have you thought about the finish? maybe its just the matte that is making you dislike them. perhaps it would look better with a high gloss black. (keep the polished rim though)

i feel like i have seen that somewhere on an xjs, but i think they were big 18 inchers and a black car, so it looked like it suited the car.

anyway, i agree, not my favorite look, but well done for giving it a whirl.