Front/Rear Stock wheels different colors?
02-18-10, 12:10 PM
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Front/Rear Stock wheels different colors?
Two months ago I bought my 2008 IS 350 from CarMax. I was frustrated that I could never get my front wheels as clean as my rears. I figured this was due to brake dust.
Finally, I accepted the fact that my front wheels are a different shade of silver than the rear. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed. How could this be? My theory is that the rears were repaired and painted a brighter shade of silver. The fronts have a more gunmetal look.
Is it possible that this is how it comes from the factory? CarMax said they would paint all four wheels to match. But before I go for it, I want to make sure that this isn't standard. What are your thoughts?
Finally, I accepted the fact that my front wheels are a different shade of silver than the rear. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed. How could this be? My theory is that the rears were repaired and painted a brighter shade of silver. The fronts have a more gunmetal look.
Is it possible that this is how it comes from the factory? CarMax said they would paint all four wheels to match. But before I go for it, I want to make sure that this isn't standard. What are your thoughts?
02-18-10, 12:21 PM
#3
it is not repaired. The 06-07 IS came with lighter color rims and the 08 models came with the darker gunmetal rims. i think for some reason that someone must have switch out your rear rims. see if theres a way you can check the numbers on the rims and make sure the rims are a matching set
02-18-10, 01:37 PM
#4
Lexus Champion
it is not repaired. The 06-07 IS came with lighter color rims and the 08 models came with the darker gunmetal rims. i think for some reason that someone must have switch out your rear rims. see if theres a way you can check the numbers on the rims and make sure the rims are a matching set
06
08
06's are more silver
08's are called liquid graphite.
your cars front/rear wheels are too close of a shade to be older/newer wheels.
my guess is yeah, they have been repaired and repainted but not a 100% match.
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02-19-10, 02:22 AM
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I had the exact same problem on my '08 which I bought brand new...except the front was lighter than the rear. I thought it was always just the angle, shadow, the way the light was hitting it, or dirty....but the rear was always darker...and it was only on the driver's side. After a year of trying to convince myself that I was just imagining it...my OCD said otherwise...and I finally mentioned it to the dealer. They probably thought I was crazy...a bunch of their service techs looked at it and didn't see a difference...then finally the parts manager took a look at it and said that he sees a slight difference. They ended up replacing the rear which was darker....the new one was lighter and a much better match to the front.
02-20-10, 09:23 PM
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808IS....thanks for that story. Make me feel like I'm not alone. I will post pics after the paint job. I told them I'm not asking for anything more than a set of 4 matching wheels.
03-05-10, 10:56 AM
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I AM SOOOOOO HAPPY I found this post.
We bought our IS350 June '09, with a 3rd party wheel warranty package. Sure enough I hit a pothole and had to get the rim replaced. The rim they sent was certainly brighter. We thought it was maybe because of brake dust making the other wheels look darker. Today was a bright sunny day so I got out there and polished them up real good. Sure enough I have a "silver" rim and 3 "gunmetal" rims. I'm awaiting a call back from the dealership right now.... luckily they suspected it also, but weren't 100% certain. At least now I can instruct them to look into the color change from 07 to 08.
I love community car sites
-- happy IS 350 owner.
We bought our IS350 June '09, with a 3rd party wheel warranty package. Sure enough I hit a pothole and had to get the rim replaced. The rim they sent was certainly brighter. We thought it was maybe because of brake dust making the other wheels look darker. Today was a bright sunny day so I got out there and polished them up real good. Sure enough I have a "silver" rim and 3 "gunmetal" rims. I'm awaiting a call back from the dealership right now.... luckily they suspected it also, but weren't 100% certain. At least now I can instruct them to look into the color change from 07 to 08.
I love community car sites
-- happy IS 350 owner.
03-05-10, 11:41 AM
#14
Instructor
here is a great example of not to purchase an 06-07 silver rim and have someone paint the graphite onto it! i hit a nasty pot hole with my oem rim and it cracked. i couldn't find anyone selling just one '08 oem graphite rim. i had this done with a 100% gaurantee match and this is the end result of the front passenger. my wheel was turned a way that the sun was reflecting off that wheel so it's not a drastic in person as it is in this pic. but still 
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