Titanium Alloys in Black

Mar 18, 2019
3
0
Hi all,

I'm new to this forum having bought a 2016 Seat Leon FR Titanium a couple weeks ago. This looks like a great place for advice with a lot of friendly like minded people so here goes!

Currently loving the new addition to the family but I do have some subtle mods lined up for the next few months.

One mod which I'm struggling to make a decision on is the alloy wheels. I love the design of them (they're partly why I was insistent on buying a Titanium) but I can't help wonder whether the silver/alloy would look better in black, contrasted against the darker grey of the inserts.

Has anyone done this to their alloys and if so do you have pictures you could share? Otherwise, any opinions would be a great help!

Sorry if the answer is in another thread somewhere - I've spent ages searching but not quite found what I was looking for.

Thanks,

Dan

Seat1.jpg

Seat2.jpg
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,388
1,279
If I’ve understood correctly, you’re considering leaving the inserts grey and having the face of the wheel pa Need black.

The existing two tone effect on the Titanium alloys is achieved through diamond cutting, which is a cost effective way to achieve a two tone effect. The whole wheel is painted / powder coated grey (as per the grey inserts between the spokes) and the face is then cut on a diamond cutting lathe to reveal the silver/alloy colour before the wheel is given a coat of clear lacquer to protect the surface.

So to get the factory two tone finish, the wheel face isn’t actually painted - it’s bare metal with a lacquer coat. I dare say the black face / grey insert effect I think you’re looking for could be done, but to do it properly would involve stripping the wheel back to bare metal, repainting / re powder coating it grey, then masking off the inserts between the spokes and painting / powder coating the face black. I’d imagine this would be quite costly as it would take lots of time and effort to accurately mask off the insert areas ready for painting the wheel face black. I suspect it’s for cost reasons that very few, if any, manufacturers offer two tone painted alloys, but opt for the diamond cut method as it’s quicker and cheaper to achieve.
 
Mar 18, 2019
3
0
If I’ve understood correctly, you’re considering leaving the inserts grey and having the face of the wheel pa Need black.

The existing two tone effect on the Titanium alloys is achieved through diamond cutting, which is a cost effective way to achieve a two tone effect. The whole wheel is painted / powder coated grey (as per the grey inserts between the spokes) and the face is then cut on a diamond cutting lathe to reveal the silver/alloy colour before the wheel is given a coat of clear lacquer to protect the surface.

So to get the factory two tone finish, the wheel face isn’t actually painted - it’s bare metal with a lacquer coat. I dare say the black face / grey insert effect I think you’re looking for could be done, but to do it properly would involve stripping the wheel back to bare metal, repainting / re powder coating it grey, then masking off the inserts between the spokes and painting / powder coating the face black. I’d imagine this would be quite costly as it would take lots of time and effort to accurately mask off the insert areas ready for painting the wheel face black. I suspect it’s for cost reasons that very few, if any, manufacturers offer two tone painted alloys, but opt for the diamond cut method as it’s quicker and cheaper to achieve.

Hi SRGTD, thanks for your reply.

Yes it sounds like you have undestood me correctly but I must admit I didn't think about the cost side of it. I am off to the body shop this week for some quotes on a few other things so I will enquire about this too. If it is going to be a difficult as you suggest then perhaps the cost alone will rule this out as an option.

Many thanks
 

Curtly

Active Member
Jun 5, 2015
893
19
Essex
I've got a couple of these spare for sale, slightly kerb damaged you can have the pair for £150
 
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