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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
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When the magnesium wheels first came out, they were a $3K option. Over the years the price was reduced and at the end of the C5 production, they were about a third of the cost. The big advantage to them was the light weight. However, they tended to chip easily either from rock chips or when tires were mounted/dismounted.
They are lighter. I never had any problem with damage during mounting or dismounting or from rock chips. 75K miles and no chips or damage. Damage may have been caused by inferior equipment at the tire shop.
I am really glad my '01 vert came with them. Love the way they look.
I think it comes down to subjective opinions on looks.
They are easily damaged. Many say they are lighter and magnesium is a light metal, however compared to the polished thinspokes and some others they are very similar in weight so I don't think there is much advantage there.
They're on my Anniversary and are perceptibly lighter IMO. . . .it does appear that they're prone to chips, so I got some touch up paint and a couple coats do the trick.
For Mag wheels there is life after death. When they get rock chips, mounting scapes, etc they soon become valuable to the autocrosser. They are 1.5 to 2 lbs lighter than stock wheels and the basic C5 run all 4 wheels and the Z06 use the back wheels on the front, using spacers. They can be repaired and aesthetic but many just go and buy new rims when there get chips and scrapes. If you can save 8 lbs of unsprung weight off the wheels, that is the equivalent of removing 32 lbs of weight. That along with the 16 lb saving with Z06 exhaust remove about 50 lbs of the mass from the vehicle.
They're sharp looking wheels. I'm currently in the process of refinishing a square set of 4 rears in a high gloss black to mount on my black 2000 FRC, which had them installed as an original option.
Unfortunately the yellow "MAGNESIUM" logo is long gone, but I will be attempting to reproduce it on a vinyl sticker to reapply, then clearcoat over.
The Sport Mags came as an original $3000 option on my '99. At the time, they were the only OEM option to the Wagon Wheels. The cost did go down after that. I like the color with Mag Red, black, blue, and white cars (but not so much on other colors - silver, yellow, torch red). When I got my car in 2010, the original set were very beat up - both rears and one front were chipped in many places. The other front was in significantly better shape and just very slightly different in color, as you might get between different runs, so I think that one was a replacement by the original owner. On the forum, I found a set that had been run for a few months and then taken off and stored (after some damage to one of the fronts, which was repaired but not very well) and bought those. I sold my original rears to a guy who wanted them for drag racing. I kept my original fronts, to be restored sometime. After four (or maybe five) years, the "new" set now has some chips. I put the worst of the fronts (the one that had been damaged and repaired) on the right so that if I ever curbed one it would be that one (and I did). Next time I have them rebalanced I will probably put my good original front one back on.
They are lighter, much better looking than the Wagon wheels, and the color looks great with certain body colors, but they damage/chip easily.
When the magnesium wheels first came out, they were a $3K option. Over the years the price was reduced and at the end of the C5 production, they were about a third of the cost. The big advantage to them was the light weight. However, they tended to chip easily either from rock chips or when tires were mounted/dismounted.
Yeah, I recently got a quote of $150 each to refinish.
Nsogiba
Your wheels look more silver than the OEM tan-ish color. did you have them refinished or is it just an effect of the picture?
When you say that you're getting a square set, do you mean that you are going 18 inch on all four corners?
Sorry to hijack the thread. I've got a set that I plan to put on my white 99 FRC, but I think a silver rim may look better on the white than the tan.
Nsogiba
Your wheels look more silver than the OEM tan-ish color. did you have them refinished or is it just an effect of the picture?
When you say that you're getting a square set, do you mean that you are going 18 inch on all four corners?
Sorry to hijack the thread. I've got a set that I plan to put on my white 99 FRC, but I think a silver rim may look better on the white than the tan.
I replied to your PM. That is the original color of the wheels, never refinished as far as I know. They look funny in the picture due to the white balance setting on the camera.
