First Edition Wheels, Are they More Delicate?

[bjbena]

So I am contemplating purchasing the Ford Performance First Edition wheels for my BL.

I'm reading online black wheels like those are typically more fragile as they scratch/swirl/mar a whole lot easier than standard wheels. On my old Outer Banks I noticed the black on the wheels had swirl marks and surface scratches but am not sure if they were received from the dealer like that. Even if it was due to my cause, I didn't mind too much as they were the factory wheels and I didn't pay extra for them.

Now, if I purchased the FE wheels at $1k I would definitely be pissed if I scratched them up. Keep in mind, I do routinely use automated car washes.

Is that a recipe for screwing up the wheels and should I not bother or is there something I can do to mitigate any damage I may possibly cause by using those car washes?

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[Mark S.]

Black wheels are purty, but they're much harder to keep clean, and show defects far better than lighter colors. Tis the way of things...

 

[Meanderthal]

Anything gloss black is going to show scratches and automatic car washes are a good place to get scratches. I’m talking about auto washes that are not “touch less”. If you are concerned about the scratches on your wheels, you might want to take a look at the body panels too. If you are not using a touch less wash, then you’re entire vehicle is covered in scratches at this point.

 

[BoxerBronco]

Ceramic coating is of great benefit on black wheels…I use CQuartz…also great for the piano plastic.

 

[bjbena]

Anything gloss black is going to show scratches and automatic car washes are a good place to get scratches. I’m talking about auto washes that are not “touch less”. If you are concerned about the scratches on your wheels, you might want to take a look at the body panels too. If you are not using a touch less wash, then you’re entire vehicle is covered in scratches at this point.

I hear you, but like on my older OB, I'm not TOO concerned about swirls on the body panels as I can polish/wax them off. Not sure that can be done/worth it to the wheels as well.

 

[bjbena]

Ceramic coating is of great benefit on black wheels…I use CQuartz…also great for the piano plastic.

Is that the one in a kit that's like $70-ish?

 

[BoxerBronco]

D-Lux for the wheels and plastic trim
3.0 for the body

 

[bjbena]

D-Lux for the wheels and plastic trim
3.0 for the body

Is it easy to apply to the wheels?

How did you do it?

 

[BoxerBronco]

You Tube man!

In all seriousness it’s easy to use on wheels…even easier if you take them off and have them on a table…the “workable” area on a wheel is relatively small and that product is forgiving.

 

[Cactusjk]

I had black wheels on my JCW Mini. Lots of chips, etc. Not a big fan.

 

[bjbena]

I had black wheels on my JCW Mini. Lots of chips, etc. Not a big fan.

Yeah, that what I fear with the FE wheels. They look great AND include a new set of TPMS for $900 but if they are as fragile as my black-trimmed OB wheels were I feel they will have swirls/scratches/damage very quickly.

 

[Meanderthal]

Okay, rant warning, this is entirely my opinion on black wheels.

Like a black car, the wheel itself only looks “good” when it has just been cleaned. As you are concerned about, they also show any and all scratches.

That being said, black wheels hide all the details of a wheel, which to me is terrible. They just turn into “black holes” that have no style to them. Unless you are up close to them, they are just a blank.

Now, mount a tire on that shiny black wheel. Now you have competing colors because black is more than just black. The only time it sort of looks okay is again when the wheels are clean and the tires have some “AmourAll” on them. A couple of days later the pair looks like crap again because the tire is dull/dirty and you have something that is kind of black against something that is shiny black.

God forbid you do all of this on a black car. Then you have 3 different blacks all competing.

Rant off

 

[Moltenburn]

I concur with @Meanderthal on this. Also $1000 bucks? Nope. I would personally take my stockers to our local wheel powder coater folks. Have them done black in any sheen you like for $400 bucks. I would do a satin powder coat myself. But to each their own.

 

[bjbena]

Okay, rant warning, this is entirely my opinion on black wheels.

Like a black car, the wheel itself only looks “good” when it has just been cleaned. As you are concerned about, they also show any and all scratches.

That being said, black wheels hide all the details of a wheel, which to me is terrible. They just turn into “black holes” that have no style to them. Unless you are up close to them, they are just a blank.

Now, mount a tire on that shiny black wheel. Now you have competing colors because black is more than just black. The only time it sort of looks okay is again when the wheels are clean and the tires have some “AmourAll” on them. A couple of days later the pair looks like crap again because the tire is dull/dirty and you have something that is kind of black against something that is shiny black.

God forbid you do all of this on a black car. Then you have 3 different blacks all competing.

Rant off

very good points. Very good.

I concur with @Meanderthal on this. Also $1000 bucks? Nope. I would personally take my stockers to our local wheel powder coater folks. Have them done black in any sheen you like for $400 bucks. I would do a satin powder coat myself. But to each their own.

Unfortunately, in my area it would cost $800.

 

[rdc17]

Had a Lexus with machined and black painted wheels. The black painted parts were just like a black car, always showing swirls.

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