Magnesium Wheels
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
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From: DFW Texas
Magnesium Wheels
My newly acquired 99 Vette came with Magnesium wheels and was told this is a major upgrade from 'stock' wheels. Does anyone really notice that?
Also, prior to my ownership, someone scraped one of the wheels on a curb and as made a fairly nasty rough spot at the top of the rim. Can those the filed out and re-polished? I can't tell, but it looks like it may have clearcoat on it. Would that be expected as well?
Please excuse the 'newbie' on the block, but this is my first vette and dang..It took about 3 minutes to engage a serious relationship with it!
Also, prior to my ownership, someone scraped one of the wheels on a curb and as made a fairly nasty rough spot at the top of the rim. Can those the filed out and re-polished? I can't tell, but it looks like it may have clearcoat on it. Would that be expected as well?
Please excuse the 'newbie' on the block, but this is my first vette and dang..It took about 3 minutes to engage a serious relationship with it!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 245
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From: Arvada, CO
Originally Posted by lvvette777
Magnesium wheels are the stock base wheels.
Whoever told you they were an upgrade was pulling your leg.
Whoever told you they were an upgrade was pulling your leg.
Can't remember what the upcharge was for the Magnesium wheels, but I recall they weren't cheap.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Forked River N.J.
Originally Posted by RVose 98 C5
You're kidding, right? The Magnesium wheels were not the stock, base wheel. For '99, base wheels were the infamous "wagon wheels" -- just like the '97 and '98s (see pic in my .sig).
Can't remember what the upcharge was for the Magnesium wheels, but I recall they weren't cheap.
Can't remember what the upcharge was for the Magnesium wheels, but I recall they weren't cheap.
They are not cheap--but I think hard to find, they are light but soft and you can damage them easly 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: West Linn OR
Originally Posted by RVose 98 C5
You're kidding, right? The Magnesium wheels were not the stock, base wheel. For '99, base wheels were the infamous "wagon wheels" -- just like the '97 and '98s (see pic in my .sig).
Can't remember what the upcharge was for the Magnesium wheels, but I recall they weren't cheap.
Can't remember what the upcharge was for the Magnesium wheels, but I recall they weren't cheap.
Over $3000 from the dealer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06
When I bought my vette the cost of the Magnesium wheels cost more in the US than it did in Canada for that option
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From: Bergerac Dordogne
The mag wheels on my 2000 were a £2000 dealer option in place of the standard alloys. They lower the unsprung weight.
They can be repaired effectively, but please be careful not to scrape or bash them, and make sure that if you ever remove the wheels for any reason that when refitting you use the correct grease and 'O' ring to prevent galvanitic corrosion. The potential between magnesium and steel will lead to the wheel being welded to the hub if this is not done.
They look quite nice thought, don't they?
They can be repaired effectively, but please be careful not to scrape or bash them, and make sure that if you ever remove the wheels for any reason that when refitting you use the correct grease and 'O' ring to prevent galvanitic corrosion. The potential between magnesium and steel will lead to the wheel being welded to the hub if this is not done.
They look quite nice thought, don't they?
Drifting
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From: Havin' fun in Frederick, MD!!!
St. Jude Donor '05 '09
Originally Posted by diyguy
Please excuse the 'newbie' on the block, but this is my first vette and dang..It took about 3 minutes to engage a serious relationship with it!
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The magnesium wheels were a $3000 option when they first came out. I happen to like the looks of them, especially on certain color cars. I would imagine that you can get these wheels repaired, but you may be able to pick up a nice used one at a decent price also.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
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From: DFW Texas
They can be repaired effectively, but please be careful not to scrape or bash them, and make sure that if you ever remove the wheels for any reason that when refitting you use the correct grease and 'O' ring to prevent galvanitic corrosion. The potential between magnesium and steel will lead to the wheel being welded to the hub if this is not done.
Can you expand on that? I did notice in a carfax report that wheel bearing on the front had been replaced at around 25,000 miles. (Dealer Comment on Carfax)
Where are these rubber O-Rings? Can't see a need to pull the wheels off yet, but would be a good item to check, as it was pre-owned when I got it.
Also, if in fact they are painted with clearcoat, WHY? Wouldn't a good rub down with Mother's Mag polish really make them stand out?
OK, OK.... maybe 2 seconds to luv it!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: UNDER THE HOOD
Originally Posted by diyguy
Where are these rubber O-Rings? Can't see a need to pull the wheels off yet, but would be a good item to check, as it was pre-owned when I got it.
Also, if in fact they are painted with clearcoat, WHY? Wouldn't a good rub down with Mother's Mag polish really make them stand out?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Leesburg Va
I have some pics at home of the back of the rim and the O-ring... I had posted them a few months back for someone else... When you take of the rims, they are kind of hard to miss as they are very large...
Love my Magnesium rims, They are a nice subtle difference over the stock rims....
Love my Magnesium rims, They are a nice subtle difference over the stock rims....
