Discussion
I cover a lot of miles, c20k per annum, car has 19” diamond cut wheels.
I’ve not kerbed them per sae parking, however I find that they suffer the odd scrape and scratch. The other day for example I was forced up onto a kerb by a passing static caravan being transported (I live on the coast), the lanes are narrow and there was no alternative.
Is there a way anyone has found of avoiding this? I have always been fastidious with my car however the last few years of increasing mileage has seen me accept stone chips across the front and these. Perhaps I’m being unrealistic.
I’ve not kerbed them per sae parking, however I find that they suffer the odd scrape and scratch. The other day for example I was forced up onto a kerb by a passing static caravan being transported (I live on the coast), the lanes are narrow and there was no alternative.
Is there a way anyone has found of avoiding this? I have always been fastidious with my car however the last few years of increasing mileage has seen me accept stone chips across the front and these. Perhaps I’m being unrealistic.
- Get steel wheels with a "balloon" tyre profile.
- Get a daily beater car that you don't care about.
- or accept the poop will sometimes happen,
On Diamond cut wheels. I look awesome when new but as soon you get one scratch or even a tiny stone chip they start letting in moisture under the lacquer and progressively get worse. For that reason I would never have them.
- Get a daily beater car that you don't care about.
- or accept the poop will sometimes happen,
On Diamond cut wheels. I look awesome when new but as soon you get one scratch or even a tiny stone chip they start letting in moisture under the lacquer and progressively get worse. For that reason I would never have them.
Edited by SoulGlo on Monday 5th May 13:29
Edited by SoulGlo on Monday 5th May 13:31
Baldchap said:
If someone is forcing you to put your car somewhere you don't want to put it, stop. Let the other vehicle pass you.
Generally I try to but on an unsighted narrow country lane with tall hedges and the car behind you close to your bumper, you cannot do an emergency brake when an oncoming vehicle forces you to veer off the road.You just have to take evasive action rather than have to deal with a rear shunt.
Back on topic, I try to avoid cars with diamond cut wheels. It does limit my choices somewhat.
I was thinking the other day having just shelled out to have DC wheels refurbed that a clear gloss paint protection spray could work well, to protect the lacquer from chips.
Otherwise, just be diligent and check regularly for chips and cover with a lacquer touch-up before water gets in.
Otherwise, just be diligent and check regularly for chips and cover with a lacquer touch-up before water gets in.
Stick Legs said:
I have a pet theory that diamond cut wheels co-incided with PCP schemes to give dealers an easy way to knock the hand back figure down.
Last couple of cars we had with them I had them shadow chromed a'la BMW E39 M5. Looked nearly as good and was far more robust.
You’re probably right. They offer those insurance schemes but I’m guessing diamond cut refurbs can’t be done indefinitely.Last couple of cars we had with them I had them shadow chromed a'la BMW E39 M5. Looked nearly as good and was far more robust.
The other problem I have is getting them refurbished, it’s a 2 day job and nowhere near me does it.
I think the answer is to avoid them, but I don’t like painting over them it looks a bit back street dealer.
Had diamond cut wheels on our main family car and after about 6 or 7 years they looked absolutely awful. I had them refurbished in a nice gun metal grey single colour which cost £160 for the lot and they still look good as new.
My dad had his diamond cut refurbished like for like costing hundreds and a couple of years later they look terrible again.
Pick a nice colour and forget about the diamond cut.
My dad had his diamond cut refurbished like for like costing hundreds and a couple of years later they look terrible again.
Pick a nice colour and forget about the diamond cut.
The whole idea of making the wheels (that live on the ground, let me remind you) of a vehicle that will do tens of thousands of miles on all sorts of surfaces pretty and shiny so they are very easily damaged and then look dreadful is so utterly ridiculous I'm not sure why it's univerally accepted. Cars with 8cm of sidewall, inviting inevitable buckles and cracks, is also very foolish.
I have had to train myself not to care, a car is a tool and will inevitably not look brand new forever. I put a set of brand new wheels that I picked up for a song on one of my cars the other day and then Ms GoL kerbed one of them parking in Bristol in a tight space, getting wound up about it is like allowing yourself to be upset because the tide came in or the sun came up.
I have had to train myself not to care, a car is a tool and will inevitably not look brand new forever. I put a set of brand new wheels that I picked up for a song on one of my cars the other day and then Ms GoL kerbed one of them parking in Bristol in a tight space, getting wound up about it is like allowing yourself to be upset because the tide came in or the sun came up.
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Monday 5th May 15:01
The OE alloys on my Prado were diamond cut, finally had to have them painted shiny silver last year, mine you they lasted 19 years before getting too bad to ignore, but that was only due to the big tyres with 65 aspect sidewalls that made them almost impossible to damage accidentally.
One of the things putting us off changing the car is the one car that fits all the requirements, Suzuki Across, comes only with diamond cut wheels on much lower profile tyres, you just know within a short period they'll look rubbish..
One of the things putting us off changing the car is the one car that fits all the requirements, Suzuki Across, comes only with diamond cut wheels on much lower profile tyres, you just know within a short period they'll look rubbish..
Just got to learn to live with it, unfortunately, or spend a fortune on constant touching up.
I've owned one car that was flawless when I bought it, I'll never forget the first stone chip I got on it. I was heartbroken. After the 5th I learnt to accept it.
No amount of leaving ridiculous gaps between yourself and the vehicle in front will completely remove the possibility. Stones don't always fly out parallel to the vehicle, so even a 100m gap between you and the car in front won't prevent a stone chip flying up from that Lorry in the next lane over and ruining your pristine bonnet.
Avoiding dual carriageways is the ideal solution, but that's not always convenient...
I've owned one car that was flawless when I bought it, I'll never forget the first stone chip I got on it. I was heartbroken. After the 5th I learnt to accept it.
No amount of leaving ridiculous gaps between yourself and the vehicle in front will completely remove the possibility. Stones don't always fly out parallel to the vehicle, so even a 100m gap between you and the car in front won't prevent a stone chip flying up from that Lorry in the next lane over and ruining your pristine bonnet.
Avoiding dual carriageways is the ideal solution, but that's not always convenient...
t and were corroded after 5 years
Depends if the shop lacquered them. Cheaper jobs will more than likely just be straight gloss black. And pretty much everyone who’s asked me to do wheels doesn’t want to spend anything for them doing, so it’s expected.
I sometimes powdercoat wheels, and a lacquer is recommended whatever colour we paint it. Have choice of gloss satin or matte lacquer. It’s more for uv and scratch protection, and can sometimes be wet sanded and polished without damaging the powdercoat underneath.
Same applies to wet painting them too, but as people don’t want to pay for a full job doing shops just do basic steps to paint them the colour the customer wants.
I sometimes powdercoat wheels, and a lacquer is recommended whatever colour we paint it. Have choice of gloss satin or matte lacquer. It’s more for uv and scratch protection, and can sometimes be wet sanded and polished without damaging the powdercoat underneath.
Same applies to wet painting them too, but as people don’t want to pay for a full job doing shops just do basic steps to paint them the colour the customer wants.
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