TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:43 pm

I've had my Mahle Baby Burner's for around a year now, and the whole time they have just sat stored away and I have barely even touched them. For the most part, I pretty much want to restore them. I need some ideas on what to do to them. Painting, polishing, etc. As you can see, they were originally yellow. Would also like to find some new center caps. Your opinions would be very much appreciated. I would like to see some pictures of them on VW's with various paint schemes. I'm probably leaning toward the classic black with polished spokes (or whatever they are).

Over all they're in pretty good shape. They're is a bit of rash on the center cap lip. All 4 are pretty much like this.

Quite obviously I need to clean them. You can still see a bit of yellow paint.

Mahle marks as well as the VW, Audi, and 914 marks.

Original lug bolts, which I'm quite fond of. I have all 16. Glad I haven't lost one. Any ideas on shining them up?

I need some new center caps BAD! These look like they've been to hell and back (the other three look even worse).

Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:31 pm

Check out Bobs 68 Ghia coupe with baby burners here:

http://public.fotki.com/Allen1209/vw_car_shows/2007/east-coast-karmann-/eastcoastkgtreffen1018.html

Take care,

Kelly (Cohibra45)

Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:35 pm

Nice. I saw a Ghia with Baby Burners back in July. I thought it looked pretty cool.

Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm

Alex does very nice work with his wheels. I believe these are painted or powdercoated? Not sure. They are the five lug, but he does the four lugs also :D !!

http://rides.webshots.com/album/559513058Obtojl

I bought my Fuchs of him and he is a great guy to work with. Here is his site:

http://www.magrowheels.com/

Take care,

Kelly (Cohibra45)

Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:07 pm

Just wondering, Is there any advantage to powder coating an alloy wheel. An at the moment I'm leaning towards the classic gas burner paint scheme.

I think that the black and silver is awesome! My only problem with these are I don't want ANYBODY mistaking these for Gas Burner or BRM repops. The whole reason I got Baby Burners was for something unique.

Or how about yellow?

This was the original color of my Mahles. I think it would look like crap though on a blue beetle.

Does anyone know where to get Wurth paint? This is what was originally used on them.

I'm still open to other ideas though. Chromed, Fully polished, etc. so keep coming with your opinions on what you think would look the best.

Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:57 pm

Well, having owned a few sets of Mahles, I have my own opinion of what looks best, others are welcome to add theirs. I have had them painted, polished and chromed on a Notch, Squareback and a 67 bug....even tried them on a Ghia to see how they would look. I first saw them on a 54 vert in a Hot VW's magazine waaay back in the 80's and really had to find a set after that.

For me, the chromed version worked the best and required the least amount of labor to keep clean, we all like our wheels clean, right? Being able to just spritz them with cleaner instead of breaking out the mag polish and several rags is a real time saver and I like the look. I dunno, maybe I'm just getting lazy in my old age... :lol: Polishing works well, if you use Zoop Seal on them you won't have to polish them as often.

As for the lug bolts, you can have them glass beaded to remove the rust and then put some good quality silver paint (Wurth) on them to keep them from rusting again. On my cars, I ran the Formula Vee chrome caps that VW sold back in the 70's. They pop up on eBay for sale and are cheap. There are places selling chromed aftermarket lug bolts, but you have to be careful that they are long enough and have the right seat shape.

The caps can still be found new, but they aren't cheap. I ran the caps from ISP West and was very happy with them. Before they were available I ran the cast aluminum Wolfsburg crest units like I have up for sale here on the Samba.

Here they are polished

And here they are chromed on our Squareback

Polished on our 67 Bug

Bottom line though, do what you like, because you are the one that has to live with them! Freedom of choice is a good thing. Have fun with it!

Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:38 pm

Thank you, WTtoH. Now I've seen, plain, painted, painted and detailed, fully polished, and chromed. But I think I've decide to go for the painted and detailed gas burner look. Anyone know where I can get Wurth paint?

Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:55 pm

Like I said earlier, give Alex a call or drop him an email. I highly recommend him and his work.

Check out these Pedrinis that are polished and painted silver:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1109952883051883342DOapto

Here is what they look like fully polished:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1109952787051883342IjQXQp

Five lug gas burners polished and matte painted (really sharp):

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1178951649051883342gUkJqL

This is the way I have my 2.0L Fuchs:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1221841189051883342MQOVPf

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1221841034051883342BHefhw

and of course he can have them powder coated also:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2413861370075421273xeLYet

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2155244040075421273BlreqX

Of course, he will refurbish your wheels and lug nuts...

Merry Christmas,

Kelly (Cohibra45)

Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:20 am

Thanks Cohebra! I'll give him a call. Florida's not to far away from me either.