Darkness for the white...

[Rovert]

Yep.....I'll let you solve that riddle of a title. ;)

So I was toying around with changing the color of my winter wheels. Being the same as everyone else has been getting boring for 8 years and it's time to step away from silver!

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7849/p1000785v.jpg

While she was still pretty hot in silver, I knew it was time to try something else. So now that it was time to use my Photoshop skills and try on some colors...

Baby Blue:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_vvv4oNng7k/UJoD0MozGEI/AAAAAAAAEaY/xezidvO-BbM/s912/Blue%2520Baby.jpg

Laguna Seca Blue (I tried...LOL):
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5dyOxgdGJ8A/UJoD53faZAI/AAAAAAAAEa8/KPLU3xauEU8/s912/Blue%2520Laguna%2520Seca.jpg

Bright Green:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-am0_Qg0pt8c/UJoD8WytNcI/AAAAAAAAEbI/DMOImBu8mVI/s912/Green%2520Bright.jpg

Oxford Green:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QPtxniWbN_g/UJoD9VfPpLI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/oM8dDlPtLFA/s912/Green%2520Dark.jpg

Orange:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TZHhbBDfmbU/UJoD_tYSHiI/AAAAAAAAEbg/i-BNjFnCRMg/s912/Orange.jpg

Red:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ObP27VmGROk/UJoEBVOo5QI/AAAAAAAAEbo/58gmAofgCEg/s912/Red.jpg

Yellow:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4VggwSxaAaE/UJoEDyUE2XI/AAAAAAAAEcA/k3rcHAIjQKI/s912/Yellow.jpg

And oh YES.....Hot Dubber Pink:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NsiegQCx3eo/UJoEDvKQ7dI/AAAAAAAAEb4/boNEohFuvDs/s912/Hot%2520Pink.jpg

Black:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q1ffsGCxzcc/UJoD00_CG3I/AAAAAAAAEac/7Ji0CQ_BQoU/s912/Black.jpg

White:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_8Rv4xQAvNI/UJoECbQox6I/AAAAAAAAEbw/HxEOuaRPlzc/s912/White.jpg

Gun Metal/Graphite:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4hSh6RFTryc/UJoD-s0FM1I/AAAAAAAAEbY/kGZEoTQKjzg/s912/Gun%2520Metal.jpg

Gold:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8JB5Zcy1gSk/UJoD56vsY_I/AAAAAAAAEa4/iYQvbZO0u54/s912/Gold.jpg

Bronze:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D_qEVI4UDPA/UJoD4i9-EuI/AAAAAAAAEaw/brYxeUIe6Y4/s912/Bronze.jpg

And then I found the color that I knew I could handle for a few months of the year!

Deep Bronze:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6gtFvFtOwo4/UJoD2q8DJoI/AAAAAAAAEao/qzRi7BZBpZo/s912/Bronze%2520Deep.jpg

Now it was time to figure out how to do it. I chose to do it myself to save money and not spend a ton of money on winter wheels. I wanted something that I could fix if I screwed up being a DIY. And most importantly of all, something reversible. The answer to my question is PlastiDip!! :headbang

After cleaning the wheels of as much crap as I could, I started with one quick and light coat of matte black PlastiDip:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CLwzfI9l6VA/UM6kwVDnQhI/AAAAAAAAEoA/ddRrPYXCo3U/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010380.jpg

Second light coat:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8ljMyCNoz0g/UM6kwI9aXfI/AAAAAAAAEn4/ZPTExbL0bzY/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010382.jpg

Third light coat:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8ljMyCNoz0g/UM6kwI9aXfI/AAAAAAAAEn4/ZPTExbL0bzY/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010382.jpg

Fourth medium coat:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MuxzVavjEUw/UM6kx4MG6pI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/pP7J4tIydb4/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010383.jpg

After 2 more heavier coats to get in all the cracks and crevasses. The goal was to never let the paint get so shiny looking that it runs:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uiuqF9ZT2Ik/UM6k2dDyFMI/AAAAAAAAEog/v4KWkukzR04/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010388.jpg

Another shot...sorry I used my fastest lens at F1.7 and after seeing it on the big screen, did I see how shallow depth of field I created for this picture:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Km51zeqGKrs/UM6k2mJxsxI/AAAAAAAAEos/ccsl5qNg628/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010389.jpg

Then the drama happens!
On the last two coats of two wheels I let the PlastiDip get too cold outside. It's about 40F outside. When it sprayed out...it sprayed like chunky throw up!

http://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/2009/12/24/129061402596236661.jpg

I ended up with this awful finish:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uj3kQGnd1Pg/ULFWAabNifI/AAAAAAAAEgA/KLOkmZukj4g/s720/2012-11-15%252010.52.07.jpg

Good thing it's reversible. I waited overnight for it to set and then ripped it off!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Lp1yL8MitIw/UM6kzLTZocI/AAAAAAAAEoY/2ov1aHpqBxA/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010384.jpg

Now you're saying....where's the BRONZE?? That's where the next special PlastiDip product comes into play. It's called Gold Metalizer. It sprays gold metal flakes all over and gets more and more gold, the more coats you use.

Sorry the lighting was hard to show gold but you can tell the brightness goes up.
Two coats on the left, one coat on the right:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qL3UiHLKFb0/UM6k2aGyiWI/AAAAAAAAEok/z2oSDVKnYPk/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010390.jpg

Three coats on the left. two coats on the right:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SpdTe8hiTa0/UM6lHZ2y4kI/AAAAAAAAEqE/OEk3zyRbTzY/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010409.jpg

After three coats I am happy with the dark bronzy like finish. This metalizer sprays out in a nice diffused pattern so it's very hard to spray on a "hot spot" as long as you keep moving. It's really nice to use and easier than I thought.

And the final product from different angles:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fz3g4gAjxsw/UM6lGhD2NDI/AAAAAAAAEp8/UUgJJ_XV57o/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010413.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YucewrteGL0/UM6lKfJZZEI/AAAAAAAAEqY/6ORjfgM50B0/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010414.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_yL2tapCEGg/UM6lKzlA-HI/AAAAAAAAEqg/Vo67FG1XHPA/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010416.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F4F-NbKoUjo/UM6lLEc3VNI/AAAAAAAAEqk/YaGPBGGaOY4/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010417.jpg

You can see the moderate to heavy wheel curbing is now slightly less noticeable too! Now I await a nice day to clean my summer wheels and remove them to mount my winters! I'll follow up with pics on car later on in the next couple weeks.

[Avetiso]

:drool

[JupiterBMW]

Dude, awesome work... Can't wait to see them on the car...

[Ryans323i]

Midas touch! Love it!

[328ioc]

Bro Bronze looks awesome.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[johnrando]

Looks great. This should be a DIY too Trevor. BTW, my favorite of all those colors you posted was the bright green! :)

Of course, in reality, the deep bronze would look best on the car daily driving.

[cakM3]

I have to say that out of all the colors, I liked the deep bronze. Looked awesome with your car Trevor :thumbsup

[Go Horns!]

Call me crazy, but I like the bright green. Just don't know if it is something that should be on everyday.

[BRGcoopahS]

Oh my god... They make gold plasti dip?! I think I will be copying you if I ever get winter wheels.

[kakashi169]

Oh my, I want to do this too!!

[kayger12]

Love it!!!

[Hornung418]

Classy touch. I love the bright colors for winter wheels. I think it's funny. But the bronze is great!

From a GS3, this was sent.

[Lespaulman16]

Great color choice and nice contrast of colors in your pchops. The Dubber Pink was 2legit2quit. In all seriousness though, I like the white best.

[Torxuvin]

I love the bronze

[az3579]

The finish turned out pretty darned good! I would've kept it silver, but this is definitely something different. Good job.

[Rovert]

It's cheap too! $7/can of black. $9/can of metallic gold. I used 4 black cans and 1 metallic. LOL. I have 2 extra blacks, 2 golds, and 2 silvers left to play with!!! :D I think that if the Gold is a tad too dark...I can mist some silver on it to bring out the gold in a light colour. It's pretty amazing how it blends so well.

[danewilson77]

Looking good Trevor. I've been thinking of moving to Sepang Bronze for a few months now.

[danewilson77]

I swear! Installed pics.....

[sketchyd]

damn those came out nice. definitely going to look into this plastidip, for when my rims become winters only next year.

bright green was my favorite picture.

[johnrando]

That's 3 for bright green!

[Rovert]

So I was caught on my way home in a hail/snow storm...LOL. What are the chances??? I live on a hill and I still had my winters on. At the bottom of my hill I was having a ball with the limited traction of my car. I could finally drive it balls out at a max of 30MPH. LOL. Then I tried to back into my driveway which is on a slope. I was sideways on my street and everytime I tried to back-in, the rear would slip downwards.....I knew once I was on the driveway it would be flat...I just needed that extra 5 feet to there! So I drove up the hill and positioned my car higher than my driveway. I slowly reversed and the rear pulled the car back while sliding down the street. I was high enough for my car to slide itself onto a flat driveway to get into the garage and get rid of these now useless summer tires.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2cZCzTh7ZLM/UM_rnHfukdI/AAAAAAAAEsw/ZoJ28W-kbLQ/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010425.jpg

Got her all angled in so I can change her shoes in a closed warm garage:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UyjIyZGbAN0/UM_rpEK9_uI/AAAAAAAAEs4/bo5Wq1A-PL0/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010426.jpg

Busting out my new Costco jack for $100!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R4llTX5UTdg/UM_rqYjL6dI/AAAAAAAAEtA/yFQwuJXh3Sg/s800/M68%2520Plastadip-1010420.jpg

You'll have to excuse the ride height...I think after jacking her up and down....she's riding high and mighty, waiting patiently to own the snow! One trip around the block would have brought her back down to earth but I'll let her feel high on herself for now:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bbfrGJPHRR8/UM_rsqrrGcI/AAAAAAAAEtM/NO-dtPMndtc/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010428.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2X3FXIwgomM/UM_rtSILftI/AAAAAAAAEtU/PLwVSzzM194/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-1010433.jpg

I'll get better pictures another day. I just did a quick shot with background lighting and painting my wheels with my LED array. Excuse the wonderful background too....my parents put up anything car related and plaster it on the walls. They like to theme the garage with vehicles! :D It needs a massive update!

[johnrando]

Nice. At least your parents are into cars and they do that.

[danewilson77]

Looks great Trevor.

[Rovert]

So I got some better shots today....when Vancouver got it's 1st chaotic snow fall.....Talk about waiting until the last minute!!! LOL

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_-hF7xjHB_g/UNEqFQPqzEI/AAAAAAAAEt0/oEPqBml7xeE/s1152/M68%2520Plastadip-P1010440.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mz_mvXkGD4s/UNEqGO51DVI/AAAAAAAAEuA/mFTXcj04PCI/s1024/M68%2520Plastadip-P1010441.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DmTQ5e4fhY4/UNEqFoANPjI/AAAAAAAAEt4/_E7p5vt4698/s1024/M68%2520Plastadip-1010444.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e5ZmPmrq2bI/UNEqFtjVPTI/AAAAAAAAEt8/-AoHJKC5FZk/s1024/M68%2520Plastadip-P1010437.jpg

[danewilson77]

Again... Those look great Trevor. I hope the finish holds up well for you.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[alexandre]

:thumbsup

[BRGcoopahS]

That looks soooo cool

[Torxuvin]

Looks good buddy

[JupiterBMW]

Agreed, looks great!

[zhpnsnv]

This is awesome, though I was kinda hoping you were gonna do red!

[Rovert]

Haha maybe next year I will go bright! We'll see how this paint holds up. Hey if it's that good I won't need to change a thing. LOL.

[jayjay_dee]

wow, looks awesome...

[BRGcoopahS]

You know, it just occurred to me now what your thread title means. The past few days I was saying to myself "his car is black, what does he mean white?". Now I realize you mean for the snow. :facepalm

[Rovert]

LOL...it's OK...we all have our slow as molasses moments. You just had one publicly on the internet! :D

[zj96sc]

nice work dude. that metalizer turned out amazing. I am in love with plastidip. I use it like frank's redhot.

[Rovert]

nice work dude. that metalizer turned out amazing. I am in love with plastidip. I use it like frank's redhot.

Is it just as spicy??

[BRGcoopahS]

LOL...it's OK...we all have our slow as molasses moments. You just had one publicly on the internet! :D

I've had my fair share of slow moments publicly. Nothing I'm not used to haha

[Rovert]

Took more pics when the sun was low:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mCa0qCbA8BE/UOeRbx5oaeI/AAAAAAAAFOk/q3ZgG3Mu3-4/s1024/Bronze%2520M68-1010455.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kV8V9mffacQ/UOeRbUnqdJI/AAAAAAAAFOg/DNkBOHUY2Cw/s1024/Bronze%2520M68-1010457.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-By4CJZb1MGs/UOeRa6AS-ZI/AAAAAAAAFOY/Qpe0Io4d0S0/s1152/Bronze%2520M68-1010453.jpg

[BRGcoopahS]

That really looks awesome considering its freakin plasti dip.

[Rovert]

This is right after taking my car through the BMW car wash at the dealership!! I didn't say anything to the lot guy about being easy on the wheels because I wanted to know personally how PlastiDip could take someone using a wheel brush on it. I stepped out and watched him bang the plastic head against the wheels as he scrubbed the wheel surface. I instructed him not to use brushes on the body of the car as they always do in a drive through car wash. So the back surface is still somewhat dirty but way cleaner than before!! LOL