I'm trying to clean up the set of used alloys I bought a couple of months ago. Unfortunately in some places I've had to scrub so hard I've worn through the paint surface (TBH I'm surprised how easy it is to do this!).
Has anyone tried painting or touching up the paint on their alloys? Any recommendations for paint, something that is a close match to the originals? I've got the OZ wheels fitted from '89 on, but the colour looks similar to the 85-88 wheels.
Fortunately it's only on the back that any paint has come off (so far, at least...), so it doesn't matter if it's an imperfect match - my priority is more about protecting the metal, but no-one is going to be inspecting this area closely.
Also, any experience with "product" that can protect the wheel finish once it's clean and painted? I'm tempted by Wonder Wheels Wheel Sealant or something similar, but it's hard to filter manufacturer's claims with who actually makes the best (or best value) product and do they really work. It'd be nice if Practical Classics magazine did a "Which?" style comparison of stuff like this, but I guess it's not worth upsetting their advertisers by being honest about a product.
Alloy Wheel Paint
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- rbgosling
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- Model: Lotus Excel SE
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Alloy Wheel Paint
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
- Alan_M
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Re: Alloy Wheel Paint
If you want a good, long lasting finish you will need to prepare the surface (sand) then use an etch primer on any bare metal before you paint them with base coat and clear.
If you want a good match, you can take a wheel to a local auto paint supplier that has a spectro camera - they can scan the colour and mix paint to match. You will then need to paint lacquer/clear coat to protect the base layer.
By the time you’ve done all this, you’d probably be better getting them professionally stripped and powder coated.
If it’s just the inner barrel and you want to just tidy things up a bit, there are a number of silver alloy wheel paints available in spray cans - never used any, so can’t comment.
When I had my wheels refurbished last year I then used GTechiq C5 wheel armour to protect them. It’s a ceramic coating specially designed for wheels. You don’t get much for your £, but you don’t need much to all wheels.
If you want a good match, you can take a wheel to a local auto paint supplier that has a spectro camera - they can scan the colour and mix paint to match. You will then need to paint lacquer/clear coat to protect the base layer.
By the time you’ve done all this, you’d probably be better getting them professionally stripped and powder coated.
If it’s just the inner barrel and you want to just tidy things up a bit, there are a number of silver alloy wheel paints available in spray cans - never used any, so can’t comment.
When I had my wheels refurbished last year I then used GTechiq C5 wheel armour to protect them. It’s a ceramic coating specially designed for wheels. You don’t get much for your £, but you don’t need much to all wheels.
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1866
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: Alloy Wheel Paint
Thanks Alan. Yeah, I only need to do the barrels, and they don't need to be show-worthy, just not cr@p and (more importantly) not leaving exposed metal, where there is a bit after I've had to scrub hard. Spray can will be fine (followed by some clear lacquer I'd guess?); I was hoping if someone had been through this before, and found a paint that is a good enough match to the original finish.
Thanks for the suggestion on the Wheel Armour. A bit pricier than the Wonder Wheels stuff I'd stumbled across, but if it gives the best results £45-odd isn't exactly a fortune.
Thanks for the suggestion on the Wheel Armour. A bit pricier than the Wonder Wheels stuff I'd stumbled across, but if it gives the best results £45-odd isn't exactly a fortune.
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
- Alan_M
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1274
- Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
- Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
- Colour: Red, red, white
- Location: South Wales
Re: Alloy Wheel Paint
If you do use the C5, a small amount goes a loooooong way!!
You should be able to do 4/5 15” wheels with the small bottle (15ml) which is closer to £25.
You could also go the graphene wax route. This is taking over from ceramic coatings and can be used on the whole car. I’ve recently bought a jar, but not tried it yet. Any of these coatings will protect the wheel from brake dust, but will still need regular cleaning.
When warmer weather comes (and before the NEC) mine will get the graphene added over the ceramic coat.
I used it as it was the iron cross wheels I had refurbished, which includes diamond cutting and then just a powder based clear coat over the whole wheel. Unfortunately any damage to the clear will allow moisture to get under the clear, and then the only way to repair is a full strip, recut wheels (can only be done a few times as material is removed each time) and clear again.
You should be able to do 4/5 15” wheels with the small bottle (15ml) which is closer to £25.
You could also go the graphene wax route. This is taking over from ceramic coatings and can be used on the whole car. I’ve recently bought a jar, but not tried it yet. Any of these coatings will protect the wheel from brake dust, but will still need regular cleaning.
When warmer weather comes (and before the NEC) mine will get the graphene added over the ceramic coat.
I used it as it was the iron cross wheels I had refurbished, which includes diamond cutting and then just a powder based clear coat over the whole wheel. Unfortunately any damage to the clear will allow moisture to get under the clear, and then the only way to repair is a full strip, recut wheels (can only be done a few times as material is removed each time) and clear again.
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1866
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: Alloy Wheel Paint
Thanks, that's worth knowing, I was assuming I'd have to buy the 30 ml bottle.
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1866
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: Alloy Wheel Paint
Thanks for the suggestion Kev - I should have done a search for this sooner! I've already gone and bought some Simoniz paint and lacquer, I'll let you know how I get on.

"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)