Question(s) about wheels that has never been asked - guarenteed or your money back!

[myfirstlincoln]

2 wheel questions...but different wheels...

So one of my stock wheels was bent and the chrome was peeling so I decided to order a new one. Yes, I want to go aftermarket eventually but don't have the cash right now. Anyway, I bought one off ebay used for $100 and it's in great shape but it is slightly different than the others...

The first and second photo are how the 3 (old) wheels look. The entire wheel is smooth/mirror like including the "pockets." - Yea I know they're dirty, but you get the point.

The third and fourth photo are of the new wheel. Notice the face (spokes) of the wheel is smooth chrome but the "pockets" look rough and more silver than chrome. Could the wheel have come like this from the factory or do you think it was refurbished and they did a crappy job?

Finally, the last photo is of my steering wheel which is just aesthetically annoying. Is there something behind the "face" causing these vertical 'grooves' on the right and the left? You can see in the pics that the one on the left is more noticeable but the one on the right also appears to be coming in. I'm assuming I can't just replace the "face" and I would have to buy a whole new airbag assembly?

 

[Andrizzle]

Hmmm that is definitely weird... That first photo was screwing with me with the reflection.


Looks like the wheel you got was resprayed at one point, or just not taken care of and there is massive corrosion on those little inlet things.

 

[myfirstlincoln]

haha...sorry. I was parked next to a block retaining wall. I thought corrosion too but the rest of the wheel is in too good of shape...

 

[NHViggen]

I'm pretty certain that those "lines" on the face of your steering wheel are seams for the airbag, and they really need to be there....I think you might want learn to deal with that annoyance, haha!

 

[myfirstlincoln]

I know they're from the airbag but they weren't there when I bought the car and I've never seen an LS with those "wear" lines

 

[NHViggen]

My apologies...

I just looked at my steering wheel ('06 LS) and I can see the lines as well....maybe they get more noticeable with time due to the color fading??? Not sure....sorry I couldn't help...

 

[myfirstlincoln]

It's cool...i used the crappy camera on my phone but they look a lot worse in person

 

[M4rk]

My lines aren't as pronoun, but they are there.

 

[Lincoln Jealous]

did the airbag deploy and they glued it back together

 

[Alax7]

My wheels were like the new one you bought with the spokes smooth but the spaces in between rougher, all 4 of them were like that

 

[myfirstlincoln]

Hmm so it looks like there were slightly different style wheels over the years that these were offered...

 

[xford]

When I had a 2005 LS the the wheels were like the one you just purchased. Smooth chrome on the surface of the spokes and rough chrome on the inside between the spokes

 

[LS Chazzy J]

I wouldn't worry about the wheels. I had a 1999 Dakota R/T a couple years back. The chrome wheels I had were similar. The chrome was practically perfect, except it was a double spoke wheel and the chrome between the double spokes looked "rough" like yours. My guess is it would have to do with the prepping/coating process on such a tight area. That's a complete guess because I have no idea how the chrome process works, but just a thought since it was a totally different wheel and totally different manufacturer.

As for your steering wheel, I too have the lines, no where near as pronounced though. That would drive me insane. I've had many other cars that have the "airbag outline" in the steering wheel -- never as pronounced though. However, I do believe you can just order a new face for the wheel (probably not cheap). Typically after the airbag deploys, body shops will just order a new face for the wheel.

 

[SoonerLS]

Hmm so it looks like there were slightly different style wheels over the years that these were offered...

Yeah, it looks normal to me, too--the '04 LSE wheels I have on my '06 have that same "matte" finish on the rims. It provides a subtle contrast to the polished chrome on the spokes, IMHO.

 

[jbrown91]

The airbag's do that. My 04 LS has that as well. BTW It is a whole assembly for the airbag to my knowledge. You can't just "take" the face off.