Alloy Wheel Refurb

PGE1970

Looking for some info regarding alloy wheel refurb.

I have lacquer damage to both front wheels (see pic attached). I'm afraid that I think that I caused it myself with an overzealous power washer

You can see the stains on the wheel on the photo where the lacquer came off (the wheel was just washed before the photo was taken).

Can anyone recommend where to go (I'm near Drogheda but happy to travel). Also, any ideas on cost and should you get all four wheels done together to keep consistency?

Finally, does anyone have any idea on how long the process takes? In other words, can I wait whilst it's done?

Thanks!

MetzgerMeister

I got mine refurbed by Wheel Wizards in Finglas 2 weeks ago and I am over the moon about how they turned out. The process takes a few days and is as follows:

- Tyres removed
- Wheels are put into an acid bath to strip them back to metal
- Sandblasted
- All kerb damage is fully repaired
- Any cracks are welded*
- Powdercoated
- Oven baked
- Tyres replaced and wheels balanced

* welding costs extra per weld

The best thing about it is that they will give you a set of alloys so you can drive off again and they remove and replace the tyres themselves so there's no chance of some dingbat scratching your newly powdercoated alloys. I dropped mine off on a Tuesday and I had them back on my car on the Friday. It's not that long but you don't want a job like this to be rushed!

I dealt mainly with Colm but Mark is also an owner and they're both very sound lads. The whole thing cost €360 (for a set of 18") which is IMO, excellent value.

Here's mine as they were when I called to collect them. They had loads of kerb damage and the lacquer was dull so this is a complete transformation:

PGE1970

Wow! That's some result!

Thanks for the info; I was hoping that I wouldn't have to walk home!!

Did you get new wheel caps? If so, did you get them yourself or are they supplied by Wheel Wizards?

MetzgerMeister

No those are my original wheel caps. When I got home, I removed the wheels, gave them a wash and an isopropyl clean down, applied Gtechniq C5 to the wheels, did a small correction job on the centre caps to remove scratches and applied C5 to them too. Then I removed them again and applied 2 coats of Collinite 845 to them on Saturday.

PGE1970

Great job!

I think I may need new wheel caps; you can see the originals are beginning to perish from the photo.

Thanks for the info; it's very much appreciated.

MetzgerMeister

The ones you have are the cheaper plastic rim style. The degrade very easily and IMO look sh!te. I had them on mine before I replaced them with what you see in the photo.

I edited my original post to include all kerb damage is fully repaired and all cracks are welded.

PGE1970

Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/BMW-Genuine-Wheel-Center-pieces/dp/B001AV4CNO/ref=pd_sim_auto_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0BWKBHGT9JFD54R9E8AM

Curran

Get OEM centre caps for reasonable price from Super4, as site sponsor on the BMW car club

MetzgerMeister

Yep, that's them. I get all my parts from BMW but that seems to be the same thing.

wersal gummage

I'm losing a bit of air out of one wheel, have had it checked and there's no puncture. I guess a tiny buckle or damage at the edge of the rim is possible. Would a wheel refurbishment company address something like this during the process if I asked them?

Have been trying to justify the expense of a wheel refurbishment to myself for a while now...

Anyone know if the rim protection tyres are any use? Might get wheels done when tyres due a change.

MetzgerMeister

Yep, they do everything; repair kerb damage, weld cracks, straighten alloys/repair buckles. For the price of 1 new alloy, you can have all 4 looking brand new.