Diamond Cut Alloys - Will it get worse?
Discussion
Diamond cut alloys - what a pain! On my new car all four alloys have some form of corrosion where it seems the lacquer around the centre caps has broken when removing and refitting wheels, and water has got in behind the lacquer and caused the corrosion.
I have been quoted £370 to have them re-diamond cut, but with the comment that it might look a bit rubbish where the corrosion is and that it is only guaranteed for three months as diamond cut alloys are prone to this.
I have been quoted £280 to have them stripped and powdercoated, with a twelve month guarantee. (Suspiciously I phoned four places and all quoted me exactly £280 ... a little price fixing cartel anyone?!).
I also wondered: if I just left it, accepted it looks a bit crap, would that be fine, or would it slowly get worse and get to the point the wheels are dangerous and/or not saveable?
Thoughts welcome.
I have been quoted £370 to have them re-diamond cut, but with the comment that it might look a bit rubbish where the corrosion is and that it is only guaranteed for three months as diamond cut alloys are prone to this.
I have been quoted £280 to have them stripped and powdercoated, with a twelve month guarantee. (Suspiciously I phoned four places and all quoted me exactly £280 ... a little price fixing cartel anyone?!).
I also wondered: if I just left it, accepted it looks a bit crap, would that be fine, or would it slowly get worse and get to the point the wheels are dangerous and/or not saveable?
Thoughts welcome.
Integroo said:
I have been quoted £280 to have them stripped and powdercoated, with a twelve month guarantee. (Suspiciously I phoned four places and all quoted me exactly £280 ... a little price fixing cartel anyone?!).
£70 a wheel, innit? A bit steep IMO as I know a firm local to me with an excellent reputation who would do it cheaper, but hey ho.Integroo said:
I also wondered: if I just left it, accepted it looks a bit crap, would that be fine, or would it slowly get worse and get to the point the wheels are dangerous and/or not saveable?
Thoughts welcome.
Dangerous? Probably not. Utterly scabby and beyond cosmetic redemption? Almost certainly. Diamond cut-and-lacquered finishes on wheels just don't suit our damp, salty climate. I'd go with a good paint or powdered finish.Thoughts welcome.
Exactly the same thing happened to the rage alloys on my FN2 - it did get worse over time yes but it won't make the alloy unserviceable or dangerous, it will just look pants
I ended up having them powder coated dark grey, you see a lot of rage alloys that have been painted as repairing the diamond cut finish is costly in comparison
I ended up having them powder coated dark grey, you see a lot of rage alloys that have been painted as repairing the diamond cut finish is costly in comparison
Diamond cut surfaces always corrode and nobody's come up with a solution to it (to date) that i'm aware of. I was told it's due to the fact the cut leaves, effectively a sharp edge which makes it difficult for clear lacquer to hold onto. In inevitably fractures (be that microscopically or other) and when it does, water gets behind it and lifts it.
I would always choose a powder cut where possible with wheels as it's so much more robust.
I would always choose a powder cut where possible with wheels as it's so much more robust.
I have diamond cut alloys on my vehicle, just like yours water has got underneath the lacquer and they look awful. Speaking to the guy i have used before he has said not to bother as it will happen again in a few months time (although he hasnt got a CNC machine which is needed). Advised to just do a normal refurb for £150. Undecided.
I did consider the smaller wheels ,firstly to improve ride and secondly for cheaper tyres!, but I have just ordered four tyres at a cost of £530 (gulp) so sticking with the Rage's for now. Probably will go powder coating, but what colour ... thinking anthracite, gloss black or maybe a dark bronze.
Should of negotiated money off the purchase price to cover this, but oh well. 800 quid to spend in the first week on tyres and wheels ... plus fixing the rattly exhaust!
Should of negotiated money off the purchase price to cover this, but oh well. 800 quid to spend in the first week on tyres and wheels ... plus fixing the rattly exhaust!
the alloys and tyres is just wear and tear, so you probably wouldn't have gotten far in terms of knocking money off.
Most wheel colours go well with milano red, i was in a similar position and just went with standard honda satin silver on mine.
I think anthracite grey or silver would suit those the best, nice looking wheel, and you'll lose all that detail if you go black.
Most wheel colours go well with milano red, i was in a similar position and just went with standard honda satin silver on mine.
I think anthracite grey or silver would suit those the best, nice looking wheel, and you'll lose all that detail if you go black.
designforlife said:
the alloys and tyres is just wear and tear, so you probably wouldn't have gotten far in terms of knocking money off.
Most wheel colours go well with milano red, i was in a similar position and just went with standard honda satin silver on mine.
I think anthracite grey or silver would suit those the best, nice looking wheel, and you'll lose all that detail if you go black.
Very true, and the price I paid was probably 600 to 1000 cheaper than a dealer price anyway, and at least I know I am putting decent tyres on rather than ditchfinders. Most wheel colours go well with milano red, i was in a similar position and just went with standard honda satin silver on mine.
I think anthracite grey or silver would suit those the best, nice looking wheel, and you'll lose all that detail if you go black.
Integroo said:
I did consider the smaller wheels ,firstly to improve ride and secondly for cheaper tyres!, but I have just ordered four tyres at a cost of £530 (gulp) so sticking with the Rage's for now. Probably will go powder coating, but what colour ... thinking anthracite, gloss black or maybe a dark bronze.
Should of negotiated money off the purchase price to cover this, but oh well. 800 quid to spend in the first week on tyres and wheels ... plus fixing the rattly exhaust!
Use the tyres up and never wash the wheels or apply that horrid black spray gummy thing. Then sell up once they are worn out.Should of negotiated money off the purchase price to cover this, but oh well. 800 quid to spend in the first week on tyres and wheels ... plus fixing the rattly exhaust!
Rick101 said:
Absolutely s
te design. I don't know why people specify them and in many cases pay extra for them!
Usually milking within a year and a pain to get refurbished.
Bring back proper wheels.
The 19" Rage alloys on the FN2 Type R that I have were a £1200 option when new. Despite a) being diamond cut and therefore having these problems b) making the tyres 140 quid a corner rather than 80 quid a corner and c) ruining the ride quality (it is bloody bumpy). te design. I don't know why people specify them and in many cases pay extra for them!Usually milking within a year and a pain to get refurbished.
Bring back proper wheels.
swisstoni said:
Hope they are just a fashion.
For some unfathomable reason VW put them on my daughters very basic 2011 Golf Twist - according to forums loads of owners got them changed under warranty but she looked after hers so they only had minor deterioration around the centres as it approached 3yrs old. Dealer refused to change them under warranty and said the damage was caused by someone trying to nick the centre caps (themselves unmarked). tts. VW UK said it's up to the dealer.I've left them in protest. To be fair it's only recently that they've started to really go.
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