Alloy refurb

NeilF

NeilF

NeilF

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Joined
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Marlow
Anyone ever had their alloys refurbed?

Got some alloys on a car where you can see some corrosion/rust sprouting, so guess they need sanding down, treating again?

Trying to get an idea of cost/hassle/issues?
 
I've been looking into this myself recently with the cheapest being £52.50 a corner at a powder coaters nearby who can't take a whole car.

Other places are quoting 60 - 75 per wheel and will take the car from you. Turnarounds from 1 day to 3 days depending on who does it.

Had a quote from Nationwide for 270 for all 4 wheels/3 days with a 6 month guarantee on the work.
 
You can either get it touched up by a mobile person or acid dipped/bead blasted and painted (better option as it will be perfect, but more costly). Cost depends on what you want doing and the size of the alloy, finish etc.

I had my 18s acid dipped and sprayed for £75 a corner including balancing and new valves at 'The Wheel Specialist'. They were done on the cheap (mobile van) by the previous owner before and although looked great when I bought them off him, but then the paint started to peel off about 6 months.
 
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I just had my Focus 16 inch wheels done, including centre cap spraying as Ford want £80 for a new set!! This place was in Brum so no use to you. A regular set of single piece wheels should be no more than £250 for a set of four.
I paid £180 cash and he took the tyres off, acid dipped, painted, lacquered, wheels balanced and valves. I had some chavvy Wolfrace 18 inch loan wheels and the turnaround was 4 working days.

Any alloy wheel place claiming a same day turn around will not give enough time for the paint/lacquer to dry properly, so driving home the finish will be extremely soft and easily damaged. Also any place that comes out to you in a van will not properly refurb the wheels, they will simply break the bead, sand down and spray the face of the wheel. Imo get the job done properly, or not at all.
 
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had many a set done for circa £200 a set for 18's/19's but turnaround was over a week at a time.

local place to me is quoting £65 a wheel for same day service
 
I've just booked mine in for next week at a place in Wigan. £220 for 4 18" MVs. 24 hour turnaround and to be stripped and painted. I've got to leave the car with them which is a hassle. Should look good as new after though.m
 
I'm getting really anal about this process now. Most companies say they are going to dip the wheels or remove the old paint. Well, they don't. Then the wheel gets thick with paint and the centre caps won't fit. Send them off to a proper place or just make sure they remove all traces of paint before repairing.
 
Sanchez said:
I've just booked mine in for next week at a place in Wigan. £220 for 4 18" MVs. 24 hour turnaround and to be stripped and painted. I've got to leave the car with them which is a hassle. Should look good as new after though.m
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A 24 hour turnaround seems fine to me. They really do need to be left overnight to dry properly :).
 
Lucero said:
I'm getting really anal about this process now. Most companies say they are going to dip the wheels or remove the old paint. Well, they don't. Then the wheel gets thick with paint and the centre caps won't fit. Send them off to a proper place or just make sure they remove all traces of paint before repairing.
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I cannot comment on whether mine are like this or not, but then my centre caps fit in on flexi-prongs so too much paint wouldn't be an issue.

My advise to only go to somewhere upon recommendation.
 
What confuses me is why some cars alloys do corrode? I've seen 7yr old alloys with obvious bubbles etc.

Yet the Wolfrace alloys I put on my old Nissan 200SX over 17yrs ago, don't have the slightest bubble on them!?
 
NeilFawcett said:
What confuses me is why some cars alloys do corrode? I've seen 7yr old alloys with obvious bubbles etc.

Yet the Wolfrace alloys I put on my old Nissan 200SX over 17yrs ago, don't have the slightest bubble on them!?
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A machined mirror finish is a common style on alloys on newer cars.
They are CNC milled with a diamond tip and are called 'diamond cut' alloys.
They painted aside from the face that you see, which is machined and then just lacquered. They look good new, but do not last that long. In fact I have not seen many on brand new cars, but a lot on 2005-2010 ish age cars.

Here is a link to my thread that I made a few months ago on the mess my wheels were in. I would not bother reading it but just look at the state that the wheels were in. They weren't even kerbed!
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18429685&highlight=alloy+refurb

I have had them refurbished last week and will probably make a thread on them very soon :). The car needs a wash before it is worthy of any photos though :p.
 
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OpenToSuggestions said:
A machined mirror finish is a common style on alloys on newer cars.
They are CNC milled with a diamond tip and are called 'diamond cut' alloys.
They painted aside from the face that you see, which is machined and then just lacquered. They look good new, but do not last that long. In fact I have not seen many on brand new cars, but a lot on 2005-2010 ish age cars.

Here is a link to my thread that I made a few months ago on the mess my wheels were in. I would not bother reading it but just look at the state that the wheels were in. They weren't even kerbed!
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18429685&highlight=alloy+refurb

I have had them refurbished last week and will probably make a thread on them very soon :). The car needs a wash before it is worthy of any photos though :p.
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Yes, that's pretty much the state of play with a set of alloys off a seven year old Hyundai Coupe I'm looking at.

If they could be redone (properly, so last years) for about £250 I'd be interested...
 
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