I am looking to refurb the rims on my 07 XKR due to flaking. I don't have much for curb rash, one rim has a little bit but the other three are pretty solid, it's just flaking like crazy on my fronts.

I'm considering powder coating and have read various threads on the site to research that process, but first off I'm curious about the makeup of these rims and why they would flake like this.

Are they painted aluminum to begin with, or is it possible they've been painted once already?


Excuse the filthiness of the rims.

 

Looking closely, they have been painted.
wj

 

Couldn’t remember the name of your wheels, so I asked ChatGPT about my Senta wheels:

“Jaguar OEM Senta wheels are factory painted (with clear coat), not powder coated.

Here’s the detail behind that:

• Factory Senta wheels were offered by Jaguar primarily in “sparkle silver” (painted) and some chrome variants.
• The “sparkle silver” finish is a liquid paint system with a gloss clear coat, similar to automotive body paint.
• Over time, that clear coat can dull or peel—behavior typical of painted/clear-coated wheels rather than powder coat.

Why people get confused

• Many refurbished Sentas you see today have been powder coated during refinishing, because it’s more durable and cheaper for restoration.
• That leads to the common assumption that OEM = powder coat, but that’s usually not the case.

Bottom line

• OEM from Jaguar: painted + clear coat
• Refinished wheels: often powder coated (aftermarket process)”

I had mine powder coated after I bought them on eBay.

 

Thanks, my rims are the standard Jupiter rims.

My main concern if they are painted (either factory or if redone), is will the powder coating process remove all the previous finish and allow for a smooth finish or will it leave a blemish and just coat over top of it?

 

The shop with strip the old paint before powder coating. The result is smooth and blemish free.

 

If I remember correctly, the actual paint name is "Hyper Silver". Course I'm old and forget things...

 

Don’t think so. Sparkle silver has tiny metal flakes (why it sparkles), while Hyper silver doesn’t. Hyper silver has a deeper color to it due to multilayered paint and clear coat. Hyper silver can look “more expensive”.