I mentioned this in another thread, but I doubt it's going to get any attention there, so....

As some of you know, I am waiting for my car to be repaired after a relatively minor rear-end collision. The body shop has been waiting on a replacement OEM wheel for over two weeks now.

I called them this morning and they said the local Mazda dealer cannot get the silver-painted alloy wheel that came with the car because it's been discontinued. They said Mazda is only selling the "chrome" (that's the body shop's word) wheel now.

So, confused, I called Mazda customer service and the guy put me on hold for several minutes and came back and said that Mazda has, in fact, discontinued the silver painted wheel and is now offering a polished wheel and a chrome wheel.

Now, I'd heard just the opposite on this forum - that Mazda was cancelling the polished wheel and only offering chrome and silver-painted. Just thought you folks might be interested to hear this latest version.

Oh, and if they can't locate a silver-painted wheel, looks like I may get 4 new polished wheels for my trouble. Please, God, don't let them find a stock wheel!! :D

I'm definitely gonna watch this thread for more info... keep us posted :)

I want the polished rims.. not chrome, so this will be interesting.

I thought the polished rims were chrome?

According to my dealer, they're different. They told me chromed rims are the new option instead of polished, but this discontinuation (?) of the stock painted wheels is new to me. I've seen the polished ones, and they aren't as shiny as chrome. I actually like the chrome look better, but I haven't gotten the chrome ones yet to actually compare.

Originally posted by mikeb
I thought the polished rims were chrome?
No, the polished are the result if you took a stock silver/grey rim, polished away the color coating, and polished the metal underneath to a high luster. The chrome wheels are plated with a chromium alloy. They are both shiny, silver-metal looking, but the chromes are shinier (when new).

I wonder if they are just stopping production for a while.

I've noticed the stock painted rims chip very very easily.

I'd prefer "polished", and would never buy "chromed" rims.

Originally posted by syntrix
I wonder if they are just stopping production for a while.

I've noticed the stock painted rims chip very very easily.

I'd prefer "polished", and would never buy "chromed" rims.


Well, maybe so. But I'm not in a mood to wait for my new wheel until they start production back up. Anyhow, the word Mazda Customer Service and the local dealer are using is "discontinued."

I agree, Syntrix. I'd much rather have polished - I think it would look better on blue than chrome. Chrome might be a little too bling bling. ;)

OK, here's the latest from Mazda on this. I emailed their address at the website and received a reply indicating that the stock silver-painted wheels have NOT been discontinued, but are being made by a different manufacturer.

They then gave me the part number for the wheel and suggested I give that info to the body shop and the dealer.

So, that's two different stories from two different people at Mazda, but I tend to believe this latest email.

Sorry if I got anybody, including myself!, unnecessarily excited. I guess I won't be getting those polished wheels after all.

thanks for clarifing

Good info! Let us know if you can still get your rim!!!

Sorry that you won't be getting the polished set though, hehe.