Repairing polished alloys

[GW65]

I've managed to clip one of my wheels in a multi-storey, so there's now a nice (or not so nice) deep gouge on one of the spokes near to the rim. Anyone had any experience of getting polished alloys repaired? (it's an '08, but I guess a polished wheel is a polished wheel...) That is, do they look OK after the repair or should I just break open my piggy-bank and buy a new wheel?

[Y50 VET]

Don’t spend out large cash,

Spit and Polish do wheel refurbishment but you have to send or let them take the wheel away

Also Wheel Wizard Ltd 01932 345 172 / 01932 347 619 / [phone] difference is they come out to you and will fix on site or remove the wheel and bring it back


Sam

[mitch_]

Our wheel repairers can do some of them dependent on the damage. Be careful of most wheel repairers though as polished wheel repair is an art, particularly given that most mobile wheel refurber's are just god awful. We have recently refurbed some polished viper wheels and the result was A1.

[Wheelrepairit]

mitch_ said:

particularly given that most mobile wheel refurber's are just god awful.

Ouch, that hurts, although to be honest true

I know im biased but i hope we dont fall into this catagory, you would be amazed at some of the stuff we have to do everyweek for unhappy customers of other wheel companys

Im afraid nowadays its who you know in the stealer and how much is in the brown envolope each month, not how good your work or service is.

[mitch_]

I've lost count of the number of people I know who have had wheels refurbished my mobile repairers where the paint starts to flake inside a month. The best way of refurbing a painted wheel is to bake it post painting which as far as I'm aware isn't possible in a mobile unit....

[Wheelrepairit]

It is possible, its just all in the prep and products used.

As an example we look to do approx 6-8 alloys per day, however the largest wheel refurb company in the country do approx 32 a day per van

Ill say no more

[Vet Guru]

The best is spit and polish but they have stoped doing polished wheels, As Tekwiz foundout on his Vette, Last year Stratstones scuffed one of mine on its service offered to repair they said somebody mobile would sought it!! I made them replace wheel with the demo. Polished are awful to repair sadly.

[mitch_]

Wheelrepairit said:

It is possible, its just all in the prep and products used.

As an example we look to do approx 6-8 alloys per day, however the largest wheel refurb company in the country do approx 32 a day per van

Ill say no more

I'm certainly not qualified enough on your processes to question you, though common sense always dictates that those who focus on doing a good job always stand more of a chance.

[JimexPL]

At Wavendon I believe that it is either Steve or one of the more experienced bodyshop guys that repairs damaged polished wheels as it is so difficult to find outside repairers that produce a consistently decent standard of finish.

[Vet Guru]

Did you find anybody to repair the polished wheels?

[BLUETHUNDER]

I hope Spit and Polish are better than they were.My cousin gave them a contract for re-furbed wheels.Over a period of time the quality of work went down hill so bad.That he had no choice but to cancel the contract!.

[GW65]

Vet Guru said:

Did you find anybody to repair the polished wheels?

Not yet - I'd been debating whether to try repair or just replace it. Today I finally got around to finding out how much a replacement would cost...£1,247+VAT!!!!

So I think I'll be checking out the repairers....(and now wishing Strats hadn't given me those free polished wheels!!!) I'll post the results.

[555ST]

JimexPL said:

At Wavendon I believe that it is either Steve or one of the more experienced bodyshop guys that repairs damaged polished wheels as it is so difficult to find outside repairers that produce a consistently decent standard of finish.

Posh Wash in South Kensington were OK as I recall, and not too ridiculously priced.

[vetteheadracer]

GW65 said:

Vet Guru said:

Did you find anybody to repair the polished wheels?

Not yet - I'd been debating whether to try repair or just replace it. Today I finally got around to finding out how much a replacement would cost...£1,247+VAT!!!!

So I think I'll be checking out the repairers....(and now wishing Strats hadn't given me those free polished wheels!!!) I'll post the results.

I got 4 brand new wheels for my Z06 from the US $800 plus shipping vat etc. Would be less than buying one over here. there is very good company in Tewkesbury I used to tart up my truck wheels before selling it cost about £400 to completely return a set of four rims to as new condition. These were 22" part polished part painted rims.

[GW65]

vetteheadracer said:

I got 4 brand new wheels for my Z06 from the US $800 plus shipping vat etc. Would be less than buying one over here. there is very good company in Tewkesbury I used to tart up my truck wheels before selling it cost about £400 to completely return a set of four rims to as new condition. These were 22" part polished part painted rims.

Yeah, I had a quick look on eBay US - there were loads of pre-2008 wheels dirt cheap, but only a full set of 2008 wheels with tyres (although even they were only $2000 and I guess a few spares might come in handy...).

[mitch_]

We can get them refurbishd but we'd need the wheel off your car. The cost is very dependent on the damage with polished wheels but we've had some good success with them before.

[G4HKS]

Gary, if you give me a bell I will introduce you to my contact at Marenello who do 100% refurb job on any wheel you care to throw at them. And no, it won't cost you Ferarri money....

[mitch_]

Not meaning to embarrass you Martin but that's 'Maranello'............

[Mello]

Anybody know who did Pete L's ('Solid') wheels last year? They looked good, although IIRC they didnt get re-coated with lacquer or anything so will need regular re-polishing...

[G4HKS]

Mitch, spelling woz neva my stong poynt.