Aston Martin Sport Pack V1 wheels recoditioning

[P4ROT]

Hi guys

My dad's had his DB9 sport pack from new since 2009 and always kept it in really good nick and has covered around 15k miles in the last 5 years; to be fair warranty had covered things such as:

Rust on both door handles (common)
Rust on all wheels (complete new set)
Rust above one arch (common again)
Rust on boot (common as boot hits the bumper- lol)
Broken headlight unit
Broken door handle
Terrible squeeks and rattles (went to Newport to have extra insulation and the interior fitted properly)

I sure there's more, but god knows what that list would have actually cost. Who cares, you only have to look at the thing to completely forgive it all its faults!

Well the car is finally out of warranty and the wheels have started to pit (v1 sport wheels) because they have turned aluminum faces. My Dad's had a few quotes from specialists to turn down the faces again and it is pretty pricey. We really wondered whether having the whole wheel painted instead really makes a difference to the overall look- has anyone here done this? What do people think?

Thanks in advance

P4ROT

[AMDBSNick]

http://www.alloyxchange.co.uk/products.php?xmaId=2...

[P4ROT]

AMDBSNick said:

http://www.alloyxchange.co.uk/products.php?xmaId=2...

These are the ones I'm on about:





EDIT: Managed to find a painted picture- do you think they look as good?

[AMDBSNick]

P4ROT said:

These are the ones I'm on about:





EDIT: Managed to find a painted picture- do you think they look as good?

I'm sure the people I posted will be able to sort you as they manufacture the OEM wheel. No idea where you live of course

[mikey k]

P4ROT said:

Well the car is finally out of warranty and the wheels have started to pit (v1 sport wheels) because they have turned aluminum faces. My Dad's had a few quotes from specialists to turn down the faces again and it is pretty pricey. We really wondered whether having the whole wheel painted instead really makes a difference to the overall look- has anyone here done this? What do people think?

They are actually diamond cut faces
This is a problem for the lacquer to adhere to
EVERY car I've had with them eventually suffers the "white wheel worm" when water gets under the lacquer, goes white and lifts it
The best solution I've found is to powder coat the whole wheel through some oen like these guys

http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/

Pristine & Lepsons have good feed back as well.

ETA - you are limited to a couple of recuts on the diamond cut face before you take too much material off.

You need to think about the TPMS sensors as well as they are £120 a pop if you bust one!

Edited by mikey k on Wednesday 26th February 15:43

[V12Vanquish]

I have refinished diamond cut wheels on several of my cars with just silver powder coat on the complete wheel. It's much more durable in our climate and if done properly should last for years. If the wheel is very badly curbed and needs welded on the edge to let metal in before machining, it's often the only option as the new material will be a different colour. If they only need stripped and coated (no curb rash) it will also be much cheaper.

[ds2000]

Only ever heard good things about these guys:

http://www.rimfurbish.co.uk/

[Sunray3006]

Ive used JP Alloys in Cannock to do my DB9 wheels and my Porka Cayenne Wheels (both diamond faced) and they were superb.

Refinished the whole wheel and not just the face so wheel was as new and cost £60.00 / wheel - took them 3 days:

Day 1 to shotblast
Day 2 to re-coar
Cay 3 to diamond cut and refit to car.

Speak with Pete as he's the head man their.

Hope that helps.

[yeti]

I have the DBS wheels but have the same diamond-cut faces and the finish, although excellent when done, hasn't lasted 2 years.

I'm going to have them stripped and painted or powder coated light grey this time and that should last a good few years longer. As Mikey says, it seems you can only have so many diamond-cuts before you lose too much metal... How many time I don't know, possibly depends on the wheel...

[P4ROT]

Thanks for all the input guys, will let you know what I do out of interest.

[codieskid]

I'd try Prestine
http://www.pristinealloywheels.co.uk/wheel-exchang...

They refurb and repair wheels for quite a few Aston Martin dealers including AM works and AM Derby. They quoted me about £77 per wheel to refurb each wheel and they pick up and deliver back to your door.

Trev

[bomberh]

P4ROT said:

These are the ones I'm on about:





EDIT: Managed to find a painted picture- do you think they look as good?

I have the same alloys on my car, I don't think I could have them non diamond cut like the second picture. They look very dull

If I wanted that look, I would go back to my original wheels, which defeats the object of having sports pack diamond cut alloys, but this is just my opinion.

[Speedraser]

I agree -- the diamond-cut finish looks great. I also have the same wheels, and IMO it wouldn't look nearly as good painted silver as in the second picture.