A body shop damaged the powder coat around the lug mounting holes while removing/installing the wheel with an air gun . How do I go about getting this repaired as the wheel looks brand new? A wheel repair shop recommended I have that area sanded and painted as it might happen again.

 

If your LE-37s still have the factory finish, they are painted, not powder coated.

The wheel repair shop is correct; the damaged area will need to be sanded and repainted.

The body shop or whomever you have remove your wheels should be using a torque wrench not an impact gun to remove/install your aftermarket wheels.

 

Yep, they still have the Gunmetal finish. I thought volk wheels are all powder coated? My set is from 2003.

 

All rays wheels that have any color on them are powdercoated. They don't paint their wheels since most are made for track and road racing meaning heavily rock chipping. Paint would chip real easy as powdercoat will not.

 

I guess we are both correct. I always thought that most wheels were painted. Apparently, they are first treated with a zirconium process/chromate surface treatment before going through a four coat painting process consisting of powder primer, two layers of liquid paint for color, and a layer of clear coat.

Although, I think my bronze TE37s were actually anodized, and not powdercoated or painted. But I could be wrong about that, too.

 

Bronze are anodized, all other colors are powdercoated.

 

another reason why i always ask the shop to break my lug nuts by hand and torque back to spec.