So, I got bored and decided I wanted to polish my oem rims.. I took some Paint stripper to them and sand paper and went up the grades to get this..







I live in Mass/Newhampshire where there is salt everywhere, so I could not use my chrome oem rims that I picked up. since my stock grey rims were just sitting around. I felt the need to sand and shine them up

 

wow, looks like it took a really long time. great job.

 

you may want to clear coat those...if you don't it will corrode

 

Yeah, I'm going to hit them with 2000 grit again and polish. then try and clear them.

 

nice and shiny.

 

Actually looks good. Did you start out with any curb damage?

 

Yeah, Had a lot of curb damage. but I sanded it right out

 

How many hours?

 

Takes about 6-7 hours per rim. I'm getting faster. almost done #3

 

Looks very similar to the Chrome wheels.

 

I think i might have a go at this on my 8 very soon. Good job post pics of final product

 

do the chrome rims not stand up well against salt?

 

Not at all. During winter, Most of New England (ma/nh/ct/ny/ri) drops a ton of salt over the snow. and that salt eats away at pitts in the chrome. and causes it to lift.

 

You can buy polished rims from Mazda.

 

DIY polished rims are probably a little cheaper though.

 

and the polished rims arent really polished in the sense used here. they are chromed.

 

mazda used to have an option of polished rims. they discontinued them. all you can get is the chromed ones. and if you polish your rims. they are just as shiny. not to mention, polished rims don't chip. all you would see is a nick if a rock hit them... which can be polished out I can "erase" a nick in my polished rims in about an hour with sander and paper.

 

Well, rims have been done for a while now, I'm considering selling them. how much do you guys think I could get for 4 hand mirror polished Oem rims. no curb. never mounted? I don't want to put this in the for sale, because they arn't for sale yet. I'd probibly use the money and some of my own for some new rims. took me about 3 weeks in labor and spare time to get them all like that..

 

What kind of stripper did you use? I was under the impression that the rims were powder coated and would resist typical strippers. I guess I'm wrong.

 

It's been done, by me, in 2004!



https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-polish-your-factory-wheels-%2470-each-37805/

 

hehe, great minds think alike
They do look awsome though.. I did all that work, but now I'm deciding whether or not to keep them. I have seen some really nice aftermarket rims i've had my eyes on. and I have a set of OEM chrome I purchased that replaced the original OEM I had... so... I don't have to much need for my polished ones. doh.. so much work to do to my car this month..

Oh, and I had to use a few bottles of airplane stripper on them.. a few times each to get all the paint off.

 

Great job. I need info how to do it step by step

 

^look in the DIY section, i believe theres a good write up on it with lots of pics and info

 

i'm rolling on polished wheels thanks to the previous owner.. they look really good and i get compliments from other 8 owners.. although he did curb them all to hell for me as well.. i'm gonna have to get the sandpaper out and do redo my wheels soon..

 

i think that's the best part.....,nice job