When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The other day I ran across a neighbor who wanted to sell his C6 wheels for $400. If I had planned on just keeping the wheels in their original finish (silver powder coat), this would have been a decent price. However, my plan was to have them chromed. After spending the entire morning calling all of the plating places in my local area, I found out that nobody chromes wheels anymore due to very restrictive EPA regulations. I was only able to find one place that did wheel chroming, and they send them to some place in CA to have it done, and, here's the kicker, they charge $350 per wheel, which is not cost effective at all. I can buy them already chromed cheaper than that. It seems the EPA is pricing everything out of existence in the automotive world. Having vehicles painted now is ridiculously expensive because of the EPA, and now chroming is becoming a thing of the past....sad...
I told you in your prior post that you wouldn't complete the purchase! All in all I think this is best for you for the reasons I gave. Buy the car 1st!
I told you in your prior post that you wouldn't complete the purchase! All in all I think this is best for you for the reasons I gave. Buy the car 1st!
To me having the car 1st doesn't matter...if I find a good deal on a set of chrome OEMs, I'll buy them...that's just one less thing I'll have to buy after I get the car...
Cal Chrome in southern Calif has both a chrome plating option or a wheel exchange program. Chrome plating dealing directly with them should come in at less than the prices you posted above. I had all 4 of the 20" OEM wheels on my truck plated by them last year for just over $1000 including shipping. Of course I only live about 500 miles from their headquarters so shipping was not totally expensive. I also had the CCW's chrome plated over 9 year ago when I bought them. Price was a little less back then.
Perhaps worth checking out their web site and learn about their exchange program and what is an acceptable exchange wheel and what is not and details of their exchange process.
They are not a supporting vendor so I can't post their web site but just Google "Cal Chrome".
I have been totally satisfied dealing with them and their work quality is excellent IMHO.
I will check with them on their pricing, but it looks like I'd be better off looking for someone selling a set...thanks for the info...
The other day I ran across a neighbor who wanted to sell his C6 wheels for $400. If I had planned on just keeping the wheels in their original finish (silver powder coat), this would have been a decent price. However, my plan was to have them chromed. After spending the entire morning calling all of the plating places in my local area, I found out that nobody chromes wheels anymore due to very restrictive EPA regulations. I was only able to find one place that did wheel chroming, and they send them to some place in CA to have it done, and, here's the kicker, they charge $350 per wheel, which is not cost effective at all. I can buy them already chromed cheaper than that. It seems the EPA is pricing everything out of existence in the automotive world. Having vehicles painted now is ridiculously expensive because of the EPA, and now chroming is becoming a thing of the past....sad...
An old high school classmate does chroming, here in central MA.
And because your original post was locked, I couldn't reply in it. I picked up a set of C6 reps, chrome, for $150. That was for ALL 4!!! That's a great deal!!!!
They look good, but I still think chrome looks better...
I mean, if you want to spend an exorbitant amount of money, for something that you can barely tell the difference in, especially in pictures or from a few feet away... Have at it! It's your money to waste
I LOVE polished too, but upkeep is whorish sometimes. Ill likely have a polished lip on some wheels for my Z soon and I know I'll cuss every time it comes to polish them lol
Those are fine and nice ..but polished wheels aren't nearly as stunning and reflect like chrome plate does . I don't care how much you rub and clean .The powder coat is even less impressive in my experience . Nothing gleams or adds a touch of class like chrome wheels . Wheels make or break s car . You can put a set of chrome mag wheels on about any bland looking car and see rubber necks and get compliments
Last edited by Lexybird; Aug 16, 2017 at 07:47 PM.
It seems this thread has turned into polished vs chromed. Both have their pros and cons. Polished rims don't pop like chrome, and they oxidize very quickly and need constant polishing to keep them looking nice. Chrome is a much brighter shine, but like some have pointed out it can peel. I still prefer chrome and will probably just look for a set of OEM chrome wheels...I think buying the non-chrome versions and then having them chromed is going to be too expensive...
I had a motorcycle with chromed aluminum wheels once. When the chrome started peeling, I had no other reasonable choice. Took me most of a winter, 3 or 4 evenings a week to remove the rest of the chrome (using a dremel tool mostly) and polish them. Never again.
I had a motorcycle with chromed aluminum wheels once. When the chrome started peeling, I had no other reasonable choice. Took me most of a winter, 3 or 4 evenings a week to remove the rest of the chrome (using a dremel tool mostly) and polish them. Never again.
I had a set of motorcycle rims chromed as well and I never had a problem with the chrome peeling...maybe it has something to do with the quality of the chroming process? I've also noticed you hardly ever (if ever at all) hear of the OEM wheels peeling, which are also aluminum, which makes me wonder if they use a different chroming process...
Last edited by grampi50; Aug 17, 2017 at 08:48 AM.
C6 rims
