Chromed Roadstars

June 04

Ever since I saw Nick's Ti Silver Roadster with the Chrome Roadstars, then what is now 6i9’s Black Coupe (was russian.mob’s) with the Chrome Roadstars, I’ve been convinced that the Roadstars look excellent in Chrome.

After giving up the GT3s, I loved the way my Roadstars felt again. The problem is, when something just isn’t right with the car, it bugs me. My Roadstars had a couple of minor blemishes and a case of c-rash here and there. No one could tell unless they were a foot away, but I knew it, and it bothered me.

I was struggling with how to acquire a set of wheels, then haul them around to get them refinished, then have tires ordered, they haul them around to get them mounted and balanced, then mounted on the car, etc. etc. Which by the way is no small task since you cannot carry 4 wheels and 4 un-mounted tires in an MC :>)

I considered getting my own current set of Roadstars chromed, but the idea of the MC being up on jack stands for 3+ weeks, then having to coordinate all my driving around with the fiancée during that time put the kibosh on that idea as well.

Every once in a while while cruising eBay, I would see a vendor that had OEM Roadstars for sale. I called them up and wound up pulling the trigger on a new set, had them chromed, then added the Kumho Ecsta MX [F] 235.45.17 and [R] 255.40.17 after several glowing reviews from the Z3 community.

Ernie, from Ernie's Alloys in Miami FL did everything. Wheels (with new ///M stickers and new center caps), chroming, tires, mounted and balanced, and shipped. It took about 2.5 weeks from the order time to arrival time. The Chrome does come with a 12 month guarantee.

Ernie' Alloys 305.687.0028

'Pros' for this scenario:

- Chrome is a highly durable finish when applied correctly

- I can apply several layers of Klasse while they are in this perfect state for more protection

- Chrome cleans easily

- Chrome looks sharp against the silver

- The rear lip looks even bigger

- No curb rash, pitting, peeling, or chipping anymore!

- I didn't have to put the MC up on jack stands for weeks at a time

- I didn't have to haul wheels and tires all over town for dismounting, remounting, rebalancing, etc.

- I can sell my current Roadstars to offset the purchase price

- sharp wheels that still maintains a degree of OEM-ness and 17" performance qualities

And what better to mount my new shiny wheels with than Chrome lugs from LeatherZ of course! They took ~3.5 weeks to receive, but so be it. I also popped for a set or BMW OEM locking lugs; those are the 1 black cap lug you see on each wheel.

Finally, the pics