Different betwee Chrome and Polish?

kson929 · 05-12-2008, 12:27 AM

What is the different between Polish and Chrome?
I have noticed many bmw owners here don't like chrome, personally I am fine with it but probably I will go for Polish instead of chrome.
Anyone can state the different between those two finishes?
they do look different right? polish doesn't look as plastic as chrome? or as cheap?
Post some photos between them if you have them...

SantaClawz · 05-12-2008, 12:32 AM

chrome is 10X easier to clean than high polished. high polished will lose its luster, and cleaning it will take forever. with a chrome lip you just wipe and its clean. but with a polished lip you have to really get at it with some elbow grease to keep it fresh.

kson929 · 05-12-2008, 10:52 AM

so i should go wiht chrome lip?

BuLoOoSki · 05-12-2008, 11:04 AM

seems like you should, cleaning those polished wheels can be a pain

BimmerFan61 · 05-12-2008, 03:34 PM

If your talking about lips only I would definitely go chrome. So much easier to keep looking good. Put a coat of wax on it and your done. Looks better than polish

Perpetrator · 05-12-2008, 03:42 PM

Polished lips may be harder to clean. BUT, if you curb your wheels, chrome may be harder to fix due to matching.

If you're talking about wheels all together (not just lips), then stay away from chrome. It's too blingy, and will make the wheels heavier.

kson929 · 05-12-2008, 04:21 PM

so how does the polish wheel look like compare to chrome?
I am thinking either get a polished wheel... or a brushed centre with chrome lip

kson929 · 05-12-2008, 04:21 PM

so how does the polish wheel look like compare to chrome?
I am thinking either get a polished wheel... or a brushed centre with chrome lip

SantaClawz · 05-12-2008, 07:03 PM

I had a set of fully polished wheels. they were impossible to keep clean. and the lip started looking "scratch" or "marred" after a washing them a few times. chrome will keep its luster. the only benefit to high polished is that it is MUCH easier to fix the lip if you curb it. Chrome lips are really hard to repair and would cost a lot more to repair too.

i would go with chrome lip 100%

wj4 · 05-12-2008, 07:14 PM

Chrome is a lot heavier as well. As far as the polished lip having imperfections...that's due to the clear coat. I know iForged wheels have them so you gotta get the lips repolished every now and then. If your polished lips don't have the clear coat, they will stay shiny and flawless as long as you don't curb them and such.

SantaClawz · 05-12-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wj4

Chrome is a lot heavier as well. As far as the polished lip having imperfections...that's due to the clear coat. I know iForged wheels have them so you gotta get the lips repolished every now and then. If your polished lips don't have the clear coat, they will stay shiny and flawless as long as you don't curb them and such.

i was told to use this stuff called Mothers Billet Polish, and it ended up cleaning my wheels, but left them no where near as shiny as they came out the box after a wear applcations.

wj4 · 05-12-2008, 07:24 PM

I used that stuff as well, it was OK at best. It worked better on exhaust tips and such. By repolishing...I meant you gotta do it professionally. If it's too bad, they will acid strip the lips and redo them. If I can do it over again, I wouldn't even get clear coat to begin with.

My friend has a set of HRE that he ordered with no clear coat..after 2 years of daily driving, the lips are still immaculate.

gtrokin330 · 05-12-2008, 09:25 PM

i was thinking about doing chrome lips instead of polished but i knew i would damage them so i just went high polished. I had them sealed and waxed (entire wheel) to protect the luster.

kson929 · 05-13-2008, 01:11 AM

ahhhh choosing wheeel finish is hard...
i am thiking to purchase either LS5 with polished finish or R07 variant s w/ brushed and polish lips..

BimmerFan61 · 05-13-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kson929

ahhhh choosing wheeel finish is hard...
i am thiking to purchase either LS5 with polished finish or R07 variant s w/ brushed and polish lips..

I would stay away from a polished finish on the center portion of the wheel. It looks too much like chrome. I think brushed looks great but Im biased as I have brushed

E90 ANdy · 05-18-2008, 02:53 PM

you should go polished, Polished aluminum looks different when spinning and will reflect light alot better than chrome. It looks alot sexier and actually is more defined than chrome. Chrome has that monotone look, u cant see the details of the wheels or the beauty or it, all you see is like a mirror. Chrome will corrode with time and if u curb your wheels there is NOTHING you can do besides getting the whole thing dipped ( pain in the ass). Chrome personally should only be on really hi-quality wheels such as Asanti and some lowenharts, ONLY on the lips. I personally have full hi-polished aluminum wheels and i love the way they look. Sure.. they could use alittle polishing once in awhile but hey, its BMW and if you noticed... HRE doesnt make chrome wheels! Polished aluminum is sportier, lighter and if u get curbed, just lightly sand, wet sand and polish, it'll be as good as new. Do yourself a favor and just get polished. They look better. All the "imitation" ballers have those cheap-o depo chrome wheels, dont make that mistake. Polished metal brings out the true beauty of the wheels, dont cover it up w/ a mirror, u want people to look at your wheels, not themselves in it....

BTW: brushed aluminum face + clear coat / Polished lip = SEXY AS FCUK!
IMO btw

335rocket · 05-18-2008, 03:11 PM

I have the chrome lip on my HRE's. Easy to clean. Looks better too

halB · 05-18-2008, 06:27 PM

Polished is like hardwood. It's the real stuff but it also needs a lot of care and upkeep.

Chrome plated is like wood veneer. It looks almost like wood, is easier to care for but it is not the real thing.

BimmerFan61 · 05-18-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

Polished is like hardwood. It's the real stuff but it also needs a lot of care and upkeep.

Chrome plated is like wood veneer. It looks almost like wood, is easier to care for but it is not the real thing.

You have it backwards. Why is it the chrome finish lip is more expensive?

Everytime my friend with iforged with polished lip sees my chrome lips he kicks himself. Not to mention his wheels are welded together while the chome lip is a true 2 piece

kson929 · 05-19-2008, 03:13 AM

hey do you mind to send some close up pictures for me of your wheel?
they look nice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90 ANdy

you should go polished, Polished aluminum looks different when spinning and will reflect light alot better than chrome. It looks alot sexier and actually is more defined than chrome. Chrome has that monotone look, u cant see the details of the wheels or the beauty or it, all you see is like a mirror. Chrome will corrode with time and if u curb your wheels there is NOTHING you can do besides getting the whole thing dipped ( pain in the ass). Chrome personally should only be on really hi-quality wheels such as Asanti and some lowenharts, ONLY on the lips. I personally have full hi-polished aluminum wheels and i love the way they look. Sure.. they could use alittle polishing once in awhile but hey, its BMW and if you noticed... HRE doesnt make chrome wheels! Polished aluminum is sportier, lighter and if u get curbed, just lightly sand, wet sand and polish, it'll be as good as new. Do yourself a favor and just get polished. They look better. All the "imitation" ballers have those cheap-o depo chrome wheels, dont make that mistake. Polished metal brings out the true beauty of the wheels, dont cover it up w/ a mirror, u want people to look at your wheels, not themselves in it....

BTW: brushed aluminum face + clear coat / Polished lip = SEXY AS FCUK!
IMO btw

Johan@WSTO · 05-19-2008, 07:22 PM

Chrome is achieved by a plating porcess with chemicals and the use of electrodes. It is actually a layer over the aluminum that adheres to the metal. It can be chipped and on occassion, will have ripples on them, if not done right. However, once done right it is easier to maintain and clean. Still, it is a metal, and should be waxed and cleaned periodically.

As for the polish finish, most wheel companies, will take it under the polishing/buffing machine. This is labor intensive, but with forged Aluminum (dense material), you will achieve luster that is as glossy and shiny as chrome without the total "bling" look.
Mostly only done to Forged metals as buffing and polishing bare cast metal, in most cases (stress most cases, not all) will bring out some of the imperfections of the metal, especially if it is not aluminum.

The buffed/polished surface is coated usually with clear coat to protect the surface. Once this coating fades away, the metal is exposed and will oxidise and look blurry.

Hope this helps, a little.

As for polished/brushed lip, which we dealt with a few times, it is really nice and classy to look at, but really difficult to maintain, especially without the clear coat.

05-12-2008, 12:27 AM	#1
kson929 Lieutenant 41 Rep 432 Posts Drives: E93 328 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	Different betwee Chrome and Polish? What is the different between Polish and Chrome? I have noticed many bmw owners here don't like chrome, personally I am fine with it but probably I will go for Polish instead of chrome. Anyone can state the different between those two finishes? they do look different right? polish doesn't look as plastic as chrome? or as cheap? Post some photos between them if you have them...
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05-12-2008, 12:32 AM	#2
SantaClawz First Lieutenant 18 Rep 300 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ventura iTrader: (2)	chrome is 10X easier to clean than high polished. high polished will lose its luster, and cleaning it will take forever. with a chrome lip you just wipe and its clean. but with a polished lip you have to really get at it with some elbow grease to keep it fresh. __________________ ROLLING STOCK
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05-12-2008, 10:52 AM	#3
kson929 Lieutenant 41 Rep 432 Posts Drives: E93 328 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	so i should go wiht chrome lip?
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05-12-2008, 11:04 AM	#4
BuLoOoSki Colonel 749 Rep 2,108 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (9)	seems like you should, cleaning those polished wheels can be a pain
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05-12-2008, 03:34 PM	#5
BimmerFan61 Captain 25 Rep 662 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: none iTrader: (1)	. If your talking about lips only I would definitely go chrome. So much easier to keep looking good. Put a coat of wax on it and your done. Looks better than polish
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05-12-2008, 03:42 PM	#6
Perpetrator Lieutenant 20 Rep 407 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fullerton, CA iTrader: (4)	Polished lips may be harder to clean. BUT, if you curb your wheels, chrome may be harder to fix due to matching. If you're talking about wheels all together (not just lips), then stay away from chrome. It's too blingy, and will make the wheels heavier.
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05-12-2008, 04:21 PM	#7
kson929 Lieutenant 41 Rep 432 Posts Drives: E93 328 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	so how does the polish wheel look like compare to chrome? I am thinking either get a polished wheel... or a brushed centre with chrome lip
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05-12-2008, 07:03 PM	#9
SantaClawz First Lieutenant 18 Rep 300 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ventura iTrader: (2)	I had a set of fully polished wheels. they were impossible to keep clean. and the lip started looking "scratch" or "marred" after a washing them a few times. chrome will keep its luster. the only benefit to high polished is that it is MUCH easier to fix the lip if you curb it. Chrome lips are really hard to repair and would cost a lot more to repair too. i would go with chrome lip 100% __________________ ROLLING STOCK
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05-12-2008, 07:14 PM	#10
wj4 Major General 335 Rep 7,719 Posts Drives: E90 manual 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Burbank, CA iTrader: (8)	Chrome is a lot heavier as well. As far as the polished lip having imperfections...that's due to the clear coat. I know iForged wheels have them so you gotta get the lips repolished every now and then. If your polished lips don't have the clear coat, they will stay shiny and flawless as long as you don't curb them and such.
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05-12-2008, 07:24 PM	#12
wj4 Major General 335 Rep 7,719 Posts Drives: E90 manual 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Burbank, CA iTrader: (8)	I used that stuff as well, it was OK at best. It worked better on exhaust tips and such. By repolishing...I meant you gotta do it professionally. If it's too bad, they will acid strip the lips and redo them. If I can do it over again, I wouldn't even get clear coat to begin with. My friend has a set of HRE that he ordered with no clear coat..after 2 years of daily driving, the lips are still immaculate.
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05-12-2008, 09:25 PM	#13
gtrokin330 Brigadier General 150 Rep 3,865 Posts Drives: TT Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: LI iTrader: (7)	i was thinking about doing chrome lips instead of polished but i knew i would damage them so i just went high polished. I had them sealed and waxed (entire wheel) to protect the luster.
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05-13-2008, 01:11 AM	#14
kson929 Lieutenant 41 Rep 432 Posts Drives: E93 328 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	ahhhh choosing wheeel finish is hard... i am thiking to purchase either LS5 with polished finish or R07 variant s w/ brushed and polish lips..
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05-18-2008, 02:53 PM	#16
E90 ANdy Banned 157 Rep 1,207 Posts Drives: SG E90 325i sport + idrive Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ORLANDO, FL iTrader: (23) Garage List E90ANdy Lighting So ... [0.00] cbv v bb [0.00] 06 E90 SG + M3 19&q ... [0.00] 06 E90 SG + Iforged ... [0.00]	you should go polished, Polished aluminum looks different when spinning and will reflect light alot better than chrome. It looks alot sexier and actually is more defined than chrome. Chrome has that monotone look, u cant see the details of the wheels or the beauty or it, all you see is like a mirror. Chrome will corrode with time and if u curb your wheels there is NOTHING you can do besides getting the whole thing dipped ( pain in the ass). Chrome personally should only be on really hi-quality wheels such as Asanti and some lowenharts, ONLY on the lips. I personally have full hi-polished aluminum wheels and i love the way they look. Sure.. they could use alittle polishing once in awhile but hey, its BMW and if you noticed... HRE doesnt make chrome wheels! Polished aluminum is sportier, lighter and if u get curbed, just lightly sand, wet sand and polish, it'll be as good as new. Do yourself a favor and just get polished. They look better. All the "imitation" ballers have those cheap-o depo chrome wheels, dont make that mistake. Polished metal brings out the true beauty of the wheels, dont cover it up w/ a mirror, u want people to look at your wheels, not themselves in it.... BTW: brushed aluminum face + clear coat / Polished lip = SEXY AS FCUK! IMO btw
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05-18-2008, 03:11 PM	#17
335rocket Captain 119 Rep 890 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 328i sport Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Westchester, NY iTrader: (0)	I have the chrome lip on my HRE's. Easy to clean. Looks better too __________________ 2013 F30 328i Mineral Grey/Everest Grey leather/sport line/8 auto/premium package/lighting package/navi/heated seats
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05-18-2008, 06:27 PM	#18
halB Colonel 53 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto iTrader: (0)	Polished is like hardwood. It's the real stuff but it also needs a lot of care and upkeep. Chrome plated is like wood veneer. It looks almost like wood, is easier to care for but it is not the real thing. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels
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05-19-2008, 07:22 PM	#21
Johan@WSTO Colonel 201 Rep 2,117 Posts Drives: BMW E89 Z4 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (2)	Chrome is achieved by a plating porcess with chemicals and the use of electrodes. It is actually a layer over the aluminum that adheres to the metal. It can be chipped and on occassion, will have ripples on them, if not done right. However, once done right it is easier to maintain and clean. Still, it is a metal, and should be waxed and cleaned periodically. As for the polish finish, most wheel companies, will take it under the polishing/buffing machine. This is labor intensive, but with forged Aluminum (dense material), you will achieve luster that is as glossy and shiny as chrome without the total "bling" look. Mostly only done to Forged metals as buffing and polishing bare cast metal, in most cases (stress most cases, not all) will bring out some of the imperfections of the metal, especially if it is not aluminum. The buffed/polished surface is coated usually with clear coat to protect the surface. Once this coating fades away, the metal is exposed and will oxidise and look blurry. Hope this helps, a little. As for polished/brushed lip, which we dealt with a few times, it is really nice and classy to look at, but really difficult to maintain, especially without the clear coat. __________________
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