My MS6 Rims (Review + Tons of Photos)

[philipfreire]

I present to you ladies and gentleman...
My Mazdaspeed6 Wheels, Powdercoated Hi-Gloss Black

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0538.JPG


The application: 2009 Mazda3 GT, 5-Speed Black Mica with Luxury Package
The process: Chemical stripping, final inspection and prepping, 1x Primer, 2x Powdercoat
Total cost: $200.00 CDN (No Tax)

Warranty: Lifetime Guarantee

Alright, If you don’t know the trouble I went with these wheels. Here’s the story:


I picked these up on mazda6club.com from a seller who will remain anonymous. His ad stated the rims were in great condition with only two rims suffering minor curb rash. For $400.00 shipped USD, I thought this would be a good deal and I jumped on it.

http://freire.ca/wheels/original/Clean%20Wheel.jpg


Upon receiving the package I found out one rim was bent and later found out two in total were bent. He claimed he did not know of this and I can’t prove he’s lying. In the end he ended up giving me all four wheels for $150.00, which I accepted fairly and owned up stating that “possibly his father hit a pot hole”.

http://freire.ca/wheels/original/Damaged-2.jpg

I ended up trading one rim with Quy, who had a demo hanging off his wall.

http://freire.ca/wheels/original/Quy-Damaged.jpg

Suffering from a major curb rash, he referred me to a guy named Vito who does some welding. I check him out and the craftmanship was A++. He ended up charging me 50.00 to fix two wheels. I think he can do 4 wheels for 50.00, but one of my rash was almost an inch deep, therefore time consuming to weld and perfect.

http://freire.ca/wheels/original/Quy-Damaged-Upclose.jpg

http://freire.ca/wheels/original/Quy-Repaied%20Upclose.jpg

http://freire.ca/wheels/original/Quy-Repaired.jpg

I then got the other rim, which had a minor bend fixed at Wheel Wizards in Hamilton. Thank you MK and Alan for the reference and taking it in for me. They pulled out that dent in a day and had me on my way. Good work again.

Now finally the wheels were ready to be stripped and powder coated. My options available were Quy Coating Inc. and a company that was just started to get mentioned around the forums with no actual feedback (Metal Coaters). Now being on a budget, but still wanting quality I found out Metal Coaters were offering the service at a fraction of what Quy Coating Inc. was. With this brought up questions on quality and it concerned me. Therefore I contacted Taj and went over to his shop and got as much answers out of his possible.

For those who didn’t see my post here are the questions asked when I met him:


First off I asked him why his work is so cheap compared to competitors?
He told me that they are already an established company doing a heck of a lot more than rims. He accidentally stumbled upon rims last year for someone and it was a nice side job for him. It's a 20,000 sq ft building and he told me to tell you guys your all welcome to pay a visit to see what kind of stuff they do.

I asked him about sandblasting
He said all metal is chemically treated and/or sandblasted. This is normal when prepping for powder coating.

Can you do chrome black? Metallic colors?
He's got a really deep black that is highly reflective and mirrors black chrome. He can also add metallic colors as he has a wide variety of colors.

Do you fix bent rims?
He said he tries to stay away from that.

Do you fix curb rash rims?
Yes. He will either fill it with a compound if its very shallow, just to give it the perfect finish. If its a deep rash he will weld metal onto it. (i think its metal or aluminum, not quite sure, forgot)

Now before I get into this, for those who do not exactly understand a whole lot about powder coating, a good reference is wikipedia. It explains the process and steps involved prior to the process.

Check it out at this link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_coating)

Now after I had finally decided on the shop i would go with, I had another dilemma. The color. Since I couldn’t getting an exact match of the RX8/MS3 Shinka or whatever you want to call it, I decided to get them powder coated in Gunmetal. Right up until I saw Taj pull out some metal pieces finished in a hi-gloss black, I then found the color I was going with. As nice as Gunmetal is, and believe me Taj has a gunmetal that is just hot! I decided black would be my 3’s best match. It would go best with the theme I got going and the chrome door handles will match the chrome accents on the wheels (being the lug nuts and Mazda symbol).

Now, the total turn around time for this project ended up being two weeks. He originally told me less than a week, which is a normal deadline for a job like this, but he got extremely busy with his other projects. Now I understand this is a side job and nothing more than “extra cash” flowing through his pocket so, I can totally understand and honestly did not mind the wait.

Now I got the call to check out the rims stripped and take photos for you guys. He told me he also ran into problems stripping the powder coated rim from Quy. He said that powder coated rims required more time in the tank to remove the thick layer of powder coating it built. In the prep photos below you can still see some orange remaining around the lug holes.

The Prep Work:

http://freire.ca/wheels/prep/DSCF0517.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/prep/DSCF0524.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/prep/DSCF0526.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/prep/DSCF0528.jpg

After seeing what these rims looked like before and inspecting them now, they look great and almost ready to be powder coated. Most of the blemishes you see are stains or will be touched up in the final inspection before one coat of primer and two coats of powder coating.

Just to note, Taj did not apply a clear coat because he said the black was already highly reflective. He stated if a clear would be added, you would risk losing the deep black color seen.

Now the final piece after it’s been powder coated:

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0547.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0540.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0539.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0541.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0545.jpg

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0550.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0551.JPG

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0552.JPG

The results: a new look for spring and a big smile on my face! :D

Taj is offering a LIFETIME warranty on the workmanship. If it peels, flakes, fade, you can take it back free of charge. Now with this, you can not come back with rash or bends, or anything that has a fault caused by you.

In conclusion, I am extremely happy with the results and hard work put in by myself and the others involved in all this. I complied a list with contact information from my phone of all the companies who helped make this possible for those who are looking for references. Hopefully this thread will make it easy for you guys to find all the information. I apologize for the lengthly post. Now if time isn't an issue and saving a few hundred is a must, then give Taj a call. His work is great. Think of it this way. I can get two sets of rims refinished and have 50 dollars or more left over from other places offering refinishing.

I will be bringing these wheels to our next meet on Monday and Wednesday for those who want to see the quality work before deciding. So feel free to come out and check the rims out!

Next up... getting my hands on MS3 wheels.. :)

Thank you all.

To view the entire gallary in higher quality, click here (http://gallery.me.com/philip.freire)


Company Listing:

Metal Coaters

Owner/President: Taj Singh

7666 Bath Road
Mississauga, ON L4T 1L2
(905)671-2772
www.metalcoaters.ca

Metal Welders

Owner: Vito

6101 Netherhart Road

Mississauga, ON

(905)565-1195

Wheel Wizards

683 Barton Street East

Hamilton, ON L8L 3A5

(905)544-9651
www.wheelwizards.ca

[Ogata]

Nice work!! How did you from Quy to Taj? Make sure you got your wheel locks on when you put them on your ride.

[philipfreire]

Nice work!! How did you from Quy to Taj? Make sure you got your wheel locks on when you put them on your ride.

I was referred to Quy as he had a Speed6 Wheel which was in better shape then mine. We ended up swapping rims plus 100.00 CDN to him. I was planning on saving up to take the wheels when I heard the buzz on these forums about Metal Coaters.

Unfortunately, there was no real reviews on this guy and there was a lot of questioning of his quality of work. So I investigated and decided to be the first.

[S.F.W.]

Rims turned out really nice. Sounds like a very positive outcome, despite the challenges with the original seller. I look forward to seeing them in person, on your ride.

[ST3ALTH]

Rims look amazing!!!! i think i know what im going to be getting in the near future!!! Nice work.

[Manpreet]

wow they turned out nice, i want to see these when there mountedd

[Soyabean]

Very nice. I am considering getting my rims fixed up as I have one that is badly curbed. So the whole thing costed $200? or $200 for the powdercoating?

As for not putting on a clear, i dunno if thats a good idea because the clear coat helps to protect against stone chips and stuff. But as you said, there is lifetime warrenty but does the warrenty cover stone chips on the rims? (if it is even possible to get stonechips on rims?)

But i am very amazed with the finished product. Im curious as to how much better you car will look like once these rims are on. Lol. Bad timing, you'll have to wait half a year lol

[philipfreire]

Soyabean. It's 200 for chemical prep, primer, and two coats of powder coating. Quy usually does one so it's twice as thick to help against stone chips. And yes he's guarenteeing the work. He said if it was a different color tht didn't have tht extra gloss he would have added the clear. I guess I can't complain.

[aris]

Looks good

[Soyabean]

regardless it looks amazing. I recall u saying u wanted ms3 rims as well? What are they for? I like these ms6's more

[philipfreire]

regardless it looks amazing. I recall u saying u wanted ms3 rims as well? What are they for? I like these ms6's more
Yeah I want two sets to change looks up every now and then lol

[Malcolm991]

Soyabean. It's 200 for chemical prep, primer, and two coats of powder coating. Quy usually does one so it's twice as thick to help against stone chips. And yes he's guarenteeing the work. He said if it was a different color tht didn't have tht extra gloss he would have added the clear. I guess I can't complain.

They look great, Quy does 2 coats of powdercoat with a clearcoat on top of that for extra shine! He also quaranteed his work!

[yearoftherat]

Nice work !! Good to see another place for those interested in powdercoating their rims.

[SonicBoy]

Glad it all worked out for you in the end. Can't wait for the spring and the photo shoot!

What you planning on using for rubber?

[cwp_sedan]

These look great and the price is amazing!

[MPS]

do they sand blast for that price ?
thats the only reason i can see them doing it for that cheap

[S.F.W.]

do they sand blast for that price ?
thats the only reason i can see them doing it for that cheap

I guess you didn't read...
"I asked him about sandblasting
He said all metal is chemically treated and/or sandblasted. This is normal when prepping for powder coating."

[jonjon72]

Great find and good write up. Looks like I'll be bringing my rims there early in the new year!

[MPS]

i still want to know if sandblasting is included in that price
chemical is no where near as good as sandblasting
and chemical is only good on bear surface

[philipfreire]

i still want to know if sandblasting is included in that price
chemical is no where near as good as sandblasting
and chemical is only good on bear surface

Can you give something to back up this claim? or is it just your personal preference? Chemical threatment can achieve the same results.

I have gathered this:

Chemical pre-treatments involve the use of phosphates or chromates in submersion or spray application. These often occur in multiple stages and consist of degreasing, etching, de-smutting, various rinses and the final phosphating or chromating of the substrate. The pre-treatment process both cleans and improves bonding of the powder to the metal. Recent additional processes have been developed that avoid the use of chromates, as these can be toxic to the environment. Titanium Zirconium and Silanes offer similar performance against corrosion and adhesion of the powder.

Another method of preparing the surface prior to coating is known as abrasive blasting or Sandblasting and shot blasting. Blast media and blasting abrasives are used to provide surface texturing and preparation, etching, finishing, and degreasing for products made of wood, plastic, or glass. The most important properties to consider are chemical composition and density; particle shape and size; and impact resistance.

It does not state one to be superior over another, and basically states they provide the same end result but are two completely different methods.

Im sure if you "prefer" it sandblasted, he will do it, not sure what the price will be. Honestly I didnt see a sanblasting station but he has so much stuff in that huge warehouse, that I could have easily missed it. Contact him directly and he will give you the answer.

This guy knows what hes doing. He doesnt just do automotive work, he does various other metal work. If his business is growing and his company is doing well, don't you think hes doing something right?

Honestly I dont know what the outcome will be of my rims. Only time will tell with wear and tear. If its best to throw a clear coat, I will talk to him.

[philipfreire]

They look great, Quy does 2 coats of powdercoat with a clearcoat on top of that for extra shine! He also quaranteed his work!

Oh really? I didn't know! Then thats awesome! I was just going by this thread that states his special on refinishing rims that involves only 1powder coat and 1 clear coat.


For any solid colours such as black and gunmetal, special price of $400 ONLY FOR FACTORY FINISH MAZDA WHEELS w/ minor blemish. This includes sandblasting, 1x powdercoat, 1x clearcoat (major damage or serious curb rash or bent wheel must be repaired by owner, minor dings/chips/curbing are OK, to be reviewed personally by Quy for final inspection).


link (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=32084)

[bman13]

Damn...look at those black rims shine. $200 flat is a badass price. Makes me want to get my rims done asap in the same colour (got MS3's).

Thanks for sharing and putting such a detailed post together :)

[MPS]

i guess sandblasting is more green :)
i will have to come to that meet to compare rims with you
had mine done by Q with clear and they look amazing



Can you give something to back up this claim? or is it just your personal preference? Chemical threatment can achieve the same results.

I have gathered this:


It does not state one to be superior over another, and basically states they provide the same end result but are two completely different methods.

Im sure if you "prefer" it sandblasted, he will do it, not sure what the price will be. Honestly I didnt see a sanblasting station but he has so much stuff in that huge warehouse, that I could have easily missed it. Contact him directly and he will give you the answer.

This guy knows what hes doing. He doesnt just do automotive work, he does various other metal work. If his business is growing and his company is doing well, don't you think hes doing something right?

Honestly I dont know what the outcome will be of my rims. Only time will tell with wear and tear. If its best to throw a clear coat, I will talk to him.

[Malcolm991]

What made you pick gloss black, I thought you had your heart set on gunmetal! Be carefull where you get tires installed, these rims are very delicate.

[philipfreire]

What made you pick gloss black, I thought you had your heart set on gunmetal! Be carefull where you get tires installed, these rims are very delicate.

I picked gloss after seeing one of Taj's clients work. They had these metal pieces painted in the exact color and my jaw dropped. The next day I saw a pic of online of MS3 in black gloss on a black 3 and I knew then thats the color.

Yeah guys come on out and lets compare. To be honest the only difference I noticed is that Quy painted the entire rim, Taj ony did the inside back and front. I spoke to him about this and he said he didn't paint the middle part of the rim because it will be covered by the tire anyways.

I dont mind, but for anyone else just specify you want the entire rim painted.

Heres what I mean:

http://freire.ca/wheels/final/DSCF0548.JPG

It smooth and feels like theirs a coating. Maybe its overspray? but its not the deep black you see on the front and inside of the rim.

[philipfreire]

What made you pick gloss black, I thought you had your heart set on gunmetal! Be carefull where you get tires installed, these rims are very delicate.

I was thinking Simply Tire. Getting a set of Falkens (to the user above who asked what kind of rubber) @ 215/45-18

I hope they will be gentle with these. I know the pain black can be. But when its done right and cleaned up, it just so hawt.

[Ogata]

I was thinking Simply Tire. Getting a set of Falkens (to the user above who asked what kind of rubber) @ 215/45-18

I hope they will be gentle with these. I know the pain black can be. But when its done right and cleaned up, it just so hawt.

I would trust Allen to do these. Wasn't there a member who got their powdercoated rims screwed for a shop?

[deandai]

the hard work paid offf :)

[SonicBoy]

I was thinking Simply Tire. Getting a set of Falkens (to the user above who asked what kind of rubber) @ 215/45-18

I hope they will be gentle with these. I know the pain black can be. But when its done right and cleaned up, it just so hawt.

My set was installed by Allen when UOUN had them. Very miticulous with the install and the weights used were even coated.

[leojadazol]

nice job.

[bman13]

If you bring these Wed, i'll for sure show up to see and possibly get my speed rims powder coated....

[philipfreire]

If you bring these Wed, i'll for sure show up to see and possibly get my speed rims powder coated....

I'll be there around 9:15-9:30 at the Tims. :) I brought it tonight to show S.F.W. and Broil.

[Rob23]

wow man that looks f**kin awsome. ive always liked the MS6 rims 10x better, now with the higloss powdercoating its like 20x better! could the paint ever chip?

[vartdirector]

Very nice work on them! This will look awsome!