Long story short, the person I purchased my 05 Shinka from hit a couple curbs and there was curb rash on the wheels. I took them to a private individual to get them repaired and he could not figure out the color. I searched on here, called the dealership and there is no paint code for these wheels. The color that they came out is so wrong it is not even funny. I did notice however, that the center wheel cap looks to be that dark chrome color. My question is if that center wheel cap is a credible source for the color. If anyone has delt with this some advice would be great. I am taking it to an actual shop now and they told me that they can match it we just need a color to match it to. I don't want to spend another $400 for the wrong color again. I want to keep the wheels the original color since it is a Shinka and they are special to it. I looked at buying new ones and Mazda wants $638 a piece for those bad boys and I am unable to find them online for cheaper than $500 a wheel and my bank account just does not agree with that.

Thanks,
Raves

 

Something is wonky here. I have an 05 shinka with stock wheels but the centers are the same color as the rims. Maybe the prior owner swapped out the centers?

 

Well the center is a different color because they guy that I took them to painted the wheel the wrong color. If the center is the same color then I should be good to go

 

ok so in my own goofy way I helped. woot woot

GL!!!!

 

Well in all honesty they probably won't look any worse than they already do. I will be sure to post pics of how they look now and after they get re-finished.

 

I once ordered a new wheel for my Shinka online from Tommy at Rosenthal Mazda, and there was no "Shinka" colored wheel on their website - just the regular, lighter colored RX-8 wheel.

Turns out, wheel color is linked to VIN. If you give Mazda parts - or any guy who repairs and paints wheels - the VIN, it spits out the correct paint code for a Shinka wheel.

 

Turns out, wheel color is linked to VIN. If you give Mazda parts - or any guy who repairs and paints wheels - the VIN, it spits out the correct paint code for a Shinka wheel.[/quote]


Awesome! That is good to know! Thank you