Hub Cap Painting

[roadsterdude]

Great earlier posts and tech info, but I do have one question about the full 280 SL caps.  There are apparently stainless steel and chrome.  The instructions for polishing the hub caps with Mothers Mag Polish I assume is only for the stainless steel hub caps.  I believe mine are chrome, and one is duller than the rest.  I would love to liven it up, but do not want to do more harm than good.  I am afraid that an agressive polishing job will scratch what chrome I have left.  Any advice?  I have tried chrome polish, with little positive results.  New hub caps would be vbery expensive, and if I send one for crroming, obviously all need to go, so I will probably limp by with one dull hub cap.

[ja17]

Hello,
The latest versions are polished stainless steel and are non-magnetic.  Early versions were chrome plated steel.  Use a magnet to determine what exactly you have. The stainless will polish up well  but are not quite as brilliant as the chrome. If you have the chrome plated steel covers, as long as the chrome plating is still good, they should also clean up. 

[thelews]

I've used Mother's Mag on chrome with no problems.  You run more of a risk of removing the chrome than scratching it by being overly aggressive.  As with any polish, start gently and gradually increase your aggressiveness until you achieve the results you're hoping for (if possible).  I've also had good luck with steel wool on old chrome followed by polish.

[dseretakis]

thelews, tell me about your tires.  They look period correct.

[thelews]

thelews, tell me about your tires.  They look period correct.

Vredesteins from Black Forest. www.blackforestllc.com

Discussed in this thread   http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=12493.0

[roadsterdude]

Thanks for the replies. Mine are steel chrome plated, and very tired.  The worst one that I was trying to revive is simply worn through the chrome plating.  Too bad because the PO had them painted professionally a few years ago and the paint is very nice (He paid $75 per cap according to the invoice).  If I want #1 hub caps, I will either have to buy the SS caps and paint, or re-chrome these.  Either way his $300 is down the tubes.  A shame!

[dseretakis]

Vredesteins from Black Forest. www.blackforestllc.com

Discussed in this thread   http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=12493.0

Thanks.  I have some aging oversized Michelins that will need replacement.

[114015]

Hello Mike,

Please allow me to provide you a few little tips:

1) Keep your old steel chrome plated hub caps. Those are harder & harder to come by today.
Live with them until you have time, mood  & resources left to have them rechromed.
2) Used stainless steel replacements are very common until the W123 body. You should have no problems to find a set on a MB specialised junk yard, even a decent set. Perhaps you'll google around a bit or ebay.
3) Don't buy new ones SS - far to expensive & not period correct for your car.
4) For the painting, some paint shops know or have (or have access to) the factory original masking tool for the spraying. It pays off to ask around several MB-experiences shops. Painting of mine was much cheaper with the correct masking tool.

IMHO...

Achim

[roadsterdude]

Thanks for the info about the steel/chrome hubcaps.  I'll re-chrome them when the time comes.  They are not bad until then.