Wheel refurb with plastic centres, doable?

Wheel refurb with plastic centres, doable?

Author
Discussion

LuckyThirteen

Original Poster:

618 posts

26 months

Sunday 14th July
quotequote all
Has anybody had wheels refurbished when the alloys have the standard centre plastic covers covering the wheel nuts?

I've had plenty of alloys done, but I'm needing a set from my BMW done. Standard set, with the standard plastic centre covers.

Worrying over nothing?

Sebring440

2,307 posts

103 months

Sunday 14th July
quotequote all
LuckyThirteen said:
Has anybody had wheels refurbished when the alloys have the standard centre plastic covers covering the wheel nuts?

I've had plenty of alloys done, but I'm needing a set from my BMW done. Standard set, with the The Depths - John Creasey.

Worrying over nothing?
Post of the year, so far.

Are the "standard centre plastic covers" removeable?



LuckyThirteen

Original Poster:

618 posts

26 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
What?

No, I'm asking if the firms that refurbish the alloys are likely to be happy to prep and paint the covers too?

Which then brings up the question of the centre badge.

Belle427

9,736 posts

240 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
Best to ask them, they will probably do it to get the colour match but you will need new badges which should be readily available on Ebay.

Pit Pony

9,230 posts

128 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
Had some vauxhall ones done in the past, where the Griffin was moulded in, and red paint was used somehow. The wheel refurb company, said they would spray them the same colour as the wheel, but wouldn't be able to detail the Griffin.

I spent a few evenings after that, with masking tape, stanley knife, a tin of red paint and a tiny brush.

4 weeks later the centre caps were stolen.

I bought a set of new old stock opel ones at an auto jumble for £5, and they got stolen too. From a completely different town.


MattyD803

1,839 posts

72 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
From my experience, this tends to be something the wheel places tell you they can do to get your business, but then over look and/or do a terrible job on them. I've had this happen on 3 separate occasions over the last 15 odd years and have ended up refinishing them myself.

To be fair, you can see why. They want to churn through wheel after wheel via the sand blasting / powder coating process, not spend time dismantling, sanding and using rattle cans to spray payment awkward little centre caps....particularly where you've gone for a special finish that involves layering the main wheel colour. It's night on impossible to match with a spray.


Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 15th July 11:00

LuckyThirteen

Original Poster:

618 posts

26 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
Spoke to three places this morning.

Only one told me how much time would be needed, how difficult it might be. Also however said he'd done it lots before.

The other two just gave a flat 'no'.


ARHarh

4,274 posts

114 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
Have you tried looking for new or replicar ones on eBay?

LuckyThirteen

Original Poster:

618 posts

26 months

Monday 15th July
quotequote all
I have, they're @300-350 each if perfect.

For standard BMW wheels!

KTMsm

27,642 posts

270 months

Wednesday 24th July
quotequote all
Some will, most won't

I knew the MD of one he said that the centres frequently take more time than the wheels and generate the most complaints - so you can see why so many just don't do them any more

All they can do is find a paint that's close to the powdercoat colour and spray them - probably better to do it yourself

Gas1883

564 posts

55 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
LuckyThirteen said:
Has anybody had wheels refurbished when the alloys have the standard centre plastic covers covering the wheel nuts?

I've had plenty of alloys done, but I'm needing a set from my BMW done. Standard set, with the standard plastic centre covers.

Worrying over nothing?
When I had a couple of wheels refurbished as part of the agreement for buying a car a few years ago , they managed to spray over the existing brake dust !!!!!! , so anything is possible ( must admit even the salesman was embarrassed on me collecting the car )