Alloy Wheel Refurb

[onmeheadson]

Hi,

I'm looking into having my Alloys repaired but i'm confused as to whether to have them painted (by ChipsAway or similar) or Powder coated.

Has anyone had theirs done at all and what method was used? Are you happy with them?

Has anyone used ChipsAway before? I've heard good things about them and all of their work is gauranteed for as long as you own the car.

I'm also after the centre cappings if anyone can point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance, Lee

[vRS Bob]

Hi,

I'm looking into having my Alloys repaired but i'm confused as to whether to have them painted (by ChipsAway or similar) or Powder coated.

Has anyone had theirs done at all and what method was used? Are you happy with them?

Has anyone used ChipsAway before? I've heard good things about them and all of their work is gauranteed for as long as you own the car.

I'm also after the centre cappings if anyone can point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance, Lee

I used Chips Away a couple of years ago to do a small bodywork touch up and they did a top job. Can't vouch for their wheel work though. However I'm soon to get all 4 wheels on my wife's RAV4 refurbed by The Wheel Specialist - they have branches all over the place so may be quite near you. They quoted me £280 which includes sandblast, powder coat and baking, and even includes taking the tyres off and putting them back on and balancing them. Thought that was a pretty good quote. Also they were highly recommended by other RAV4 owners on the forum as doing a great job (RAV4 alloys are notoriously prone to corrosion).

Hope this helps,

Bob.

[thomasa]

Hi

I had my rs4 reps done at wheelspecalist.com - about £300 ish for all 4 - i went to my local fareham - plenty around

All done in a day - 8.30 drop off 5pm pick up

They take any kurbing out

Shotblast

Powder coat - antracite in my case but whatever you want

Glaze covering

Balance

As for the centre caps ebay

I know its not skoda but you get the idea

tom

I used Chips Away a couple of years ago to do a small bodywork touch up and they did a top job. Can't vouch for their wheel work though. However I'm soon to get all 4 wheels on my wife's RAV4 refurbed by The Wheel Specialist - they have branches all over the place so may be quite near you. They quoted me £280 which includes sandblast, powder coat and baking, and even includes taking the tyres off and putting them back on and balancing them. Thought that was a pretty good quote. Also they were highly recommended by other RAV4 owners on the forum as doing a great job (RAV4 alloys are notoriously prone to corrosion).

Hope this helps,

Bob.

[miserablegit]

I had a set done by the wheel specialist very happy with job done. They will alter their standard colours for a little extra.

[onmeheadson]

Thanks Guys. I've also had an identical quote for powder coating by a local company to me who are supposed to be pretty good.

I've emailed an enquiry to the Wheel Specialist as well. They are in North London, not too far from me.

It seems that the powder coating process involves removal of the tyre and a complete re-furb of the entire wheel. When they're painted by ChipsAway or the like they break the bead, pull the tyre back and re-furb (paint and lacquer) the face only (. Powder coating seems to offer better value and durability.

Hhhmm....i'm leaning towards Powder coating.

Edited 17 January, 2011 by onmeheadson

[Mr Wheels]

Thanks Guys. I've also had an identical quote for powder coating by a local company to me who are supposed to be pretty good.

I've emailed an enquiry to the Wheel Specialist as well. They are in North London, not too far from me.

It seems that the powder coating process involves removal of the tyre and a complete re-furb of the entire wheel. When they're painted by ChipsAway or the like they break the bead, pull the tyre back and re-furb (paint and lacquer) the face only (. Powder coating seems to offer better value and durability.

Hhhmm....i'm leaning towards Powder coating.

If your in Hemel try Max Powder, ask to speak to Kirk and tell him Andy from Mint Alloys sent you http://www.maxpowderalloys.co.uk/. I use him for the wheels that are beyond what a mobile service can do

[onmeheadson]

If your in Hemel try Max Powder, ask to speak to Kirk and tell him Andy from Mint Alloys sent you http://www.maxpowderalloys.co.uk/. I use him for the wheels that are beyond what a mobile service can do

I've been in touch with Kirk today actaully. We're exchanging emails at the moment. Seems like a nice guy. I'll mention your name to him (might get a discount )

Thanks mate.

[adam frs]

pristene wheels near bedford they did my focus wheels very good job think they cost £55 per wheel

[rob_e]

If you want a top job dont' use the mobile guys who'll just to a quick touch-up job on your driveway. This is fine if you're just tarting up to sell but if you want something more durable then go for a proper tyres-off refurb.

All imho.

[rob_e]

.. also, there was a thread towards the end of last year quoting a place in birmingham that was powdercoating for something like 30 quid a wheel. Sorry can't find the details but maybe someone else could post?

[Gizmo]

.. also, there was a thread towards the end of last year quoting a place in birmingham that was powdercoating for something like 30 quid a wheel. Sorry can't find the details but maybe someone else could post?

Here you go

I had my winter alloys don e by them.

[Mr Wheels]

If you want a top job dont' use the mobile guys who'll just to a quick touch-up job on your driveway. This is fine if you're just tarting up to sell but if you want something more durable then go for a proper tyres-off refurb.

All imho.

Please don't tar us all with the same brush, I have been doing wheel refurbs for 5 years, I don't do touch ups, I use 2k primers, quality paints and most importantly a quality lacquer. I spent ££££'s building a van that provides an enclosed spray booth, oven and filtration for the fumes/overspray, air dryers and filters to ensure I have clean dry compressed air to spray with. The smart repairers that work out of small vans are the touch up kings. My website has a list of questions you should ask to determine whether you're going to get a touch up merchant or someone who knows how to do a quality long lasting repair.

I agree that some wheels are better off having a full refurb done, most of the cars I work on are under 3 years old and dont need a full refurb , If I feel that a wheel would be better off having a full refurb I will explain this to the customer, If the customer insists on a mobile repair then I decline the work as my long term reputation is more important than doing my best and not achieving the high standards I set.

I hope this has cleared up the difference between a smart repairer and an Alloy wheel refurbishment service.

Edited 18 January, 2011 by Mr Wheels

[onmeheadson]

Right, i'm booked in at The Wheel Specialist in North London on the 27th Jan. I got a deal £230 for all four wheels, full re-furb, powder coated, 1 year guarantee. In and out in a day.

I'll update when they've been done.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[Wardy]

£230 seems good from TWS. Which offer code did you use?

And what size wheels? Standard silver finish?

[onmeheadson]

£230 seems good from TWS. Which offer code did you use?

And what size wheels? Standard silver finish?

I actually got a quote of £240 all in from a company close to where i live but they wanted the car for two days. TWS originally quoted £336 but he offered to waive the £40 charge for strip, re-fit and re-balance AND gave me a 20% discount (valid til end of Jan i believe) which brought the price down to £230 and it will only take one day! That was the deciding factor really as i cant be without my baby for longer than one day

Its the TWS silver finish which i'm assuming is the standard finish i.e. the same as what they are now.

18" wheels btw.

Edited 20 January, 2011 by onmeheadson

[Wardy]

Good deal then. Yes, that's standard finish.

I generally prefer to give them longer to cure and dry, but I appreciate you're limited if they're your only set of wheels for the car.

[Guest Tim31]

.

Edited 18 May, 2012 by Tim31

[Wardy]

You're the second person to say good things about them on here. Do you know how much they charge per wheel?

[Guest Tim31]

.

Edited 18 May, 2012 by Tim31

[Paul007]

Please don't tar us all with the same brush, I have been doing wheel refurbs for 5 years, I don't do touch ups, I use 2k primers, quality paints and most importantly a quality lacquer. I spent ££££'s building a van that provides an enclosed spray booth, oven and filtration for the fumes/overspray, air dryers and filters to ensure I have clean dry compressed air to spray with. The smart repairers that work out of small vans are the touch up kings. My website has a list of questions you should ask to determine whether you're going to get a touch up merchant or someone who knows how to do a quality long lasting repair.

I agree that some wheels are better off having a full refurb done, most of the cars I work on are under 3 years old and dont need a full refurb , If I feel that a wheel would be better off having a full refurb I will explain this to the customer, If the customer insists on a mobile repair then I decline the work as my long term reputation is more important than doing my best and not achieving the high standards I set.

I hope this has cleared up the difference between a smart repairer and an Alloy wheel refurbishment service.

+1

Had mine done this way and it was a good job.

[Moley RUFC]

Rather than starting a new thread I though I'd post here. Does anyone know if there is an issue with having wheels refurbed that have already been redone before?

[Gizmo]

Providing you go for a full re-furb then no, as they will strip them back to bear alloy anyway.

[Moley RUFC]

Cheers Gizmo