dv-

Pictures here: https://imgur.com/a/ub8MHve

Have a bent rim on my slightly beat up and bone-stock ‘12 TL Base. Went to a salvage yard to pick up a replacement but didn’t notice right away (dim lighting) that somebody had ground the paint off of the flat surfaces of the spokes, and polished the aluminum to a near-mirror finish.

(you can see the difference in the photos, especially if you zoom in on the rim without the tire to compare the flat surface without paint to the painted section adjacent.)

Is this, like, a cosmetic thing that people do on purpose? Just a cheap way of fixing curb rash? I don’t hate it but it obviously doesn’t match the other wheels.

Is it easy to repaint the replacement wheel so it matches the others or should I just bring it back and eat the restocking fee? (I assume I can find another matching wheel somewhere. It’s a big universe.)

Thanks

thoiboi

Just go back and get another one and this time, bring a flashlight

dv-

Yeah, that's probably the right answer. Thanks. :-)

dv-

Well it turns out I was incorrect. After further research, the "machine finish" polished wheels appear to be normal and my wheels appear to be weird. (Somebody painted them.)

This makes it difficult. :-(

jtech316

if you’re located in KS, I have my stock base wheel for sell 😁