Stevan Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 37 minutes ago, Gordon said: Regardless of the perceived quality of the work, so long as the customer is happy and the mechanical specification of the wheel is unaltered, then it is all down to personal choice whether to employ a mobile service or take the wheel(s) to a repair shop. I have no experience in having wheels refurbished but should it ever become the case I feel sure that the restoration cost would be closely compared with the cost of replacement either with original spec, or an after market product. Much is down to the old concept of "good enough". There is little doubt that a skilled operator in a properly equipped workshop can do a better job on a wider variety of damage than even the best operator from the back of a van. If the wheels are badly damaged or belong on your pride and joy which you want to keep looking pristine for a long time then the extra cost and inconvenience of taking them to a workshop is well worth it. If however, the car is just a tool for getting around and all you want is to stop it looking too scruffy for a while, the mobile service can be more than just "good enough". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 4 hours ago, AJGalaxy2012 said: GPS, with all due respect sir, so are you! In reality if you think about it a fully equipped workshop versus the back of a van, the mobile one has to be a compromise and be at a disadvantage. Of course it's possible that you get a mobile guy thats first class and a complete muppet in a workshop and the mobile may fair better. Most workshops that I know offer powder coating which is in a different league compared to painting, add to this proper repairs with metal rather than filler and the workshop wins hands down. Speculation ? no, Ive had repairs done on my driveway and Ive had proper workshop jobs done and I know which was the better result for me. No need to think about it, the damage to both my wheels were cosmetic scuffs, they went in the van scuffed and came out looking brand new. Also both wheels were originally painted and not powder coated, so the job done restored them to what they were. Why should a workshop have more or better equipment than a mobile? I think there is a perception that it must be a better job because it is done in a workshop, and that any other solution must be of a lesser standard! I have a mobile dent guy and I would put him against anyone in a workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 Have used mobiles for years on painted rims and have been happy with the results but in each case the repairs were for very small local scuffs rather than the more serious and general damage. The paint on one wheel did craze though but the next time the company came to repair another wheel they redid it FOC. All have been on MINI's with low profiles where there is very little or no rubber outside of the rims. The latest model my wife owns has JCW diamond cuts where one wheel has been slightly scuffed, £110 at our local specialist. Would steer clear of diamond cuts next time. Quote Living the dream, well more of a nightmare if the truth be known ~ Griff Wheels at the front ~ Discovery 4 Towing Machine Wheels at the back ~ 4 of ‘em Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custard Avenger Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 My wife's diamond cut alloy was damaged by a mobile tyre fitter (a major brand who fit tyres on your drive as it were)- they admitted liability as the alloys were otherwise unblemished; It was repaired by Perfection Alloys in Leicester: the prices were 17”-18” £108, 19"-20” £122 including vat per wheel. As it was Diamond Cut they could not do a proper refurb' on the drive and the wheel had to be brought to their HQ. My alloys are also diamond cut and were corroded when when I bought the car; they were refurbished prior to collection, but this must have been a smart repair as 2-3 years later the corrosion has re-appeared. I don't want to spend over £400 on a pro job so have been considering spraying them myself, either with a silver paint or Plastidip as a temporary job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1957 Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 If wheels are corroding and have not been damaged/scuffed, it is worth checking if they are covered by the car paint warranty. I read somewhere that Citroen would repair corroded wheels. We have 3 scuffed wheels on one of our cars and I have thought about getting them repaired but since they are used as the side parking sensors it would be a waste of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logiclee Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 To be honest if I had diamond cut wheels that needed refurbing there is no way would I have them diamond cut again. Diamond cut will always corrode eventually, a stone chip one week in can start the lacquer lifting and repairs are more costly if achievable at all. A two tone or single colour refurb is more practical and looks just as good for much longer. Quote Yeti 2.0TDi EU6 150 DSG 4X4 L&K, Octavia TSi Manual, Fabia TSi DSG, Swift Challenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolingbroke Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 (edited) 21 hours ago, AJGalaxy2012 said: Direct Line for example were not happy when I bought a set of alloys for my Touareg to have winter tyres on, they refused cover even though the sizes were the same. Insurance companies will up the premium if you tell them you have changed your socks - any excuse will do for them. The factory fitted wheels on my model of car changed their design practically year-by-year, and of course the different variants had different wheels too. You'd need to be a full time expert on car wheels to know what wheel patterns corresponded to what car/model/year/variant. Unless a wheel disintegrating was the cause of an accident I doubt a damage assessor would give them a glance, unless of course you tried to claim extra for having scratched your after-market upgraded wheels. Do people tell their insurance companies if they replace their tyres with a different make or pattern from the factory ones? I don't, yet tyres are potentially a much more important factor in an accident than the bare wheels. I couldn't replace mine with the original type anyway - they were banned for making too much noise (??!)*. Tyre manufacturers don't usually make the same pattern for years on end as tyre fashions change too. * They should come and hear some of the motorbikes that pass where I live. Edited October 7, 2019 by Bolingbroke Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crannoghome Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 When our daughter bought a new-to-her car through a dealer earlier this year, she agreed the price on the condition that the all 4 wheels were refurbished before she collected the car. The dealer agreed without any argument and had the job done by their usual mobile man who made a really good job of them. Taking to the dealer, he said that he's usually happy to have the wheels refurbished as part of the deal and that purchasers only have to ask - but most don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 35 minutes ago, Bolingbroke said: Insurance companies will up the premium if you tell them you have changed your socks - any excuse will do for them. Is that a fact or just a generalisation base on no real evidence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 45 minutes ago, Bolingbroke said: Insurance companies will up the premium if you tell them you have changed your socks - any excuse will do for them. A few years ago I bent an alloy wheel on my FIAT Marea when I hit a pothole. A new, matching wheel from FIAT was going to cost only £20 less than a set of four aftermarket wheels and I was going to have to wait at least 28 days for it to arrive, so I went for the aftermarket ones. My insurance company was simply not bothered as long as I stuck to the original size tyres! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1957 Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 13 minutes ago, Grandpa Steve said: Is that a fact or just a generalisation base on no real evidence? We've had changes and the insurers have not increased the premium - front and rear parking sensors, towbars, improved suspension bushes. The problem comes if you do not tell them and then make a claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 9 hours ago, Gordon said: Regardless of the perceived quality of the work, so long as the customer is happy and the mechanical specification of the wheel is unaltered, then it is all down to personal choice whether to employ a mobile service or take the wheel(s) to a repair shop. I have no experience in having wheels refurbished but should it ever become the case I feel sure that the restoration cost would be closely compared with the cost of replacement either with original spec, or an after market product. Completely agree with you, as long as the customer is happy 'the jobs a good un'. 4 hours ago, Bolingbroke said: Insurance companies will up the premium if you tell them you have changed your socks - any excuse will do for them. Totally agree with, the danger of not telling them of course is in the event of a claim if theyre looking for a get out, the wheels may just be enough. All insurance companies are different, when I bought my Range Rover, direct line wouldnt insure it unless I had a tracker fitted, stuff that, Admiral on the other hand, no problem. AJG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 9 hours ago, logiclee said: I'd have no issue with a man in a van doing a smart repair on an alloy. But for a full refurb that needs shotblasting, smoothing, priming, painting and baking then a fully equipped paint shop would be my choice. Kind of goes without saying, a bodge job on the drive I suppose is ok for short term / tidy up etc but not for more involved damage. My Toareg wheels had been quite badly kerbed, lord knows how you can kerb a wheel like that, the tyres were not low profile. The whole of the outside face was patched up by welding, heat treated and then machines, I couldnt tell which wheel was the bad one when they were done, great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 39 minutes ago, AJGalaxy2012 said: Kind of goes without saying, a bodge job on the drive I suppose is ok for short term / tidy up etc but not for more involved damage. My Toareg wheels had been quite badly kerbed, lord knows how you can kerb a wheel like that, the tyres were not low profile. The whole of the outside face was patched up by welding, heat treated and then machines, I couldnt tell which wheel was the bad one when they were done, great job. It is a little unfair to dismiss all mobile wheel refurbishers as doing ""bodge" jobs. True that even the best mobile operator will not do as good a job as an equally good operator with a full workshop, nor will they be equipped to undertake some of the more major repairs. However the results can be perfectly satisfactory, even though they may not be fully up to "as new" standard. No point having "as new" wheels on a less than new looking older car that simply needs to stop being scruffy! Horses for courses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 15 minutes ago, Stevan said: It is a little unfair to dismiss all mobile wheel refurbishers as doing ""bodge" jobs. True that even the best mobile operator will not do as good a job as an equally good operator with a full workshop, nor will they be equipped to undertake some of the more major repairs. However the results can be perfectly satisfactory, even though they may not be fully up to "as new" standard. No point having "as new" wheels on a less than new looking older car that simply needs to stop being scruffy! Horses for courses! Sorry, bad choice of word, but you understand the point I'm making. I did acknowledge earlier that an expert in a van will out perform a grease monkey in a workshop easily, a lot is down to the operator. I agree totally that the vanman job may be good enough for the task in hand, for a top notch job though a trip to the workshop is required especially if powder coating / diamond cut / alloy repairs are needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBullet Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 (edited) 9 hours ago, Paul1957 said: If wheels are corroding and have not been damaged/scuffed, it is worth checking if they are covered by the car paint warranty. I read somewhere that Citroen would repair corroded wheels. Replaced in my experience. Our first DS4 had diamond cut 18” ‘Brisbane’ alloys that were known to corrode - I ended up with all 4 being replaced under my ownership as they each showed signs of corrosion whilst it was under warranty. I’ve seen a few that have a single-colour refurb and had I ended up having to do them that’s exactly what I would do too. As for the C30 wheels those do look smart on the original 1.6D driv-e models but I suspect they’ll soon corrode again at some point. I had an A2 wheel refurbed years ago, the job was done by the mobile van that Bedford Audi used - it lasted well but it wasn’t a full colour match; I had all four done 2 years ago as a treat as they were suffering the general wear of being washed and stone chips after 13 years; sadly they’ve already started to loose the surface material where stones hit them - this was done by a supposedly local reputable outfit in their workshop at £85 per corner. The DS4; Edited October 7, 2019 by FrankBullet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 9 hours ago, FrankBullet said: I had an A2 wheel refurbed years ago, the job was done by the mobile van that Bedford Audi used - it lasted well but it wasn’t a full colour match; I had all four done 2 years ago as a treat as they were suffering the general wear of being washed and stone chips after 13 years; sadly they’ve already started to loose the surface material where stones hit them - this was done by a supposedly local reputable outfit in their workshop at £85 per corner. Were they painted or powder coated? Powder coating if done correctly (down to operator skill, facilities etc) is a good application for wheels, it bonds well to the surface, its flexible so doesnt crack and it can withstand the brutal conditions a wheel has endure. When my wheels were done rather than diamond cut I had 'Shadow Chrome' they apply the silver powder and then mist a Black powder subtly into certain areas, it looked stunning and the shine was amazing. Shadow Chrome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBullet Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Powder coated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durbanite Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 The wheels are our car are a bit scuffed but around the hub seems to be bad. The rears are similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBullet Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 That’s the chrome-effect corroding off; a typical example of these is the mk2 Focus Ghia which had a similar finish and looked awful within a few years. Personally I would just refurb in a dark silver and be done with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durbanite Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 2 hours ago, FrankBullet said: That’s the chrome-effect corroding off; a typical example of these is the mk2 Focus Ghia which had a similar finish and looked awful within a few years. Personally I would just refurb in a dark silver and be done with it! Thanks for the above. We had the wheels refurbished on the previous Jeep at £80 each and 5 years later they still looked as good as new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobloseven Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) An update. Contacted a local company, Perfection Alloys. Young lady said for the full works including machining 108 pounds per wheel for 16/17 inch. Or for two tone finish as Lee suggested, 120pounds.We could leave the car with them while they did the work if needed. Was going to go to seller to negotiate a price reduction to allow for this today, but we spotted another car, admittedly a bit dearer, but a newer model with a higher spec and conventional alloy wheels which appear to be in good condition. Hoping we've made the right decision. Edited October 13, 2019 by Dobloseven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCloughie Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 5 minutes ago, Dobloseven said: full works including machining 108 pounds per wheel for 16/17 inch. Does that include replacing tyre and balancing? John Quote Volvo V70 D3 SE (was Peugeot 4007, SsangYong Korando), Pulling a Lunar Clubman SI 2015. If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Grouse Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) On 07/10/2019 at 09:17, Grandpa Steve said: No need to think about it, the damage to both my wheels were cosmetic scuffs, they went in the van scuffed and came out looking brand new. Also both wheels were originally painted and not powder coated, so the job done restored them to what they were. Why should a workshop have more or better equipment than a mobile? I think there is a perception that it must be a better job because it is done in a workshop, and that any other solution must be of a lesser standard! I have a mobile dent guy and I would put him against anyone in a workshop. Paint is better done indoors, away from dust and other airborne debris. Repairing one wheel to match the others makes sense - but refurbishing all four is difficult to justify give the cost of new alloys, not at dealer prices though - I bought 4x VW 17" SUV wheels for £400, brand new. Edited October 13, 2019 by Black Grouse Quote 2015 VW Touareg 3. 0 V6 TDI + 2013 Lunar Clubman ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobloseven Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 1 hour ago, JCloughie said: Does that include replacing tyre and balancing? John Yes, I asked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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