Alloy Wheel Refurb?

vail3r · 25 Mar 2009 at 15:47

Managed to get some cheap alloy wheels but want to get them refurbished as they are not in the best condition.

I am based in Manchester. Can anyone recommend anywhere? or is it just a case of finding a place local to me?

Also what price should I expect to pay, looking on a few websites the cheapest i can find is £50 per wheel.

TIA

Dup · 25 Mar 2009 at 15:54

http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/

Best reccomended round here so far, and they're always open to a good barter on price too. Also, if you're on a community forum for your make/model car they usually offer forum discounts etc.

Django x2 · 25 Mar 2009 at 15:54

Depends, I've had my wheels done twice now and only had the car 6 months. For no other reason than I fail at parking with rubber bands for tyres

Anyway, I took them to a respected body shop who broke the bead on the tyre and repaired nicely for around £75 a wheel.

Since then, I've a) kerbed them again, and b) pressure hosed the previous repair all but off so really the finish was never quite there the first time round.

I then got chatting to a dude in the gym who used to work at the local BMW dealer. He gave me the name of the chap who trade jobs the dealers and turns cars round for the BMW forecourt. When my car went in for its service I got them to give me his number. I rang him, he's mobile too, came round with some serious looking equipment, £25 a wheel and they look amazing.

If you want a full job where they completely remove the tyre from the rim, strip it all back and re do it, expect to pay £75-£100 a wheel.

Skeeter · 25 Mar 2009 at 16:41

The Wheel Specialist quoted £330 for 4 wheels, including removal and refit of the tyre and balancing. 2 weeks later they offered a 25% discount. Another week later you could call up for an 'even better offer' if booked in that week.

Housey · 25 Mar 2009 at 18:17

I had all 4 wheels on my RS4 done for £85 a wheel. This was a proper tyres off job and they looked like new. Took them to my preferred bodyshop and was very pleased with the results.

WJA96 · 25 Mar 2009 at 18:40

OK, so they're not local to you, but I've had 4 sets of wheels done at BJV Engineering and they're good, cheap and fast.

Lord-Jaffa · 25 Mar 2009 at 19:38

Heard some good reviews from http://www.pristinealloywheels.co.uk/ they loan you a set of wheels while yours are being refurbed!

paradigm · 25 Mar 2009 at 19:52

I'm getting mine done at "the wheel specialist" in a weeks time. So I'll be sure to post before and after shots, as well as describe the finish and quality.

GT3 · 25 Mar 2009 at 20:14

Saxo VTR alloys?

Don't spend £200 refurbing them when for about half that you could get a set of mint ones with good tyres, they don't go for much at all. Give it a go refurbing them yourself unless you can get it done really cheap.

vail3r · 25 Mar 2009 at 22:14

GT3 said:
Saxo VTR alloys?

Don't spend £200 refurbing them when for about half that you could get a set of mint ones with good tyres, they don't go for much at all. Give it a go refurbing them yourself unless you can get it done really cheap.

I was thinking about having a go myself, however they are full of brake dust. What can I use to get rid of it? I have tried things like AG Clean Wheels and Tardis with no luck.

paradigm · 25 Mar 2009 at 22:18

Claybar them, that'll get rid of the tar and brake dust. Alternatively, some tcut and elbow grease works wonders.