Refinishing RS5 five-arm rotor wheels: Go with Black or Silver?

[fivefan]

Thinking about refinishing some RS5 five-arm rotor wheels I picked up. The 20x9 et26 ones.

I've looked at tons of pictures of these rotors on other vehicles and narrowed my choices to all black or all silver.

(...i.e., no machining on the face, I already have a set of those.)

I really like the look of black rotors on black optic cars in some photos, but in other photos it just looks blah and you don't notice the detail and concavity very well.

I like pretty much all photos of silver rotors. In bright silver, they just really pop.

Of the two colors, which do you like better?

[fivefan]

I plan to keep my Audi rings and badges as-is, in silver (every single little piece of trim in black is too much for me).

My S5 in "Daytona Gray pearl effect"...

[fivefan]

Example of black rotors: Link

Example of silver rotors: Link

(I'm ignoring the red ring on the black rotors. And I realize the car with silver rotors has alu-optic trim, but I've seen silver on both trim styles.)

[Mrads]

I refinished my RS5 5-arm rotors in gloss black.

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[fivefan]

I refinished my RS5 5-arm rotors in gloss black.

And I see you are Daytona Gray as well, nice. Would love to see them, PM or post a pic if you have the time.

[Neil F]

- I am NOT a fan of ALL black wheels....on any color car
- I am a fan of silver wheels, particularly rotors. The hyper silver RS5 rotors are gorgeous IMHO ( I rattle canned my 19 titanium rotors silver as my winter wheels)
- I am a sucker for black wheels with a silver lip/edge/rim. I really do like the black rotors with the machined edge and triangles Black rotor.jpg next best is just the edge Black rotor 2.jpg
- If you have to do black, do satin.
- Option, since you are refinishing, meet in the middle of black/silver and color match your daytona? It would really look custom.

[Mrads]

And I see you are Daytona Gray as well, nice. Would love to see them, PM or post a pic if you have the time.

I don't have many decent pics of them on the car but here you are.

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[Mrads]

- I am NOT a fan of ALL black wheels....on any color car
- I am a fan of silver wheels, particularly rotors. The hyper silver RS5 rotors are gorgeous IMHO ( I rattle canned my 19 titanium rotors silver as my winter wheels)
- I am a sucker for black wheels with a silver lip/edge/rim. I really do like the black rotors with the machined edge and triangles Black rotor.jpg next best is just the edge Black rotor 2.jpg
- If you have to do black, do satin.
- Option, since you are refinishing, meet in the middle of black/silver and color match your daytona? It would really look custom.

I also like that style. I run a set on my TTRS as winters.

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[2by2handsofblue]

What is the cost to have your wheels refinished?

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[BuyTheWarranty]

What is the cost to have your wheels refinished?

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

Before I sold my RS5 OEM ROTORS it was $850 Canadian to have them chemically stripped, and powder coated black. Wheels were in pristine shape so no cosmetic fixes needed.

[Mrads]

Before I sold my RS5 OEM ROTORS it was $850 Canadian to have them chemically stripped, and powder coated black. Wheels were in pristine shape so no cosmetic fixes needed.

My price experience was similiar. Price goes up if you take the wheels with tires mounted or if a wheel(s) need repairs.

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[Neil F]

I had a set of 20” suv wheels painted by a mobile service. Don’t recall how much. A lot cheaper than new wheels. Was a long time ago but the came to wife’s job parking lot, took off each wheel, painted, baked and perfect. Painted was cheaper than powder

[fivefan]

Hi everyone... There is a button at the very top of this post to VOTE for your choice.

If you don't like either one, just post why, if you want.

[fivefan]

Thank you for all the great ideas and pictures so far, they really help.

But now I have even more to think about, lol. Hmm...

[dbtong]

I voted for silver but I'd be more interested in seeing these in a darker silver/light gray color. My wheels are silver but I like the color more when it's got a coat of brake dust on them...which is almost always. I wish I had darker wheels.

[2by2handsofblue]

I had a set of 20” suv wheels painted by a mobile service. Don’t recall how much. A lot cheaper than new wheels. Was a long time ago but the came to wife’s job parking lot, took off each wheel, painted, baked and perfect. Painted was cheaper than powder

Is powder coating more durable?

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[2by2handsofblue]

I like the first pic of what Neil F posted. The black with silver. The silver gives it a pop.

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[Neil F]

Is powder coating more durable?

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

Powder coating is more durable

The benefit here is that powdercoating doesn't require as much prep work as painting and is quite a bit more durable. https://www.fitmentindustries.com/bl...vs-powder-coat

https://www.solarshadewindowtint.com...ins-every-time

Powder coating provides better performance than wet paint—it is more resistant to chipping, scratching, and other wear because of the thermal bonding it undergoes during curing, and because it can be applied in much thicker layers. This performance is especially important for outdoor products. In addition to its physical toughness, powder coating provides superior color retention. Long term exposure to moisture, sunlight, and heat breaks down the resins found in both paint and powder coating. This process, known as chalking, causes resin and pigment particles to lose adhesion. Affected particles form a chalk-like layer on the coating surface. https://www.elementwheels.com/powder...ainting-wheels

https://www.rgxrims.com/Blog/274498/...ING-OVER-PAINT

[AsherAudi]

Just a minor 2 cents to consider: I've found that I prefer Matte/Satin Black finishes to Gloss Black on wheels as I've found Gloss Black over-reflects to where you can't really see and appreciate the real shape and detail of the wheel design itself.

[RockJGC]

Gunmetal Gray. I hate black wheels and bright silver just looks too Toyota Camry.

[dlrbnkr]

I just purchased some 20x9 Rotors that were silver and needed to be resurfaced and so I had them refinished in gunmetal gray with the stock silver lip. I guess it may depend on the color of car but I think you see a lot less brake dust. All silver does look good too though.

[2by2handsofblue]

I just purchased some 20x9 Rotors that were silver and needed to be resurfaced and so I had them refinished in gunmetal gray with the stock silver lip. I guess it may depend on the color of car but I think you see a lot less brake dust. All silver does look good too though.

Can I see a pic of your gun metal wheels? I have a black s5 and I need my wheels refinished.
I was thinking of gloss black or gun metal grey or gloss gun metal

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[Neil F]

Can I see a pic of your gun metal wheels? I have a black s5 and I need my wheels refinished.
I was thinking of gloss black or gun metal grey or gloss gun metal

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

Black car....black rotor with machined edge

[RockJGC]

Black car....black rotor with machined edge

That doesn't look bad. I don't like black wheels, but when they have a machined/polished/silver lip, they look okay. I probably would have gone with some bright & shiny wheel bolts and/or caps just to break up the sea of black and better match the lip.

That spoiler though....absolutely terrible.

[2by2handsofblue]

Black car....black rotor with machined edge

It looks clean. I like the 2 tone.

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[2by2handsofblue]

I was looking at some pics, I think I might go with a metallic gun metal grey and keep the machined edge. Or make the whole wheel metallic gun metal.

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[aboone]

Looks better without the silver/chrome around the windows IMHO.


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[aboone]

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[iano330]

finally, some pics of a black car with the two toned.. lol. I was looking to do the same to mine a while back.

[2by2handsofblue]

finally, some pics of a black car with the two toned.. lol. I was looking to do the same to mine a while back.

What color is the wheel

we are the borg! resistance is futile.

[dlrbnkr]

I can figure out how to post a picture.

[iano330]

i kept mine silver for now. But I will be making some changes soon.

[AdamA5]

F0E3D65D-6A5A-4F95-9D47-E465E1782D80.jpg
I think they look great in gloss black. I couldn’t find a shop near me that could replicate the machined face after new powder coat.


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[Mrads]

F0E3D65D-6A5A-4F95-9D47-E465E1782D80.jpg
I think they look great in gloss black. I couldn’t find a shop near me that could replicate the machined face after new powder coat.


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I agree, they look good.. I have all gloss black 5-arms on a Daytona RS5.

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[iano330]

I think you're both right, they look great in black.... but on cars that are NOT black themselves. They can look great on black cars, only if the car is set up right (suspension, tint, etc...)