The whole wheel refurbing thing

Cartel Mike

Just looking at a few places that proffessionaly refurb alloys and the vast price that they charge.

The best places completley strip the wheels, powdercoat and then laquer them.
However i've heard from a few sources that after 18 months or less the wheels loose their shiny look quite rapidly, peel,fade and often look the same or often worse than they did beforehand.

So im wondering if its really worth the cost if you have to keep going back every year and a half to get them redone again.

Has anyone here had their alloys done and are still happy with them 3 years down the line?

rex-x

I'm picking mine up tomorrow! tbh most places do not powder coat as there are a limited amount of colours/ effects available and I'm open to correction but powder coating does not need laquer

If they were peeling i'd be going right back for a free second go if it was any less than 4 years

sean1141

a good wheel wax applied every few weeks should help no odds.

Cartel Mike

rex-x wrote: »

I'm picking mine up tomorrow! tbh most places do not powder coat as there are a limited amount of colours/ effects available and I'm open to correction but powder coating does not need laquer

If they were peeling i'd be going right back for a free second go if it was any less than 4 years

let us know if your happy with results boss and if you'd reccomend the guys who did them cheers.

carplates

where abouts are you? i'm part of dunboyne powder coating(just of the new m3, on the trim road) contact me @ <SNIP> if you like

Alanstrainor

carplates wrote: »

where abouts are you? i'm part of dunboyne powder coating(just of the new m3, on the trim road) contact me @ <SNIP> if you like

Hey, i just removed your email address as it's generally not a good idea to post your email address on a public forum. People can send you a PM to get in touch.

Owen

Any wheel I've seen recently where the paint has come off hasn't been a fault of the paint, it's a fault of the painter. No proper etch primer underneath, no protective lacquer on top (And if even they do, just a dust coating). Having said that, I only started painting wheels 18 months ago, so someone could be cursing me currently, or in the future!

I do think going back to a company if the paint peels within 4 years is excessive though. Anything could damage the paint over 1 year, let alone 4. Harsh forecourt chemical washes, salt on the roads, wheel cleaners like wondawheels, you name it.

Power Coating is a fantastic way to do wheels, because the paint bakes on and is electrostatically charged, there's less chance of runs, etc.

EPM

I got mine done a while back. Were perfect bar one kerb mark but got all done. No primer was used. Ones showing signs of flaking now. Very irritating.

PD - If I dont buy a car I'm looking at I'll be in touch. Reckon they need they need to be stripped and redone...

galwaytt

I've got a similar dilemma on my old MX-5. It's wheel needs need re-doing in a bad way.

But, and here's the rub: I can buy 4 brand new ones, including tyres - for €460. It's hardly worth doing, at that rate, surely ?

Voodoomelon

Does anyone know where i can get my wheels stripped of clear coat and paint, kerb rash filed and sanded away, and then have the lips polished with the face and spokes painted and then the whole lot clear coated again?

I want to get mine done like this guy did on his M5:



Is there anywhere around the border that has the facilities/skill to do this, searches come up with nothing.

EDIT: Just found these guys http://www.antan.ie/view_products.asp?secid=347

galwaytt

Voodoomelon wrote: »

EDIT: Just found these guys http://www.antan.ie/view_products.asp?secid=347

looks like a good service, but it just proves my point: €320 - €520 to refurb a set of 4. I can buy new rims, without tyres, for €325.

Nonoperational

Not good rims for that. Replicas maybe but not genuine.

Cartel Mike

carplates wrote: »

where abouts are you? i'm part of dunboyne powder coating(just of the new m3, on the trim road) contact me @ <SNIP> if you like

Donegal.

Thanks anyway but im a bit a bit far away!

ytareh

Ya can do wonders with a tin of silver ('aluminium') paint and various grades of wet and dry ,masking paper and a CONSIDERABLE amount of patience !!!Like many tasks in life you get out of it what you put in ...

Matt Simis

ytareh wrote: »

Ya can do wonders with a tin of silver ('aluminium') paint and various grades of wet and dry ,masking paper and a CONSIDERABLE amount of patience !!!Like many tasks in life you get out of it what you put in ...

Yeah, painting wheels is not hard at all and you dont feel so bad if you scrape or kerb them afterwards as you can just touch up the paint yourself. I would only use a pro on polished wheels.

gpf101 wrote: »

Not good rims for that. Replicas maybe but not genuine.

Used OEM rims tend to cost less than new Reps (the mind boggles), you could easily get used OEM (genuine) wheels from 200-400, some rare and exotic.

Voodoomelon

Problem is getting like new OEM rims for cheap, which is impossible. Try finding a set of used OEM M-Pars with no rash for under €1000 without tyres and you'll be doing well. Dealer price is over €600 a rim. Hence the refurb option.

I take your point galwaytt, but it all depends on the wheels you're after.