Mazda now offers chrome wheel option

[03bluP5]

While at the dealership yesterday, they had a loaded laser blue P5 with solid black leather interior (nice) and chrome wheels. They were like mirrors - super sharp!
I was told they were late additions to the 2003 offerings, the same options the Americans had all along. I'd like to know if there are businesses in SW Ont that will chrome plate our Mazda rims for a reasonable price. Anyone know?
I recall meeting a fellow who had part of his motorcycle engine chromed and it was reasonable ($100).

[Scooter]

Try posting this in the "Ask Raymond" section.

I'd be interested to know too.

[03bluP5]

Does Raymond know this sort of thing better than others? It's not a Mazda question specifically. I asked the parts guy @ my dealership and he didn't know of one in the Golden Triangle area. That doesn't mean there isn't a business that will do it around here.
Is it even possible to chrome plate aluminum durably?

[cruisinblackp5]

I 99% sure you can get them chromed, what you might want to dd is check out a hot rod shop. They work a lot more with this kinda stuff and would be able to steer you in the right direction. You might also want to check some of the US boards as there are always people posting them for sale or trade.

[Scooter]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (03bluP5 @ Mar. 16 2003,1:04)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Does Raymond know this sort of thing better than others? It's not a Mazda question specifically. I asked the parts guy @ my dealership and he didn't know of one in the Golden Triangle area. That doesn't mean there isn't a business that will do it around here.
Is it even possible to chrome plate aluminum durably?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Sorry,...I misunderstood what you were originally posting. I thought you were wondering if any of the Mazda dealerships would be able to point you in the right direction. That's why I mentioned the ask raymond thing. My bad.

[nicholas13]

Chrome plating of a good quality is really expensive, we had it done for the classic truck we are restoring and it was like 300 just for the front emblems and hood ornament. they qouted us a 1000 for the bumper....so we just painted it http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[03bluP5]

Thanks guys. I'll look up some performance shops in the area and post what I find out.
Sounds like it may be cheaper to find aftermarket chrome wheels and sell my stock rims. We'll see...

[superdave]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (cruisinblackp5 @ Mar. 16 2003,2:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I 99% sure you can get them chromed, what you might want to dd is check out a hot rod shop. They work a lot more with this kinda stuff and would be able to steer you in the right direction. You might also want to check some of the US boards as there are always people posting them for sale or trade.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
This is good advice. The import scene seems to be more into the polished aluminum than chrome. Thats another option though... getting your wheels polished. It won't be quite as good as chrome, but it would look nice.

Also as nicholas13 said, chrome plating is very expensive. I remember reading about a restoration some guy did on his Mazda RX-2. He spent something like $3000 USD on getting stuff re-chromed. That was just the bumpers, grill, emblems, etc.

[Protege5 Kid]

Ray told me that those P5 with the Crome rims are being labled as &quot;Special Editions&quot; its pretty much a fully loaded American P5...

[nicholas13]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The import scene seems to be more into the polished aluminum than chrome. Thats another option though... getting your wheels polished. It won't be quite as good as chrome, but it would look nice.
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>


I know of a place that will do wheels for a really good pric...this will sound weird but on the classic we are re-storing we had the alloys polished by some native americans at the Ten Acre Truck Stop (401 and Wallbridge rd) Belleville ON. These guys set up a booth and polish your wheels while you wait, and it was only like 150 for all 4 wheels....

I think these guys are only there during warm months. I can find out if anyone is interested.

[cruisinblackp5]

While you wait. Holy S#!T that would be all day. Oh and I think that the wheels from Mazda in the states are just polished, I could be wrong and maybe these are too.

[nicholas13]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">While you wait. Holy S#!T that would be all day[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>


these guys were amazing, it took them 4hrs to do all the rims,

[03bluP5]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (cruisinblackp5 @ Mar. 17 2003,5:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Oh and I think that the wheels from Mazda in the states are just polished[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I'm pretty sure they are chromed, and they had this option on the 2002 models too. Even the Mazda employee referred to them as chromed.
I'm aware that most imports don't get chrome wheels but my eyes tell me the chrome wheels look sharp on the dark blue or black car. Doesn't matter whether the car is American or Japanese. And they certainly would be different from the norm.
Somehow getting some roadside people to polish wheels while I wait seems odd. It's a little different than buying cider from the Mennonites on the side of the road in St. Jacobs.

[03bluP5]

Update: chrome plating is considered &quot;hazardous material&quot; and almost no one is willing to work with it. If they do, they will charge a premium.
Also, I'm told, chrome wheels are more prone to damage and repairing them would be expensive, likely requiring the wheel to be replaced.
So no chrome wheels for me.