"My .02$, BBS does not recommend it....."
BBS did also not chrome plating, but you could order BBS wheels in chrome but I think the plating was done in LA by an aftermarket plating service..my wheels were painted from the factory....others are powdercoated..

 

This always turns into a discussion without any POSSIBLE resolution.

I firmly believe that ANY wheel manufacturer MUST recommend against powdercoating simply due to liability issues. They cannot take any perceived or real responsibility for what MIGHT happen in an unknown oven. It is just safer to say "don't do it".

It also is safer and more profitable for them to say "We are the ONLY ones that can safely refurbish these wheels - $300 per wheel please"

I suspect there ARE thermal processes which can weaken an alloy, and methods of stripping that can also weaken the wheel. I also beleive that very low temperatures should be fine.

All 'beliefs'... nobody has done the engineering to support this since it is almost impossible to control all the variables in a way that would be meaningful (too many wheels, to many alloys, too many unknown processes go into a wheel) plus doing the metallurgical analyses would be $$$

Tell you what, this is almost in the "why does Porsche recommend Mobil 1" category.


A

 

"All 'beliefs'... nobody has done the engineering to support this since it is almost impossible to control all the variables in a way that would be meaningful (too many wheels, to many alloys, too many unknown processes go into a wheel) plus doing the metallurgical analyses would be $$$"
Exactly I agree..show me one instance and certifiable facts where powdercoating caused a failure and I am a believer....until then it is theory and supposition...

 

I'm going to back you up on this one. Hey, Here's a pic where powdercoating has been successfull for me, just like many of the 6speed members that opted to go for it!!!!!!!!! I don't know what else to say except for the fact that many successes have been acheived and I have not heard a single failure or proof.