BBS RS: Restore in Gold or Silver; Your Opinion?

[LarryM]

So I just purchased my second set of RS061s. The first set I restored several years ago with gold-painted centers; they were beautiful but when I finished them I got thinking they were a little too "blingy", and ultimately decided to sell them. Afterwards, I was sorry I let them go.

My first set when finished:
[/url]RS061-2[/img]

Fast forward to today and now I'm trying to decide what to do with this new set. My E28 is Zinno and I do think that gold centers are very complementary to this color...maybe more so than any with other E28 color. However gold-faced wheels seems to be a polarizing look to many people who didn't live through the 1970s and 80s.

I'm still on the fence about what to paint the centers this time around. Big decision; I might never get a third chance.
What do YOU think?

[stuartinmn]

Personally I think gold would look best with a red car, but it only matters what you think.

[Mike W.]

I like painted silver centers, IMO gold usually looks tacky. But it's your car, do what you like.

[1st 5er]

Not a fan of gold unless it's on your left hand's ring finger.
Butt, your car.

[Blue Shadow]

I'm trying to decide what to do with this new set. My E28 is Zinno and I do think that gold centers are very complementary to this color...maybe more so than any with other E28 color. However gold-faced wheels seems to be a polarizing look to many people who didn't live through the 1970s and 80s.

You putting these on a car for Mike and Sherm to approve or are you doing what you like?

[dsw99a]

Hey, the Op ASKED for opinions. 2 For, 2 Against.

[gwb72tii]

Too much bling for me, but you can always refinish to silver. Really no way to lose.

[Panici]

I've always wanted a set with a metallic gold finish.
With a "gold plated" look rather then just paint. Not sure if this can be done without using actual gold.

Barring that, my vote goes for silver paint over gold paint.

[vinceg101]

I guess I'm an outlier as my RS211's are neither silver or gold but more of a bronzit color (evidently it was a BBS color option in the day); looks great with the Arktisblau IMO:



So I guess what I'm saying is chose the color that compliments the car and color best rather than restricting yourself to just two colors. Which is why I'm not opposed to gold centers being that it is up against Zinno which is a nice compliment.

[Again, this is just my opinion and this is your car.]

[LarryM]

Hey, the Op ASKED for opinions. 2 For, 2 Against.

Thank you sir.

Vince, those wheels look terrific on your car. The “bronzit” gold is more subtle than the darker gold (some people call it “Spanish Gold”) on my original set and is very complementary to Arktisblau. Definitely another color to consider.

[Blue Shadow]

I've got a set of BBS-RZ the deep dish ones in gold that look good on the gazellenbeige e23 I have.

[Blue Shadow]

That e23 is on the web:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/addlightness/8713357091/

[LarryM]

That e23 is on the web:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/addlightness/8713357091/

Very nice. Arguably more interesting than silver. RZs are great wheels too, with an aggressive deep-dish look.

[Blue Shadow]

Very nice. Arguably more interesting than silver. RZs are great wheels too, with an aggressive deep-dish look.

I have the advantage that this color, gazellenbeige was only available in the US on the E30 so I won't see a US E23 the same color. That and to be on a remake of Miami Vice I need to have the gold wheels.

[Shawn D.]

However gold-faced wheels seems to be a polarizing look to many people who didn't live through the 1970s and 80s.

I lived through the '70s and '80s and have never cared for gold wheels (and abhor black wheels on anything but a black car, FWIW). The only car I can say I like with gold-ish wheels is the E23 discussed in this thread.

[BDKawey]

maybe austin caccavo will chime in with better pictures but I just went on a quick search for what I could find already here. gold is certainly flashy and I look I like. but depends if you want to keep it subtle.

[tn535i]

I would choose a grey tone. I think the color used by BMW on some was Nagaro. I refinished my Style 5's with something very close to Nagaro but it's a little darker and I should have just bought a slightly lighter grey. I think your chrome center nut would look much better on grey than silber.

Another reason I chose a grey is that it gets dirty no matter what you do and difficult to get silber really clean. So another choice would be brake dust.

[Blue Shadow]

Yes, the Nagaro and Granit wheel colors are nice on the basketweaves. Nagaro is darker than granit until I find my pic that has them both in one shot.

Keeps one from having brake dust make the wheels look dirty. An even coating of brake dust just blends in and may make the color a bit darker until the next wash. Much better than looking dirty.

Here is the pic posted years ago:

http://e28-535i.com/upload/nogarovsgranit.jpg

[Mike W.]

While never a friend of gold, I do like some of the grays I see coming out in recent years. I don't like the monochromatic look, so not matching with body color, but IMO some look very good. I keep looking at them and my cars but nothing seems to fit. But I think it's my cars, not the color.

[austin8753]

i really like the slightly bronzit silver, one of my sets of RS' were that color originally. i had them refinished and asked for the exact same color, but got lachssilber instead.

i think gold is cool on a red car, in a very period correct/slightly gaudy way, but am very boring at my core and love the simplicity of silver.

it's your car, just do what makes you happy.

[Dimm6]

Gold on Zinno is perfect. Gold is very period correct for any 80’s car.

[Panici]

If I win the lottery, gold plating:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfHrRf2l ... 47dcab0f1e

[Adam W in MN]

I was very happy with the zinno E28 and gold centered RZ's look on the 535is I sold this summer.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-535is-39/

However on my E12, I converted the RS wheels several years ago from black centered to the more traditional silver centers.

[Panici]

I was very happy with the zinno E28 and gold centered RZ's look on the 535is I sold this summer.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-535is-39/

Off topic, but:
I absolutely love those seats. Are those the Recaro Orthopedic ones from the 80s?

[alemac1]

I was very happy with the zinno E28 and gold centered RZ's look on the 535is I sold this summer.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-535is-39/

Off topic, but:
I absolutely love those seats. Are those the Recaro Orthopedic ones from the 80s?

they are Recaro C81