Alloy refurbishing

[Rich]

Anyone know a place within a reasonable distance from Northampton they would recommend for price and quality? Also, how long roughly does it take? Can't have TC off the road for too long!

Rich

[Captain Slow]

Can speak to Dave our paint man (he's a mobile chap) and see if he's up for doing something for you?

[Rich]

Cheers Iain. Please bear in mind that the rims need a clean up and the wheels are going to be changing colour!

Been watching on .org and several people have said that for the cost of refurbing you can get a new set of black 11 spokes from Magik Wheels. I was tempted by this but it's not really black wheels I was looking for. Also, although I am changing the colour, it would be nice to keep the proper Trophy wheels on the car. But how much would a set of black wheels with reasonable tyres sell for if I was to buy them, get the Trophy wheels done, then move the black ones on? Or should I just sit TC on my old VVC alloys whilst the others are refurbed? Hmmm... Dilemas!

Rich

[Tony]

My uncle has just has his wheels poweder coated for his Saab. I'll find out where he went.

ChipsAway in wellingborough did mine a couple of years ago and they looked very good at the time, but there are a lot of chips appearing on them now (not just from kerbing).

[cejsmith]

Youn can always try pristine in woburn sands , I think they charge something like £50 a corner and for the cars I've seen with wheels done by them the do a good job.

Or try these lot, they did a wheel on my old TT about 10 years ago and they where fine

http://www.wickedwheels.co.uk/alloy-wheel-refurbishment.html

[adrianvvc]

I am also looking to get my eleven-spoke trophy wheels resprayed, this winter.

Wheels Uk in Coventry are quoting £40 a corner. see ebay link to them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290493662827?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

anywhere nearer at the same price or sms discount ?

[Matt Parker]

There are quite a lot of places that do wheel refurbishment these days but the trick is not just to go for the the best looking price, you want the best all round job for finish and lasting.

I recommend Pristine Wheels. However they are not cheap, but you do get a top job that can with stand all sorts. Also I will be popping down there within the next few weeks as noticed that they can repair magnesium wheels i.e my spare set of lightweights

One to stay clear off is LapTab in Birmingham (unless they have improved over the years) my first sets of VVC 5 spokes I had done by them in 2004 and they chipped easily and as soon as they chipped the complete finish just peeled off

[Rich]

After making some enquiries locally with various companies I have found one that looks to work to a standard I would be happy with and that's not too expensive either. And as a bonus they're not too far from Martin's garage either...

These guys clean the wheels, remove the tyres, dip the alloys to remove all traces of the original paint, bead blast if there is still any imperfections, make any necessary repairs, powder coat a base/primer coat, apply your choice of colour, apply a clear powder coat laquer, polish them up, refit the tyres, give them a final clean and balance. This costs £59.50 + VAT per wheel. I've seen the quality of their work and I am impressed. They even had a sample wheel in the colour I want!

If you visit their website, you'll see they're offering a 10% discount until the end of September. However, they have kindly said that they will let this offer continue exclusively for Southmids Sportsters members! That basically means that getting all four wheels done will set me back £257.04. With the tuning day wiping out my spare pennies this month, it's just as well they're extending this offer for us...

So now to see if this is a good deal, or if there's a better one to be had elsewhere. Pristine quoted £61 + VAT for the same job. No discounts available. So, further input welcome people.

Rich

[Tony]

Looks like a great price for what they do. Wish I had £500 going spare to get both the ZT and the MGF done.

[Sambomonkee]

My Zr could do we a refurb, I wonder if they would do a group discount, Ie loads of us group together and give them loads of trade at once

[Sambomonkee]

Ps, try this guy

http://www.frankiespaintshop.co.uk/

I have used him to do my spoilers, very good and a great price (50 pounds to strip, sand, prime and paint my rear spoiler ). Might be worth contacting him to see what he does and for what price, I sure we could blag a discount out of him

[Rich]

My Zr could do we a refurb, I wonder if they would do a group discount, Ie loads of us group together and give them loads of trade at once

Unfortunately not... I asked them already! The best they could do was the extended period discount which I think is reasonable. It's probably because they're constantly busy anyway at the moment and there's only so many they can do at once. I did try!

Bodywork painting is quite different from professional wheel refurbishing and although many do offer a basic service the result is often not quite as hardwearing as the powder coating process. However, if your guy does this too it wouldn't hurt to get a quotation and also see if he offers the same guarantee.

Rich

[Rich]

Well that's it... I've booked my wheels in for two week's time. I really can't wait to get them on TC and finish the look ive been hankering for since I bought him. More avatar/banner editing coming soon!

[Tony]

My uncle has just had his Saab wheels done by Wheel Clinic. Powder coated and diamond cut. They looked very smart with a high gloss finish.

[Rich]

Just need to sort the wheel centres now. Ive got an idea that requires an expert vinyl cutter. Do we know anyone?

[Rich]

Well they're in now and TC is looking very sad on axle stands at the front and my old VVC wheels on the back. Still, only got to wait until the end of the week and I'll be picking them up again.
Can't wait!

Might have to have another thought on the wheel centres though. When I took the original ones out they were in a worse state that I'd realised. I've been offered a set of four anthracite ultralite centres that apparently are the same size as trophy ones and at a pretty good price, so reckon that's the route to go...

[Matt Parker]

Yes Rich they are the same, if the caps you have been offered are very good as in the face I weill trade you for some others I have if you plan to paint/sticker them

[Rich]

They're brand new Matt, so I won't be stickering them I'm afraid...

[Sambomonkee]

Does that mean you are looking for a new home for your old trophy ones?

[Rich]

Does that mean you are looking for a new home for your old trophy ones?

Unfortunately they have already found a new home... our dustbin!

The logos had all bubbled and were partly scratched and must of the lugs on the back had snapped off and were missing. I think it was just the fact that they were dirty on the inside that held them in.

[Rich]

Well the alloys are back and on the car and I'm extremely happy with the quality and finish. Exactly as I requested! They've been on for a couple of days but the weather and dark evenings haven't allowed me to take pictures. I'm planning to make the most of the dry weekend for a small photoshoot. Watch this space...

Yes Rich [the wheel caps] are the same, if the caps you have been offered are very good as in the face I weill trade you for some others I have if you plan to paint/sticker them

Does that mean you are looking for a new home for your old trophy [wheel caps]?

Try THIS GUY as he tells me he has more than one available. Cheaper than mine!

[adrianvvc]

Try THESE...

Nick told me about these which are silver, normal price is £26 EACH

[Rich]

Good find Adrian, although I know Matt wanted the anthracite ones. Lee should be happy with these though as his alloys are after market silver multispokes.

[Rich]

As promised, the sun came out and I took pictures! Apologies for the tyre fitting stuff still on the tyres. Hadn't had a chance to clean it off since getting them on the car...







Still grinning stupidly...

[Nick]

Very very nice Rich, they're exactly how I imagined they'd look

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