Chrome OEM wheels are usually steel wheels that go through a process of plating, often with various metals, with the final plating layer being chrome. This gives the OEM chrome wheel a very bright mirror-like finish. If damage is done to the chromed used wheel the process to fix it must include re-chroming the rim, by adding a new layer of chrome, which can be quite costly. Keep in mind that reconditioning a wheel-damaged chrome in this way can also lead to a heavier wheel that can affect the vehicle's performance.
On the other hand, polished original wheels are just the aluminum of the rim carefully sanded down and then highly polished creating that shiny, colorful finish, of the factory original rim. Even though the wheel can be damaged much easier, for lack of that protective chrome coat, the cost to repair it by sanding it down again, is way less than to re-chrome it and since there are no coats of chrome and materials to the wheel, it stays light and performance is maintained.
Regular maintenance is required for both finishes though, to maintain the OEM wheel's durability as well as the luster of the finish. Polished wheels may need to be cared for more frequently considering there's no protective coats over the wheel's finish. Chrome may begin to fall apart if not cared for and instead of protecting the rim it will start a corrosion process.
At the end of the day, when it comes to buying a wheel the choice between a chrome wheel and a polished wheel breaks down to your preference.
There are many wheels and rims centers that offer specialty services including the restoring, repainting, repairing, re-chroming, and reconditioning of almost any scraped, gouged, scratched, bent, or in some cases cracked aluminum alloy wheel. They can give you professional advice on the many ways to have the damage repaired and most of them offer a one-day turnaround since, with no wheels, you won't be going anywhere.
If you are a business within their delivery radius, some dealers can often have your wheels reconditioned and delivered back to you the day after they pick them up. You could also take advantage of some core exchange programs out there, that will have the wheels and rims center, ship you a reconditioned wheel from their inventory, and later accept your damaged wheels with no additional fees but for the shipping fees.
