Shadow Chrome Wheel Repair

Shadow Chrome Wheel Repair Service

The shadow chrome effect at Alloy Wheel Repair London offers stunning painted refurbishment for your alloy wheels, creating an effect of metallic paint that looks truly amazing.

Back in 1998-99 the German car giants BMW were one of the first manufacturers to treat alloy wheels with a shadow chrome effect. This is an effect which calls for more time, skill and expertise than standard effects. The good news is that the experts at Alloy Wheel Repair London have the skills and experience to deliver every time.

The ‘gun metal’ finish of shadow chrome wheel paint is darker than standard. The alloys are initially prepared with a black powder coated layer which is then baked under heat which creates a flowing ‘skin like’ durable base layer. After full curing, a thin sliver or chrome shadow layer of paint is sprayed over the base before, finally a clear thin coat of lacquer is applied. This protective layer helps to create a three-dimensional finish with striking and appealing depth.

The shadow chrome wheel refurbishment technique is often used to restore a vehicle to the original condition after some time has passed, or to maintain the highly specified appearance. Coming to Alloy Wheel Repair London for the treatment is often the most economical option available.

High Quality Finish

Shadow chrome alloy wheel refurbishment is a highly cost-effective method for the creation of a virtually perfect shadow chrome finish. We promise top quality and a stress-free experience which leads to rims which are simply stunning to look at.

Factors such as chippings and scrapes from the road or impact with the kerb can damage wheel trims, and our expert shadow chrome services can restore them to their former glory. Get in touch with our team of experts and we’ll explain whether the service is suited to your alloys..

Looking After Your Chrome Finished Alloy Wheels

Like other forms of refurbishment, our chrome finished alloy wheel repairs need to be looked after carefully to maintain their appearance and prolong their lifespan. They should be cleaned twice a week at a minimum, using a car sponge and wheel cleaner.

It’s possible that water can seep into your wheels and cause damage. One of the tell-tale signs of water seeping under the lacquer is the appearance of milky patches. If you spot signs such as this, please contact us on 0208 589 3020 or via email for an explanation of how further damage could be prevented. Contact us as soon as you can for the best possible results.

The Shadow Chrome Painting Process – How it Works

Each wheel we work on is put through a highly defined customised alloy wheel repair process which involves them being cleaned, powder coated, painted and lacquered. This ensures the alloys look perfect and have longevity.

1. The Wheels Come at Alloy Wheel Repair London Workshop

Wheels can be dropped off by customers or we can collect them ourselves. Once they arrive, the tyres will be removed using specialist equipment. Identifying marks are applied, and the tyres safely stored.
We check the alloys for stress fractures, buckles or cracks, and let the customer know if they are beyond repair or not safe to drive on. At this stage we will advise whether any work besides the buckled wheel repair itself needs to be carried out. The next stage is to strip the weights from the wheels and mark them using tyre pressure sensor equipment to guarantee the right replacement.

2. Aquablasting

Chemicals are used to strip the alloys back to bare metal, after which aquablasting is used to remove chemicals, other impurities while keying the alloy’s surface. This part of our custom alloy wheel repair service works more quickly than other methods and delivers the best results. The next stage is for the alloys to be de-greased and carefully removal of any damage to your wheels with abrasive discs. Following this any damage to the rim edges and face will be prepared, dressed and filled to be dealt with.

3. Powder Primer is Applied

The alloys being worked on are then placed in an oven and heated for 30 minutes. This removes any air trapped in the microscopic pores, so that no air escapes as the paint is being applied, something which would reduce the quality of the finish.

Powder primer is now applied to every side of each section and the alloys are reheated to make sure that the powder primer is cured, to produce a high strength, hard wearing coating.

4. Colour is Applied

At the next stage the shadow chrome colour is applied to your alloys. We use the paint which is supplied to the top wheel manufacturers across Europe, meaning the results are as high quality as possible.

5. Final Coating, Cooling and Checking

The final coat of lacquer is then applied to the alloys before they are baked. This process makes the wheels extremely durable and able to cope with the elements. After being baked, the alloy sections are hung up to cool for approximately 20-30 minutes, before being inspected to check that they meet our extremely high standards.

6. Tyres are Re-fitted and Balanced

The last thing we do is reassemble the split rim and refit the tyres, before balancing the wheels and, if possible, resetting any tyre pressure system. Following this the wheels are ready to be collected.
Please note that we will not refit illegal tyres.

Shadow Chrome Painted Refurbishment – Common Questions

• Can any wheels be shadow chrome refurbished?
  We can’t repair badly cracked alloys for reasons of safety. If you email us a picture of your alloy wheels our experts will be able to advise on the best course of action.
• How long does the process take?
  We do all the work on shadow chrome painted wheel refurbishment in-house, so we can turn jobs around in just 48 hours. Your alloys can be dropped with us, or we’ll come and collect them.
• How long does a Shadow Chrome Refurbishment last?
  Our shadow chrome refurbishments are guaranteed for a period of 12 months but look after them properly and they will last much longer.
• How many times can a set of alloys be repaired?
  The answer to this depends upon the nature of the alloys and how badly damaged they are. Get in touch with details along with some images and our experts will provide the advice you need.
• Can cracked alloys be repaired?
  We don’t work on wheels which have been badly dented, cracked or buckled as these faults mean the wheels are unsafe and should be written off and replaced. If the cracks and dents are minor in nature, we can repair them. However, if you send an image of your alloys to our team of experts, we’ll explain exactly what we can do for you.
• Is there anything else I need to know?
  We offer a discount when repairing four wheels, and a 48-hour service.