Pretorias color change

[scanesare]

So, after months of searching for a used set of 19" Prets in glossy black, and just before deciding to go with an aftermarket option, an immaculate set in Silver shows up, at quite a reasonable price also. My only issue is I am dead set on a glossy black set as I think that glossy black wheels fits the exclusive glossy black Clubsport bits like roof spoiler, sideskirts, front splitter, mirror caps just perfect.

My question is, will an electrostatic painted or powder coated Pret hold up similar to a stock glossy black one? Is it worth doing it (in terms of the paint quality not the looks).

Cheers

[fredgroves]

What technique do VW use to create their glossy black ones? Presumably a wheel refurber uses the same technique to refurb them, therefore should be able to do exactly the same to your non glossy black ones?

[gtiaps]

There's a company in Barnsley called Metal Magic their work is spot on complete strip back and done from scratch if you leave them with tyres on they refit and balance obviously pends where In the country you are iv had wheels done there in the past and always very good and decent turn round

[Watts]

Some times I think the black can be overdone. I'd fit them as is and see what they look like. The standard Pretoria colour looks great. Also may depend on the colour of your car.

[SRGTD]

I’m not a great fan of gloss black wheels, but it’s good we don’t all like the same things, otherwise life would be boring.

I think that much of the visual detail of a wheel’s design is lost on black wheels. You also have the same challenges with black wheels as you do with black paintwork;

- they’ll show swirl marks more readily than a lighter colour, especially if a proper washing technique isn’t used
- unless they’ve just been washed, they’ll look dirty most of the time from road dirt/ dust and brake dust, when a lighter colour will hide dirt and brake dust for longer.

Agree with Watts, if you buy them, fit them and live with them as they are for a while. If you do decide to go for a gloss black makeover, then I’d suggest you use a reputable company like Lepsons to refinish them for you. To get a top quality result, the process is quite comprehensive, but should last and be as durable as an OEM powder coated finish - the process used by Lepsons is at the link below;

http://www.lepsons.com/how-we-produce-stunning-wheels/

At the end of the day, it’s your decision on whether to go gloss black or not, but I think it’s worth spending some time weighing up the pros and cons of the existing silver finish versus gloss black, and live with the original silver finish for a while before you pull the trigger!

[wantmygti]

What is a reasonable price? There is a set of new black Prets on eBay for £1045 inc postage or best offer. Being sold by a VW dealer.

Sorry - just seen they are only 18 inch wheels.

It’s £3k for the 19 inch equivalent!

[scanesare]

So:

I'm in Sweden so UK companies (although appreciated) are not of much use for me, will have to go with some local option and make sure they can do an adequate job.

Car is a carbon steel grey but as I said it's all the Clubsport glossy black bits around that make a glossy black wheel match it well in my opinion.

Trouble with trying them on and see what I think first is that it's going to be an extra 1000sek (~80£) to unmount tires, paint and re-mount tires if i don't like them as much and judging by so many pics of the car that I have already seen i have more or less made up my mind about it.

Regarding what's a reasonable price, the few sets that ever go online usually sell between 1100£ and 1400£, I'm lucky enough to have found one right at the cheaper end of that but problem is i got there second and the seller already has a guy going to take a look at them tonight so I might just miss them in the end...

[Exonian]

The standard Pretoria colour is quite nice in the flesh.
It's quite a dark silvery grey with a light blueish tinge (yeah, that makes no sense whatsoever!)
I think the standard colour of the Prets looks really good in the flesh, less so in photos.

Black Prets on a Clubsport do work well though 

[Guzzle]

As much as i've grown to like black wheels, I must admit I do slightly prefer the standard dark silver Pretoria colour on the 19's to the black ones. Especially on a dark coloured car.

I had one of my black wheels refurbished last year, and i'm convinced it's not quite as dark or as shiny as the other three. Nobody else seems able to tell though apart from me so i've left it be for now. Just goes to show refurbing black wheels can be problematic if you're as fussy as me.

[scanesare]

As much as i've grown to like black wheels, I must admit I do slightly prefer the standard dark silver Pretoria colour on the 19's to the black ones. Especially on a dark coloured car.

I had one of my black wheels refurbished last year, and i'm convinced it's not quite as dark or as shiny as the other three. Nobody else seems able to tell though apart from me so i've left it be for now. Just goes to show refurbing black wheels can be problematic if you're as fussy as me.

Need to do all four then 

On a serious note, i am just so obsessed with the glossy black option for the Clubsport so... no other way for me  The question was more if according to people's experiences a shop can more or less match the OEM paint quality or whether I would be looking at refurbishing them in say 3 years from now. Seems that depending on the shop it's not impossible so probably need to search for places with good reputation near me.

If I manage to get my hands on those wheels in the end that is...  In which case my feather-light Belvederes will be going for sale.