting that problem properly isn't too cheap i.e. $300-400

 

[hawkeye18]

Brembo wheels?

Short-hand for the wheels you get when ordering the Brembo package on the '11+ Mustang.

 

[blaine109]

These wheels have a hypersilver/"reflect-a-chrome" finish, depending on who you're talking to, and have a lot of metallic content in the paint. The black primer is a special primer that let's the metallic content stick to it. The more coats of the paint the shinier the finish.

 

[yamahaSHO]

So that's what a Brembo looks like...

 

[gipraw]

Grab yourself a small bottle of cleaner wax, either Meg's or Mother's, and use a bit of it to see if it removes the marks. My guess is that it rubbed against the guide track, and that it will come off with a little polishing action. Usign something like Meguiar's SwirlX would also be a decent over the counter product to try.


Good quality, close up pictures of the damage would be a big help in providing you direction to fixing the issue.

 

[hawkeye18]

So that's what a Brembo looks like...

Is there a joke I'm not getting here somewhere?

 

[yamahaSHO]

Yeah, you posted a picture focused on your calipers.

 

[hawkeye18]

Yeah, you posted a picture focused on your calipers.

I google searched "brembo wheel". Based on the "Mustang Monthly" watermark, I'd say that isn't my car. The picture is a close-up of the wheel, and it shows the various hues and depths in it. That it also focuses on the caliper is an unintended coincidence.

Were I to take a picture of my wheel, you would not be able to see it under all the brake dust. It's ridiculous. I call it my four-coat wheel.

 

[hawkeye18]

Here is a picture of the wheel removed from the vehicle, so as to not offend:



It should be pointed out that this is also not my wheel; not only is it clean, but I've never bothered to remove my wheels at any point.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

And... there is rubber and tread on this one!!!!!