Wheel refurbish

[Macjo]

My first post so here we go

I recently aquired an SLK with AMG body kit and wheels. The wheels have a few scrapes and the usual 'milky' trails and I want to get them refurbished (along with new tyres). I want to retain the polished aluminium outer edge and not have the whole lot sprayed silver. Is this diamond polishing? Does any one know who does this in Cumbria? Any tyre recomendations? 225 fronts 245 rears.

Thanks :?:

 

[zarnd]

i have spoken to a few people about this, and the fact of the matter is that mercedes stopped making decent quality alloys around 1994. even if you get them refurbished, they will never look the same or like they were when they were brand new.

you could try chipsaway,

www.chipsaway.com

they should do it, and they can come to your house and do it then and there. tey might just redo the bits that have been scraped rather than taking the whole wheel away and redoing the whole thing!

hope that helps

cheers

Alex

 

[peterchurch]

Hi,
Chipsaway would be fine for normal alloy wheels, but what macjo has, are machine finished and clear coated I have got the same type of finish on mine they will need to be dipped in acid to remove the clear coat then re-milled then have a new clear coat applied...

discussed here ...

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6266

the pain is finding a shop good enough for the job though

all the best

 

[Macjo]

Hi again

Since my first post I have carried out a little more research and found a company near Carlisle who will refurb/diamond cut each wheel, leave the edges polished and laquered for £50+vat per wheel. Not bad. BUT he did say that if salt and corrosion has already got into the rim then even if the new laquer is not broken it is likely that 'spider' marks will re-appear under the clear coat in a few years. Does anyone have experience of this happening? He said he paints most to avoid this from being seen but it is down to personal preference and makes no difference to the cost - same job - different order.

Peter Mac

 

[peterchurch]

so the worst case would be that you spend £200 + vat every 2 - 3 years to have them stripped and recoated ? sounds good to me. presumably you could also help minamise against this by waxing the wheels ...

 

[wiggy]

hi all, posted about this before. after a little bit of searching it is looking like either lepsons in kent (who i have used before) or spit and polish around the london area, not used them but come recommended. peter, only downside to referbing too often is that every time you diamond cut them you reduce the amount of metal on the rim so not an infinate answer but possibley good for a few years. cheers wiggy

 

[Greg3174]

Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

Hi all,

its my 1st post on here and am sure it wont be my last. Wheels are my thing!
as described in an earlier post diamond cutting is all well and good, but should not really be used on a car that is a daily driver as the finish is just not practical. you can only have your wheels diamond cut so many times as you are basically skimming metal off the whole wheel and making it weaker.

i dont agree with the post that said Mercedes dont make decent wheels?! i have refurbished personally a lot of Merc alloys in the past and its also not difficult to get them looking new again.

Greg Dawson
www.amazingalloys.com

 

[Macjo]

Welcome Greg

As I am just about to get my four AMG wheels 'done' and you are a 'wheel man' what is the best process specification that I should be looking for to be carried out? I want to leave the edges polished as they are at present.

With regard to Merc wheels is it the fact that the wheels are not up to scratch (forgive the pun) that you have had to refurb so many?

Peter Mac

 

[peterchurch]

coz it would seem that some owners think that they are just another form of parking aid :twisted: but on the whole if you dont go near a curb then you won't scratch them, and they will stay looking nice and shiny.

Best regards,

Peter