Wheel Refurb - Should I be happy, or is this crappy?

[jimxms]

So I took a set of Rays GramLight 57F Pro's down to a local refurb place last week as they needed some TLC. There was no actual damage to the wheels - just corrosion and pitting from years of neglect.

This is what I got back:









It would seem that where they machined the lip and then proceeded to lacquer it afterward they didn't give it a proper clean first as dust seems to be trapped between the groves of where the lip was machined and the clear coat.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm just being too picky, but the inner part of the rim is still quite pitted - albeit now coated with a layer of paint.

Total cost for 4 wheels was £360 (bear in mind that I dismantled and rebuilt the split rims myself).

[LC23]

I have only ever had one experience of refurbing an alloy and it basically came back looking like new. So I would say take them back.

[morgrp]

They look dreadful take them back - appalling quality considering how much you paid

Edit - did the powder coat them??? Looks like they were painted - these days they should be powder coating them

[amare32]

That really is rubbish. My old man kerbed my RS4 alloys twice and me once so had the same wheel refurbed 3 times - came back perfect everytime.

[hornetrider]

ste job there I'm afraid

[Smike]

BJV Engineering have done good work on BBS RC041/042s that I've seen if you're after somewhere else.

[jimxms]

I thought as much to be honest I cant deny that the wheels weren't in a shocking state when I sent them in, but I was expecting better.

The nail in the coffin came when I showed them to my old man, and he said "they'll look great after a refurb"

[PIGINAWIG]

For £90.00 per wheel - and de-tyred etc.... that is a truely terrible bit of refurbishment.

If you still have the loose wheels without tyres on, I'd go and take one or two to a specialist to get a firm report on them - bit of ammo when you approach the firm that did them. Remember, they may want to re do them, so don't be too arsey on first contact.

I'd be unhappy with that result too.

[wackojacko]

Smike said:

BJV Engineering have done good work on BBS RC041/042s that I've seen if you're after somewhere else.

+1 for BJV if you're close, they produce some fantastic work , a reasonable price

[jamieboy]

wackojacko said:

+1 for BJV if you're close, they produce some fantastic work , a reasonable price

They did a rubbish job of mine. :twothumbsdown:








I've since had them redone elsewhere and they're virtually as good as new, so the "too far gone to be refurbed" argument doesn't hold water.

Edited by jamieboy on Monday 14th February 10:40

[Dog Star]

Just how bad wore they before? It may be that is as good as you're going to get after a certain amount of pitting.

[zx10ben]

Dog Star said:

Just how bad wore they before? It may be that is as good as you're going to get after a certain amount of pitting.

I'm sorry but I cant agree with that. I managed to remodel about 50% of my 20" Jag wheels after a fit of multi story car park rage (another story) I had it refurbished and it looked brand spankers, no pitting or scratches.

[edo]

Get your money back and send them to Lepsons.

[jimxms]

• No rust on bolts / bolts not seized
• Center spokes in 85% good condition (no kerbing, some small areas where paint had bubbled).
• Outer lip in 70% good condition (no kerbing, mostly dulled bare aluminum. 2000grit + metal polish could have fixed it)
• Inner rim in 45% condition (Lots of dirt and tar, fairly pitted).

I think i can confidently say that if I had access to a variety of coarse and fine sandpapers + a week off work, I could have probably managed to get at least two of the rims to a mirror shine without the use of power tools.

[TheD]

I've had a few sets done and they always came back like new. Plus £50 a corner was the most I have paid. I would say that is an awful job.

[g3org3y]

Bad job

If you're around Kent, I can recommend Lepsons. Expensive, but very very good. Had my Alpinas done there:

[Smike]

jamieboy said:

They did a rubbish job of mine. :twothumbsdown:

Oh dear - where did you get them re-done...or did you have a go yourself? I've seen a couple of sets they've done of the Sport alloys and they have looked good

[jamieboy]

Smike said:

Oh dear - where did you get them re-done...or did you have a go yourself? I've seen a couple of sets they've done of the Sport alloys and they have looked good

Not sure where they ended up being done - I had the car resprayed and they outsourced the wheel refurb. I've added some "after" photos to my previous post to show what the wheels were like when I got them back from BJV.

[goldblum]

Shocking work.Cost me £50 x 4 for my RS6 alloys and they were returned in 'as new' condition.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

They are quite bad.

I had the wheels on my Jag refurbed by Coatech in Carnoustie.

They were quite poorly when I put them in (they are 14 years old) but they came back like brand new.