[jtruttman]

I have had no success finding a powder coater that can match the Astroy Silver paint color #735 for my MBZ wheels (1986 560SL). Has anyone done this?

 

[Fonzi]

I know that some lorinser LO wheels I've had done resulted in center cap holes that were too tight because the paint is so thick. My wheel shop said its due to the newer water based stuff being thicker than the older (whatever, oil-based?) stuff,

 

[jtruttman]

Thanks for the fitment tip. I hadn't thought of that! However, I was looking for input on the COLOR. Did your powder coater match the original color? For my car, this is Mercedes paint code 735 - Astroy Silver.

 

[Jeff in OKC]

I think the way powder coating works (a big fog of material floating around looking for the proper electrical current that draws it to the part, and the excess drops to the ground?) prevents the metallic paint appearance from being something that powder coating provide. I think powder coating can provide some unique appearances via translucent effects, but not a metallic.

 

[PanzerPuff]

I think the way powder coating works (a big fog of material floating around looking for the proper electrical current that draws it to the part, and the excess drops to the ground?) prevents the metallic paint appearance from being something that powder coating provide. I think powder coating can provide some unique appearances via translucent effects, but not a metallic.

??? Not aware of any limitations on metallic finishes when powder coating. Please explain, maybe I don't understand what you mean by "prevents the metallic paint appearance." Powder produces a much more durable finish that is mirror smooth relative to paint. Metallic powder coats can be seen on the Caswell plating galleries. The extreme chrome powder (below) is not as shiny as real plating, but gets a lot closer than any rattle can formula. Not selling Caswell products, but I find their powders give consistent good results.
Powder Coating Pictures - Caswell Inc Photo Gallery

 

[Fonzi]

Powder Coating "New Style" Wheels

Thanks for the fitment tip. I hadn't thought of that! However, I was looking for input on the COLOR. Did your powder coater match the original color? For my car, this is Mercedes paint code 735 - Astroy Silver.

I'm not that picky. Silver is silver to me for the most part (unless I'm trying to match two different parts/colors). When you are coating all four/five wheels, I think silver is silver.

There you have some pics of some of the Lorinser LO wheels I finished (and some that were not refinished, and one raw sandblasted).

 

[ozark1]

Astral Silver..Paint Code 735..

 

[nobby]

Astral Silver..Paint Code 735..

Post no. 1

 

[ozark1]

Yeah right..Astroy !!..That will get the right info.

 

[nobby]

Yeah right..Astroy !!..That will get the right info.

Missed that. But the code # is King.

 

[Jeff in OKC]

@PazerPuff.
I think the valve cover you show is a perfect example of what I am talking about: the finish on the valve cover is giving the appearance of smooth metal, but the appearance OP is looking for should be the sparkly "metallic paint" finish. I don't think powder coating does that. I might be wrong about that. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

[PanzerPuff]

@PazerPuff.
I think the valve cover you show is a perfect example of what I am talking about: the finish on the valve cover is giving the appearance of smooth metal, but the appearance OP is looking for should be the sparkly "metallic paint" finish. I don't think powder coating does that. I might be wrong about that. It wouldn't be the first time.

Sorry I did not understand your post. I thought the majority of silver wheels on the market today are powder coated. If you google image search powder coat metallic finish most of the pictures that are found are metallic finish wheels. I used to have a BMW Z4 so here are links from a Bimmer forum:

Silver (Powder coated)
Note this is our newer more metallic silver and not the silver on the original RG4s.
http://members.roadfly.com/chuckd/RG41_19_R.jpg
http://members.roadfly.com/chuckd/wh...s/RSide201.jpg

Anthricite (Powder coated)
http://members.roadfly.com/chuckd/wh...anthricite.jpg
http://members.roadfly.com/chuckd/wh...nthricite2.jpg

GunMetal (Powder coated)
http://members.roadfly.com/chuckd/wh.../GunMetal1.jpg
http://members.roadfly.com/chuckd/wh.../GunMetal2.jpg

Powder coated finishes are our standard applied using our highly durable coating. The finish is applied in a dual stage process that first lays down the color and then a powder coated clear coat.

These wheels are what I would describe as a metallic finish; but is there something else that is being sought here? Do you mean metalflake finish?

 

[rowdie]

The OP asked about powder coating that duplicates 735 Astral Silver OE finish. I do not know the answer.

 

[PanzerPuff]

The OP asked about powder coating that duplicates 735 Astral Silver OE finish. I do not know the answer.

Somebody on another board said:
For less effort and great, low-maintenance results, I'd powdercoat, and shop around, because price varies wildly. Caswell Plating sells a powder that claims to be "Mercedes silver".
Metallic silver questions

There is talk about mercedes silver powder coat but it might take some probing to figure out if it is the same as 735 Astral.

 

[Leidenschaft]

The original wheels were finished in BrilliantSilber Metallic, BASF Code 744. The originals were a urethane finish with urethane clear. The base was over a non-chromate epoxy primer. The aluminum was treated before paint due to oxidation of aluminum. Anyone with the original set of wheels will see that the clear coat turns yellow and flakes off... Urethane. The new stuff is Polyester resin and it will not yellow and is very tough stuff. Even the Glassurit 55 line which has pretty much replaced the urethane that they originally used is a polyester, good stuff.