Getting diamond cut alloys refurbed??

Getting diamond cut alloys refurbed??

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Discussion

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,088 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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I need my m3 diamond cut alloys refurbed and I’ve tried 3 places (all advertising expensive/ state of the art diamond cutting machinery) - two have never got back to me and one said they could repair. Has anyone else found this? They are 12 years old but never been refurbed and whilst kerbed and corroded and the paint causing air to leak out of one, but nothing too concerning!

Fully painted don’t looks as good as the oem diamond cut so maybe will be forced to buy some new ones?!

12TS

2,004 posts

217 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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I used Lepsons to repair mine. They did a good job

https://www.lepsons.com/

d_a_n1979

9,681 posts

79 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
torqueofthedevil said:
I need my m3 diamond cut alloys refurbed and I’ve tried 3 places (all advertising expensive/ state of the art diamond cutting machinery) - two have never got back to me and one said they could repair. Has anyone else found this? They are 12 years old but never been refurbed and whilst kerbed and corroded and the paint causing air to leak out of one, but nothing too concerning!

Fully painted don’t looks as good as the oem diamond cut so maybe will be forced to buy some new ones?!
They're easily repairable; just find a better company that'll sort them without messing you around

You really don't need to buy new ones!

Where in the UK are you located; that'll help re recommendations?

nickfrog

21,962 posts

224 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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I would have them powder coated. I did it on the M2 and they looked better, subjectively. But the main thing is that it's half the price compared to a diamond cut refurb and will last much longer.

Louis Balfour

27,707 posts

229 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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nickfrog said:
I would have them powder coated. I did it on the M2 and they looked better, subjectively. But the main thing is that it's half the price compared to a diamond cut refurb and will last much longer.
I'd go further and have them painted.

With a painted / lacquered wheel you can do minor kerb scuffs as a DIY job. At least well enough that most people would need to really look hard to see.


SteBrown91

2,573 posts

136 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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Get them powdercoated in a chrome/high power silver/shadow chrome finish (depending on yuor preference), still not quite as good as diamond cut but still have a very good shine and last much better

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,088 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
They're easily repairable; just find a better company that'll sort them without messing you around

You really don't need to buy new ones!

Where in the UK are you located; that'll help re recommendations?
Near Yorkshire / Manchester area - thanks

d_a_n1979

9,681 posts

79 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
torqueofthedevil said:
d_a_n1979 said:
They're easily repairable; just find a better company that'll sort them without messing you around

You really don't need to buy new ones!

Where in the UK are you located; that'll help re recommendations?
Near Yorkshire / Manchester area - thanks
I can highly recommend the guys at Demon Wheels, Preston:

https://www.demonwheels.co.uk/

It's your decision if you want to keep them diamond cut; but in agreement with others; I wouldn't waste my time (as they will corrode again and again); powdercoat or powdercoat and wet paint finish/lacquer will always last much, much longer

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,088 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
torqueofthedevil said:
d_a_n1979 said:
They're easily repairable; just find a better company that'll sort them without messing you around

You really don't need to buy new ones!

Where in the UK are you located; that'll help re recommendations?
Near Yorkshire / Manchester area - thanks
I can highly recommend the guys at Demon Wheels, Preston:

https://www.demonwheels.co.uk/

It's your decision if you want to keep them diamond cut; but in agreement with others; I wouldn't waste my time (as they will corrode again and again); powdercoat or powdercoat and wet paint finish/lacquer will always last much, much longer
Ok great thanks. Which of those options you’ve suggested would achieve the look of e90 m3 wheels where they were painted grey on the inside and the silver / diamond cut spokes?

MarkJS

1,719 posts

154 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
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I wouldn’t get a Diamond cut wheel painted/powder coated. IMO you lose the sharpness/definition/detail of a wheel that was originally designed with diamond cut in mind. I have 704M wheels and every one that I’ve seen which have been painted rather than refurbished (or replaced) just look naff - silver, black or anything in between. I saw a car wearing 405M wheels the other day which is a wheel I really like but they’d just been painted black and looked terrible - they actually looked like a spurious part till I looked more closely.

Try Fix Auto in Rochdale. A mate had some diamond cut wheels refurbished there and they did a good job.

d_a_n1979

9,681 posts

79 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
torqueofthedevil said:
d_a_n1979 said:
torqueofthedevil said:
d_a_n1979 said:
They're easily repairable; just find a better company that'll sort them without messing you around

You really don't need to buy new ones!

Where in the UK are you located; that'll help re recommendations?
Near Yorkshire / Manchester area - thanks
I can highly recommend the guys at Demon Wheels, Preston:

https://www.demonwheels.co.uk/

It's your decision if you want to keep them diamond cut; but in agreement with others; I wouldn't waste my time (as they will corrode again and again); powdercoat or powdercoat and wet paint finish/lacquer will always last much, much longer
Ok great thanks. Which of those options you’ve suggested would achieve the look of e90 m3 wheels where they were painted grey on the inside and the silver / diamond cut spokes?
You'd need to speak to the guys at Demon Wheels; they'll best advise you but they'll also explain what they can & can't do...

If you want the diamond cut finish; then go with that. Just ask them to ensure that the lacquer is done well and with a few coats as to stave off any corrosion getting in there; a ceramic coating of them once you've got them back will help a lot in keeping them clean too smile

They may be able to paint them (rather than powdercoat) and mask off the wheels in areas to have a lighter colour added; but again, you'd need to ask that

TikTak

1,835 posts

26 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
torqueofthedevil said:
d_a_n1979 said:
They're easily repairable; just find a better company that'll sort them without messing you around

You really don't need to buy new ones!

Where in the UK are you located; that'll help re recommendations?
Near Yorkshire / Manchester area - thanks
Can't help on location but I got mine on my 350z done.

They "re-cut" them basically. Slowly skim down until they're looking good. They can do fixes and repairs too.

I got mine colour matched and thin coat/lacquered after because you can't do it endlessly. They still looked diamond cut but also extra protected.

d_a_n1979

9,681 posts

79 months

Tuesday 6th June 2023
quotequote all
MarkJS said:
I wouldn’t get a Diamond cut wheel painted/powder coated. IMO you lose the sharpness/definition/detail of a wheel that was originally designed with diamond cut in mind. I have 704M wheels and every one that I’ve seen which have been painted rather than refurbished (or replaced) just look naff - silver, black or anything in between. I saw a car wearing 405M wheels the other day which is a wheel I really like but they’d just been painted black and looked terrible - they actually looked like a spurious part till I looked more closely.

Try Fix Auto in Rochdale. A mate had some diamond cut wheels refurbished there and they did a good job.
Do sort of agree with that; but it's all down the eye of the owner of the car too...

I've seen quite a few sets of alloys now that should be diamond cut, fully refurbed and powder coated/painted and they look superb in one solid colour

There's an F30 340i (I think) on these forums that had a full set of 437Ms fully refurbed in a bright silver, no diamond cut, and they look spanking... Any other colour and they'd lose their appeal IMO

I've got the OEM 18" 405Ms on my F31 in the OEM finish of sating black powdercoat (they're the official winter alloys) and I wasn't sure if I'd like them but I really do like their looks on my car:





I think if they were gloss black; they'd look stupid (like the 403Ms that I binned when I bought the car).

The 19s and 20s you generally see are diamond cut; they look too busy IMO. But that's my personal opinion...

I have wondered what the 405Ms I've got would look like in a bright silver...

Aluminati

2,758 posts

65 months

Thursday 8th June 2023
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12TS said:
I used Lepsons to repair mine. They did a good job

https://www.lepsons.com/
Agreed. I had a set of 20” X5 alloys done about 5 years ago which cost £500. The finish was superb, and was still as good when I sold it 2 years later. I did take measures with centre caps to avoid breaking lacquer.

rottenegg

811 posts

70 months

Monday 12th June 2023
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Aluminati said:
12TS said:
I used Lepsons to repair mine. They did a good job

https://www.lepsons.com/
Agreed. I had a set of 20” X5 alloys done about 5 years ago which cost £500. The finish was superb, and was still as good when I sold it 2 years later. I did take measures with centre caps to avoid breaking lacquer.
+2.

I have seen a Lepsons refurb of a family members 19" E46 M3 wheels and they look OEM, probably better in fact.