Repair or replace

[B15TT0]

Had a bit of a moment over the weekend

I freshly washed and polished the GT3 on Saturday and as a final touch after doing the alloys gave the tyres a bit of a squirt with that back to black stuff to make them look all nice and new.

Half an hour later a mate comes round who's not been out in the car so we jump in and shoot off to enjoy the last of the sun. All was going well with the requisite oohs and ahhs coming from the passenger seat when I got an opportunity to open it up. However, at one point where I braked heavily on an awkwardly cambered bit of road the back of the car stepped out. Thought it was going to go BADLY wrong for a moment but managed to gather it up. However my drivers side rear wheel clipped a curb in the process and has now some serious scuffage round the polished rim section.

Looking back on it I should have given it more time to rub off any of that tyre dressing residue before pushing it but hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it? Just glad a scuffed alloy was all that came out of it.

The car drives fine, tracks straight and handles as well as ever so i'm fairly confident nothing more sinister has happened. I am left with the need to sort my wheel out though and could do with some advice.

My thoughts are to either get it repaired by an alloy wheel specialist (anyone know of a good one in the North east?) or buy a new wheel from Design911 or similar.

If I do get a new wheel can I just buy one that looks the same or are the real GT3 wheels made out of moulded expensivium?

Or maybe buy a whole new set to keep nice allowing me to stop worrying about my current ones!?

[johnfm]

If you replace it, I'd get a proper Porsche one, especially as you are only replacing one wheel.

How bad is the damage?? Unless you are a garage queen type, a repair could be just as good for you.

[LanCat]

As long as the damage is just superficial and you plan on using the car more often than you polish it then get it repaired.

If it requires more than basic repair then buy a new one, and a proper new one.

If you cant manage to replace it with the right one then sell the car.

[rimmer]

it all depends on how hard you hit the curb because if you only grazed it then it should be fine to get it refurbished but if you hit quite hard then if could be warped so youll need a new rim

[Vesuvius 996]

I'd not risk it - might have cracked the alloy.

It's a LOT of car to lose for £500. Leaving aside the obvious self preservation issue.

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Monday 16th April 19:27

[sportsandclassic]

I would also get the wheel alignment checked on the vehicle as any slight shock to a porsche seems to knock the wheel alignment out...they are very sensitive to pavements

Mike

Edited by sportsandclassic on Tuesday 17th April 06:52

[B15TT0]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the best thing to do is replace it then.

I assume from LanCat's comments that there is a real difference between the real GT3 wheels and the look a like GT3 wheels so i'll get a real one.

I also take the point about checking the tracking - i wouldn't describe it as a graze....

As for whether I polish it more than drive it - definitely not! It's off on a road trip to the 'ring, Italian Alps and beyond in a couple of months. Will take a cloth just to clean the flies off.

Anybody got a MK1 GT3 rear wheel for sale then? Or know where I can get one at a good price?