Need some forum guidance...

[CcDubya]

Okay, everybody... I took the first step in deciding whether or not to black out the pockets of the magnum wheels on my 300C! That first step involved a couple of rolls of electrical tape, and an evening spent applying said tape to aforementioned wheels. I am totally torn.

First, as any normal human being would do, I stood in the middle of an empty parking lot while my wife drove the car in circles around me. As you would expect from a wife, she absolutely loved driving in circles in a Walmart parking lot at midnight. While spinning, the wheels look KILLER!!!!!!

But while parked, I think I prefer the non-blacked wheels. What really surprised me is that the wheels looked smaller to me with the black pockets. I figured since it kind of elongates the spokes, it would make them look slightly larger.

Here's the other catch -- they look REALLY good in pictures. It makes me wonder if the slight imperfections of a [sloppy] tape job are throwing me when I see it in person. The pictures do a good job of hiding that... which I guess will somewhat influence your input.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any and all feedback. First, a pic with the wheels as normal, then one with just the front wheel blacked, followed by front and back blacked, then a closer shot of the front wheel. And yes, the first shot is kind of cheating... it's like the "Glamour Shot" picture of your online girlfriend, before you realize she's a 300 pound Guatemalan man.

Now bring on the opinions and 2 cents -- I know you guys like to give them. Black the pockets or not????

[smoove7410]

I like the black. If you give it a minor drop, say hotchkis or the srt8 springs, it will look even better. Doing the black is like outlining a drawing or picture---it makes the lines crisper. Dammit...I want these in 22s!!!!

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

the black look is killer, and pretty unique, you won't find too many others with it, which in my mind makes it even better.....

[CcDubya]

I'd love to drop the car, but ultimately I'm not wanting to get too deep into the mods, since this is a daily driver that gets about 25-30k miles a year. It gets difficult to justify some things to the lady of the house. I'm trying to enhance on a budget!!!

So, with that in mind, black or not??? Is the drop a necessity to make it all work?

[CcDubya]

I guess I should at least probe slightly further there... could I just put on the SRT springs and get the slight drop, or do I need to do anything else to keep it all correct?

What would be the approximate cost for the SRT springs?

[tink]

I like the black pockets.

[vinny68]

I definitely like the black pockets and I think they make the wheels look bigger.

[Odin]

I like it a lot. I have the MSRT wheels and want to get them powder coated but can't decide how. I thought about having them done all black, but I'm not sure I completely like that. I thought about doing all black with a polished lip but these wheels don't really have a lip. The spokes kind of fade into the lip. Now that i have seen what you have done I think I might have to copy you. Sorry!

[RedAlert]

I'm in the minority here with a preference for not blackening the pockets. However I do think the wheels would look good all black.

[smoove7410]

You could just do the springs if you want. Even if you don't drop it, I would black the pockets out.

[MagnumRT05]

Looks great black!!!

[Strykker]

I vote for the black pockets. Since you are limiting your mods this one I think will make a statement and more radical mods won't be needed to say she is different.

[TimR/T]

I would paint the pockets black AND continue to paint the back inner part of the wheel black. With just the pockets black it looks kinda odd having the paint line just stop. Either way...the black looks WAY better than stock.

[Mosie]

The 2 things you MUST do with your car are:
1. Drop it!
Even if you get a set of used SRT8 springs for $200 and get the shocks later, you will love the performance and LOVE the look! Because it is a daily driver is all the more reason to drop it, because you will get daily enjoyment out of your ride! It will be better looking so easier to sell when it's time.
ALSO - You will also have a safer/better handling car with the better springs too. And this 100% justifies dropping it!
2. Paint 'em!
It's a match made in heaven... (actually Canada) With your black 300, you must paint/powder coat those rim pockets black!
I like TimR/T's thinking here.

I would paint the pockets black AND continue to paint the back inner part of the wheel black...

[stitchmonkey]

I vote black, I put taller rubber on mine fills the wheel wells up, I powder coated mine a gloss black and the pockets a dark gray hammered finish powder coating is much less than paint and last longer!

sorry they're really dirty in this pic