Machined Wheels and Rims

About Machined Wheels and Rims

A machined face is bare aluminum cut on a lathe, so you see the tool marks under clear coat, usually on the spoke faces or the lip with a painted black or gunmetal window behind it. Machined on a 3 Series, an A4 or a Model 3 changes the car more than any other single part, and the finish name matters as much as the color, because two brands' machined are two different shades.

The clear coat is the wear item. Road salt, acid wheel cleaners and pressure washers at close range lift the edges of the clear, and once it is lifted the bare aluminum underneath oxidizes white. Wash with pH neutral soap and rinse before it dries. The site carries wheels from 14 to 30 inch across 41 bolt patterns, and the machined designs sit inside that range. Pick your car and the page keeps only the machined sets that clear its brakes and fenders, with the aggressive stance option if you want them flush.

Common questions

How do I clean a machined face?

Soap, water, a soft mitt and a full rinse. No acid or alkaline wheel cleaner, no metal polish, because the face is clear coated and polish scratches the coat rather than the aluminum. If the coat has already started to lift, a wheel refinisher can strip and recoat the face.

Will a machined finish hold up in winter?

It holds up if the salt comes off within a few days. Salt left on a chipped clear coat gets under it and the face goes cloudy by spring. In salt states a painted finish is the easier choice for a winter set.

Do you check fitment on machined wheels?

Yes. Pick your year, make and model and the page filters to the machined wheels that clear your car's brakes and fenders, stock or aggressive.