Thinking of silver/gunmetal alloys for blue 300 ST?

Brackett

Active Member
May 12, 2019
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I've never really liked the diamond cut wheels on my ST, and now they've got a little curbing and corrosion I'm thinking of getting them refurbed. I could just go straight silver (anything is better than the current diamond cut...) but also thinking of a fairly light gunmetal as well.

Has anyone got any pics of a blue ST with wheels in the style below, but in silver or gunmetal? I'm useless at paintshop or similar, and would prefer to see an actual car anyway rather than a render, so any real life pictures very much welcomed.

(I fleetingly thought about a light bronze, but I think that's maybe taking it a bit too far... I was probably harking back to my Subaru days...)

And if I end up doing it, I will post up the results. I hope something takes my fancy, as I really do fancy a change.

Thanks.

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380bhpdaily

Active Member
May 26, 2020
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Ah silver or gun metal I’m going threw the exact same problem with my alloys at the mo I’ve changed my mind about 6 times this week alone. Gun Metal for yours definitely tho. Mines a yellow POS so not sure if I can pull off gun metal on it.
 

Mr Pig

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Jun 17, 2015
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Nice colour of car.

Ordinarily, I'm really not a fan of black wheels but looking at that car I'm thinking, maybe. Apart from the fact I think it might look ok, black is a factory colour. The car will still look stock with black wheels, which might help when you come to sell it.

Gloss black would also tie in with other detailing on the car. Bronze, grey etc won't.
 
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black_sheep

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Mar 10, 2013
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I had the same issue. Two of the wheels were pitted (I assume stone damage from the poor practice of dressing the road surface like they do in the UK).

There is a smoked black colour with silver tint that I considered - if there had been an equivalent with the copper tint I may have gone with this (despite being a strong advocate for not having the Copper badges previously).

Not the colours you want to see, but I went down the gloss black route which may help you eliminate as a choice. When I picked the wheels up (off the car) they didn’t look anything special; however, look better on the car.
 

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SRGTD

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May 26, 2014
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@black_sheep; I’m not normally a fan of black alloys but yours look great 😎.

I bought some aftermarket alloys for my VW as the only factory options were diamond cut and I’ve voiced my dislike on the forum many times over on diamond cut alloys! The colour of my wheels is described as ferric grey, and ideally I’d like them to be a shade or two darker as they look more like a dark silver to me.

In the OP’s position, i think that anthracite, gunmetal or shadow chrome would all work. And seeing your alloys, I’d also add gloss black to that list now. 🙂
 
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Brackett

Active Member
May 12, 2019
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Thanks folks, some interesting and helpful comments.

I actually didn't think all-black would work, but I do actually prefer them to what I've got now. Maybe it's the stark contrast of black and silver on mine that I really don't like, but the black works better than I thought they would. Not enough to make me go down that route though I don't think... I still think a gunmental-type colour is the way to go for me... I'm just loathe to commit to it until I see what it might look like.

I thought someone might have gone down that route already, and I could see some pics, but maybe I would be the first!! Tempted to do it, but really need to see at least a mock-up first, and not sure how to do that myself.
 

Mr Pig

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Jun 17, 2015
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My wheels are gunmetal diamond cut but the mirrors are the same colour. I think if you paint the wheels a colour that does not tie up with anything else on the car it might not look right.
 

Brackett

Active Member
May 12, 2019
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My wheels are gunmetal diamond cut but the mirrors are the same colour. I think if you paint the wheels a colour that does not tie up with anything else on the car it might not look right.
mmm, never really thought of tying it in to other bits of the car... I've got another car with silver wheels, and nothing else silver (black trim around the windows etc), and I think that works, but interesting thought. Decisions, decisions,,,,
 

Mr Pig

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Jun 17, 2015
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mmm, never really thought of tying it in to other bits of the car...
I think because silver is the default colour for wheels they go with anything. You're so used to them that they always look normal. Almost invisible, like number plates?

Usually, if the wheels are a different colour or have coloured accents there are other parts on the car the same colour to tie up with them. You could do that yourself. Say you painted the wheels grey, you could do the mirrors the same colour. Just get the mirror covers done with the wheels, probably hardly cost any extra. As long as you don't go the whole Halfords and do too much! ;0)
 

Brackett

Active Member
May 12, 2019
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I´ve got grey/gun metal style paint on my winter rims. 18". Very happy with the colour. Going to paint the original 19" summer rims bronze metallic to mix things up.


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Brilliant, many many thanks for posting up. They look great.

Love the wheels as well - what are they? They look big for 18s, and work really well with the car.

I think that's me convinced on the gunmetal. Thanks again.
 

Matsnork

Active Member
Mar 29, 2021
18
4
Brilliant, many many thanks for posting up. They look great.

Love the wheels as well - what are they? They look big for 18s, and work really well with the car.

I think that's me convinced on the gunmetal. Thanks again.
Thanks mate. No problem at all.

They are Ocean rims, can't remember the specific model. Not a very expensive brand. I can have a look around the old interwebz to see if I can find out.
Edit2: Ocean Light gun metal.

I got them second hand but unused. The ET measurement is a bit lower than standard which makes the wheels "stick out" a bit more. A good thing for me (as long as its +/- 10mm close to factory specs it's supposed to be ok.)
Also, the rims have adapter rings for the axle. A deal-breaker for for some people. I don't mind.

Edit: Couldn't find the manufacturers website. But this link has a good overview:

 
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Seriously?

Active Member
Apr 20, 2018
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Thanks mate. No problem at all.

They are Ocean rims, can't remember the specific model. Not a very expensive brand. I can have a look around the old interwebz to see if I can find out.
Edit2: Ocean Light gun metal.

I got them second hand but unused. The ET measurement is a bit lower than standard which makes the wheels "stick out" a bit more. A good thing for me (as long as its +/- 10mm close to factory specs it's supposed to be ok.)
Also, the rims have adapter rings for the axle. A deal-breaker for for some people. I don't mind.

Edit: Couldn't find the manufacturers website. But this link has a good overview:

They look similar to the BBS CH-R
 
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