In our last post, we had tracked down a set of BBS RS-001 wheels in a hard to find 15×7-inch diameter with a +25mm offset, a size that has long been discontinued. Overall, the wheels were in good physical condition but completely lacked the visual pizazz needed for our show worthy BMW 2002. To address the wheels “ugly duckling” syndrome, VR Wheels in the City of Industry, CA was called upon to execute a full restoration. Follow along as we take you through the beautification process. Wheel Specialists at VR Wheels quickly disassembled our decades-old BBS wheels prior to submerging the pieces in a chemical bath to remove the OEM paint, grime, and oxidized clear coat. Then the pieces were whisked off to receive media blasting to eliminate any remaining rust and old paint before the powder coat was to be applied. We decided to give our wheels the “classic feel” by powder coating the BBS’s face in Bright Silver to simulate the OEM finish. Although OEM uses paint, we had VR powder coat the pieces for added durability and environmental corrosion resistance. The guys at VR Wheels carefully applied the powder to the wheel face before popping them in the industrial sized oven to cure. In the meantime, the guys proceeded to recondition the outer rim of the wheels, straightening any damage and removing curb rash prior to a full polish – bringing back the intense shine that the wheels had when they left the factory in Germany. Prior to final assembly of our newly reconditioned BBS RS 001 3-piece wheels, David removed any excess powder coating to ensure the proper fitment when mating the parts together. A fresh set of polished nuts and bolts provided by VR Wheels were locked into place with some “Locktite ” adhesive before securing each piece to 25 ft-lb. of torque. Accent pieces including our BBS center caps and emblems were reconditioned. A side-by-side shot of center cap both before and after show how well they cleaned up after 20+ years of exposure to the elements. We all know the old adage; a picture is worth a thousand words. And, it’s true. We leave you with one final shot of our refurbished wheel – the results are amazing! Stay tuned for the next edition of Clarion Builds blog as we continue to massage our BMW 2002’s body into shape in preparation for paint.
