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Powdercoating 2010 15" wheels

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by altoabb, Aug 23, 2011.

  1. altoabb

    altoabb New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2011
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    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Howdy everyone,

    I've only created one other thread in this forum, but everyone who replied was incredibly helpful and willing to field any and all questions I may have had.

    My first question had to do with wheel replacement and the potential effects it would have on fuel efficiency, but some helpful stranger suggested that rather than undergoing the expensive and time consuming process of replacement, I would be better served to simply remove the ugly wheel covers, something which I didn't even know was possible.

    Long story short, I did more research on the forums, found a suitable fake center-cap seller on eBay, and ordered a set of four. As soon as they arrive (ideally in the next week or so) I will remove the wheel covers. I've always wanted a matching set of wheels for my black Prius, so I was wondering if anyone here has had any exposure to the notion of powdercoating the stock 15" wheels? In a perfect world, somebody would have a picture of what this looks like, but I'm really looking for any feedback whatsoever.

    Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide some assistance!
     
    #1 altoabb, Aug 23, 2011
  2. HI MPG

    HI MPG Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
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    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I have my stock 15s powdercoated. The cost of the service was a bit outrageous, but I had already committed to it. The quality was excellent. The finish was very durable and was very resistant to wear and chipping. The color was a bit off from what I wanted, but then it's a bit hard to imagine how the color would fully appear when all they provide is a 1"x1" sample.
    If you are seriously considering powdercoating, I would suggest you ask the vendor if you could see some finished products as pictures sometimes do not do the finish justice. Also, look to spend around $300 for a high quality job. Some places will take short cuts and just powdercoat directly over the existing finish to lower cost. The better powdercoating vendors will actually strip the existing finish before applying the new powdercoat finish.
     
    #2 HI MPG, Aug 23, 2011
  3. bzyrice

    bzyrice Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2011
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    Location:
    West Palm
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    HI MPG is correct.. I had some wheels powder coated before and they should have them sand blasted prior to getting powder coating. The sand blasting removes all paint, oils and any debris from the rims. It opens the pores of the object to accept the powdercoating color. Makes the powdercoating last longer. My wheels looked awesome!! But, I could not tell the difference between wheels I had prepped and painted myself.

    If I were to change the color of my stock oem wheels I would just paint them, because it is cheaper and you can do it yourself if you are a DIY kind of person.. You could paint your wheels yourself for around 30.00 in material and about 4 hours of your time.
     
    #3 bzyrice, Aug 23, 2011
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