BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Wheels + Tires Sponsored by The Tire Rack
  TireRack

KEEP M3POST ALIVE BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER LINK!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-02-2008, 03:19 PM   #1
T Bone
Brigadier General
T Bone's Avatar
529
Rep
4,021
Posts

Drives: 2008 335xi Coupe
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: The land where we kill baby seals

iTrader: (0)

Question Powdercoating Wheels - weaken wheels?

Gents,

I would like your opinion. I am interested in powdercoating an extra set of OE M6 wheels. They are forged.

I want to powdercoat my OE wheels, but the 400 degree F curing process scared me as this may wreck the forging.

I will be tracking my car and don't want to weaken the wheels.

I have already painted one set of wheels but I am interested in powdercoating the other set.

Any opinions on whether the 400 degree F would weaken forged wheels?

Anyone know of a good place in the Toronto area?

Thanks.

I have posted this thread on the M5board but there is no definitive answer there.
__________________
"Aerodynamics are for people who cannot build engines"......Enzo Ferrari
Appreciate 0
      03-02-2008, 10:45 PM   #2
highwaystardoritos
Photographer
highwaystardoritos's Avatar
United_States
64
Rep
164
Posts

Drives: Honda S2000
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne, Fl (ex-southern californian)

iTrader: (1)

I have heard about this happening but yet to see this happen... just get it powdercoated by a professional and you shouldn't have any problems...
__________________
-Steven
00 Honda S2000
09 E90 M3
Appreciate 0
      03-03-2008, 08:07 AM   #3
GregW / Oregon
Commander-In-Chief
2067
Rep
8,898
Posts

Drives: 2023 M2 Coupe, 2020 GLE 450
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lake Oswego, OR

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Pwder coating forged wheels

This from Ralph Sheppard of RAC, "I cannot speak for anyone else's wheel - ours is a components of heat forged and can take anything up to 900 F."
__________________

Greg Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA
2023 M2 Coupe - Brooklyn Grey/Cognac/CF, 6MT; 2020 MB GLE 450
Appreciate 0
      03-03-2008, 08:28 AM   #4
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

What is the alloy exactly, and how long will be wheels be cured at 400 degrees F? If you give me the answers, I'll ask my material scientist friend.
Appreciate 0
      03-03-2008, 09:54 AM   #5
T Bone
Brigadier General
T Bone's Avatar
529
Rep
4,021
Posts

Drives: 2008 335xi Coupe
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: The land where we kill baby seals

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by lucid View Post
What is the alloy exactly, and how long will be wheels be cured at 400 degrees F? If you give me the answers, I'll ask my material scientist friend.

Your guess is as good as mine..... What ever materials BMW uses for their forged wheels is the best answer.
__________________
"Aerodynamics are for people who cannot build engines"......Enzo Ferrari
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2008, 12:14 PM   #6
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

So, I spoke to my materials scientist friend. Too many unkowns for you to have a straight answer. If the wheels were simply forged and not heat treated afterwards in any way, which he thinks is most likely the case, by curing them at 400 degrees F for "long enough" you might indeed weaken them as the the beneficial effects of strain hardening that occurs during the forging process might be reversed. That was going to be my initial response based on the introductory materials science class I took 15 years ago, but here we have it confirmed by an expert. Regardless, a specific answer cannot be reached without knowing if the wheels were heat treated after being forged and how long they will be cured for during powder coating at 400 degrees F.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2008, 12:29 PM   #7
SS32
Major
SS32's Avatar
156
Rep
1,430
Posts

Drives: 2008 M3
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC

iTrader: (0)

Are the M3 wheels forged too? I plan on powder coating mine when it gets here.
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2008, 12:38 PM   #8
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cowmoo32 View Post
Are the M3 wheels forged too?
I think so.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2008, 12:47 PM   #9
GregW / Oregon
Commander-In-Chief
2067
Rep
8,898
Posts

Drives: 2023 M2 Coupe, 2020 GLE 450
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lake Oswego, OR

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by cowmoo32 View Post
Are the M3 wheels forged too? I plan on powder coating mine when it gets here.
The 19s are, not the 18s. I would paint instead of powdercoat. Powdercoating is much more difficult to repair when you get the eventual curb rash.
__________________

Greg Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA
2023 M2 Coupe - Brooklyn Grey/Cognac/CF, 6MT; 2020 MB GLE 450
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:53 PM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST