I have been in the car wash business for 15 years and I have to disagree with your statement. Chrome is much easier to maintain than other types of wheels. While the appearance may not be everyone's taste, a GOOD chrome plated wheel is very easy to keep clean. Even if you get an extreme build up of brake dust, you can use a wheel acid to clean the chrome. Polished wheels can get stained with many wheel cleaners that are perfectly safe for chrome.

As far as the price goes...I did a chrome wheel exchange on my 2001 M Coupe and got a steal of a deal at $500 because I do a lot of business with the wheel guy I know. Make sure you are getting your chromes from a reputable wheel shop and expect to pay $600 or more.

We got chrome wheels on my wife's new 530i. To keep things simple, we got them with the car at delivery and let the dealer make a little money for their effort...plus they are under warranty from the dealer in case there is a problem, so we won't have to go to a separate wheel shop in the unlikely event we have a balancing problem or something. We paid $900 for this privilege.

 

Same deal here except I paid $799.00 plus tax. I agree with WnW, chrome is easier to clean. Clean rag to wipe the brake dust at night, looks "just washed" quick. If I didn't have the 18" 124s chromed, I'll be replacing them with 19" RG-R BBS (Forged).

 

Since it's a leased car, save your money.

 

Get the RG-Rs

 

i just remember growing up in the 70s - starsky&hutch and the gran torino, charlies angels with all their mustangs...
and of course to decorate them all were
miles of go-faster stripes, forests of plastic wood-look (in & out) and tons of (usually plasticated) chrome

turned me off 30 years ago
hasn't changed since then

i cringe every time i see a wooden dash board or chrome (even 'round my kidney grille - would love that to be all black but don't know how!)

 

delete

 

If you really want to dramatically improve the looks of the car - go for the 19" wheels. You can use your stock wheels and tires in the winter, and get a set of 19" wheels and summer tires for around $1,600 that will far outperform the runflats. When you're done with the lease, you can sell the set for $1000 or so. In the end, you've paid the same $600.