Wheel Refurb

[WG]

I am thinking of refurbishing the wheels on my Spyder as there is slight corrossion on a couple of them (might change colour to platinum satin from current silver). I have been quoted £180 per wheel by my OPC which seems a tad expensive. Can anyone recommend a good alternative in the Brighton area. Though as I do not want to leave my beloved car with a bunch of strangers they would need to supply an alternative temporary set of wheels. The alternative of taking one or two wheels at a time to them seems a bit tedious! Thanks

[Orangecurry]

I take my wheels to Wheelworks in Crawley - your OPC might well use them anyway. I leave the wheels with them for a few days whilst the car sits on another set of mine.

http://www.wheelworksuk.co.uk/

Lepsons in Kent are considered to be the best, but much more difficult to pop-by if you live in Brighton.

[Orangecurry]

It sounds like you have to use the car all year round?

I'd source a cheap 2nd hand set of wheels for the car for winter - one inch less than your summers - and not worry about salt and corrosion and fit cold/wet weather orientated tyres.

Everybody wins.

[WG]

Orange curry. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have done 12k in 6 years. The car has never been washed let alone got wet in the rain! (I clean it with rapid detailer after every outing and before you ask, no. There are no swirl marks) It is also kept in a dehumidified garage . pampered or what ? It is a mystery why I have got any corrossion really but it is only slight around centre of wheel. I don't have a second set of wheels.Thanks for your thought though.

[Orangecurry]

I think what you are saying is that you can't jack the car up, take the wheels off yourself and take them anywhere?

If so then you'll have to pay someone to provide some kind of service, which won't be cheap so you need to compare that against leaving the car with the OPC.

[neilf]

£180 per wheel does seem a bit steep!

I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the company I used a few years ago when I kerb'd a couple of alloys. But the guy was mobile, came to my house.

Did an amazing job. The reason I'm mentioning all this is he was pretty difficult to arrange an appointment with because he was busy doing jobs for several local BMW, Mercedes and Porsche dealers. If I remember rightly he charged something like £60 for 1 wheel, £50 for 2 wheels, £40 for three etc. An awful lots less than your OPC.

[neilf]

neilf said:

£180 per wheel does seem a bit steep!

I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the company I used a few years ago when I kerb'd a couple of alloys. But the guy was mobile, came to my house.

Did an amazing job. The reason I'm mentioning all this is he was pretty difficult to arrange an appointment with because he was busy doing jobs for several local BMW, Mercedes and Porsche dealers. If I remember rightly he charged something like £60 for 1 wheel, £50 for 2 wheels, £40 for three etc. An awful lots less than your OPC.

This is the chap... http://m.alloywheel-refurbishment.net/

[neilf]

£180 per wheel does seem a bit steep!

I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the company I used a few years ago when I kerb'd a couple of alloys. But the guy was mobile, came to my house.

Did an amazing job. The reason I'm mentioning all this is he was pretty difficult to arrange an appointment with because he was busy doing jobs for several local BMW, Mercedes and Porsche dealers. If I remember rightly he charged something like £60 for 1 wheel, £50 for 2 wheels, £40 for three etc. An awful lots less than your OPC.

[Magic919]

Exel will come to you, fit a spare set of theirs and refurb yours - http://www.exelwheels.co.uk/ They use Lepsons as far as I know.

[KMF]

exel will do them for about 100 each. good to do when you need tyres as they will do those also as cheap as anywere else

[stebbo]

I had my 20" Carrera wheels done by MyAlloys of Basingstoke. £65 per wheel plus VAT. I have used them 3 times before on other cars and have be delighted with the work on all vehicles.

[Mad March Taffy]

stebbo said:

I had my 20" Carrera wheels done by MyAlloys of Basingstoke. £65 per wheel plus VAT. I have used them 3 times before on other cars and have be delighted with the work on all vehicles.

Ditto - I was very pleased with my 996T wheels from them - fast turnaround time too

[stebbo]

Mad March Taffy said:

Ditto - I was very pleased with my 996T wheels from them - fast turnaround time too

I put my Boxster on axle stands, took them to MyAlloys on a Tuesday. Ready Frday Morning. Excellent service

[petej]

Lepsoms of Gillingham are the go to place in the South East.

[andygo]

Anyone got a recommendation for MK?

[MartinB7]

Could try Premier Wheels in Redhill, they have a secure compound to leave the car and they will take off/ refurb/ refit
wheels for under £100 a corner, on an easy rail hop to Brighton.

[Budflicker]

petej said:

Lepsoms of Gillingham are the go to place in the South East.

The best full stop, £88 + vat per wheel. job done.

[BlackGT3]

KMF said:

exel will do them for about 100 each. good to do when you need tyres as they will do those also as cheap as anywere else

Another vote for Chris at Exel wheels. He will meet you at home or anywhere else for that matter. Fit his loan set of wheels to your car. Take your wheels to be refurbished at Lepsons ( will supply new tyres if needed). Returns a week or so later and swaps your refurbished wheels for his loans ones.

My detailer commented that the finish is much better than most he sees.

[DJMC]

BlackGT3 said:

Another vote for Chris at Exel wheels. He will meet you at home or anywhere else for that matter. Fit his loan set of wheels to your car. Take your wheels to be refurbished at Lepsons ( will supply new tyres if needed). Returns a week or so later and swaps your refurbished wheels for his loans ones.

My detailer commented that the finish is much better than most he sees.

He does the re-furbs for my OPC in Leicester. He also quality controls what Lepsons do for him to the extent that one set was sent back to them several times due to an unsatisfactory finish. It happens. But better to have someone on your side who deals with them every day than battle it out yourself direct when you notice a month later whilst washing the car?

[WG]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I have decided to use Excel wheels - £500 plus £40 to change colour to Satin Platinum for all 4 wheels - including a set of loan wheels. I'll let you know how I get on !