Porsche Middle Caps.

[MrGroves]

So my immaculate 2015 Cayman goes into Porsche, wheels get re done as they did such a terrible job last time. This time, perfect but they've sprayed over the middle caps. Enclosed to pictures.

Obviously arguing going on as they couldn't remove the paint when it went back. 3 wheels they've done this to.

Before I start the painful process, any idea how much these cost to replace or even if a Porsche dealer is the best to have replace them.

I know amateur hour.

Thanks people.

[g3org3y]

They should just supply you with new ones I'd have thought. Straight swap.

I'd be surprised if they did the alloy refurb job themselves, probably outsourced to local company.

[vikingaero]

I'm not sure how your having an argument with a Porsche Dealer? They sent the wheels to a contractor or used a mobile wheel guy. Whatever the case, if you paid them, they are liable for the contractor. I would escalate to Porsche GB if it is an official dealer because that is appalling service. Middle caps range from £30-60 on eBay for a set - some genuine, some not.

As an example, my Dad took his W126 in the 1990s to his Mercedes Dealer to have a/c retrofitted. It was subbed out to Salmon-Diava who damaged the dashboard. IIRC it was about £2k for a/c back then installed and about £2k for a new dashboard.

[nickfrog]

Quite unbelievable that anyone would do that and that no one at the OPC spotted it. Fairly low standards.

Always better to go straight to a reputable local wheel finishing specialist rather than relying on the the OPC who just went for the cheapest guy.

[jimmy p]

That is unbelievable, very very poor quality job.
Wouldnt expect that from a normal garage let alone a main dealer or opc.
How thick can someone be. The staff should have picked that up before handing your car back.

[C4ME]

That is shocking. I have never seen a wheel reburb done without taking the caps out. The two little holes make them easy to pop out. It also likely means they have not taken the tires off or the wheel off the car. Was a quick spray across the front with a rattle can the sort of refurb you were expecting?

Edited by C4ME on Sunday 13th October 11:54

[ianwayne]

Seconded. They've just sprayed the front of the wheels by the look of it, most probably with the tyres still on. You'd have to remove the caps to put them on a machine to get the tyres off, or at least pop the bead and push the edge of the tyre back.

[frozen-in-wiltshire]

that is shocking - I've never heard of that! The guy doing that job must have been a total idiot if he didn't even try to pop them out first. Didn't he think spraying over the badge might not be a good idea??? amazing.

No prisoners with the OPC on that one - replacements for sure are due to you.

[Pan Pan Pan]

Did they drill the holes in the caps in an attempt to get them out?
The holes don't seem to appear in the unpainted caps, If so what they did was even more shocking.
Providing new caps would seem to be the way they should go.

[r1flyguy1]

Pan Pan Pan said:

Did they drill the holes in the caps in an attempt to get them out?
The holes don't seem to appear in the unpainted caps, If so what they did was even more shocking.
Providing new caps would seem to be the way they should go.

They are clearly there, I can see them on both photos. They stand out more in the bodge job respray

[anonymous-user]

Muppets, seriously though are the caps plastic or metal?

The OPC shouldn't have returned the wheels like that in the first place, if they had any decency they would replace the centre caps. A quick look ebay shows a set for sale at £150 for 4 so these things aren't cheap.

The holes are supposed to be there.

Someone like excel wheels will do a proper refurb, advertises on 911uk.com

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 13th October 15:56

[Wooda80]

Hope the new centre caps are the same shade as the wheels...

[mattman]

Guy on boxa.net will sell you a set of centre caps for £35 - great quality

[DJMC]

gottans said:

Muppets, seriously though are the caps plastic or metal?

The OPC shouldn't have returned the wheels like that in the first place, if they had any decency they would replace the centre caps. A quick look ebay shows a set for sale at £150 for 4 so these things aren't cheap.

The holes are supposed to be there.

Someone like excel wheels will do a proper refurb, advertises on 911uk.com

Edited by gottans on Sunday 13th October 15:56

Exel are my OPC's wheel guys. I'd spoken to Chris and then some time later rang my OPC for a quote. They put me through to Chris who happened to be there.

[Pan Pan Pan]

r1flyguy1 said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

Did they drill the holes in the caps in an attempt to get them out?
The holes don't seem to appear in the unpainted caps, If so what they did was even more shocking.
Providing new caps would seem to be the way they should go.

They are clearly there, I can see them on both photos. They stand out more in the bodge job respray

You are correct, I blew the image up, and could then see them, on the smaller image of the caps that did not have paint on them. Am I correct in assuming these are used to aid removal of the centre caps?

[frozen-in-wiltshire]

Pan Pan Pan said:

r1flyguy1 said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

Did they drill the holes in the caps in an attempt to get them out?
The holes don't seem to appear in the unpainted caps, If so what they did was even more shocking.
Providing new caps would seem to be the way they should go.

They are clearly there, I can see them on both photos. They stand out more in the bodge job respray

You are correct, I blew the image up, and could then see them, on the smaller image of the caps that did not have paint on them. Am I correct in assuming these are used to aid removal of the centre caps?

they all have the little holes - but caps are removed from the rear when the wheel is off - just pop off a spring clip. think the little holes are for water drainage or something like that - but not removal.

[mr pg]

Holes are there for removing caps, as when screwing in the tool during having geometry done for instance.

[supersport]

On a visit to a local PC’s body shop, they showed us wheel refurb. They did it with tyres on, utterly unbelievable.

So this doesn’t surprise me.

[Spuffington]

Not surprised by this. I bought my Macan from an OPC last year and although initially impressed with the prep to the vehicle, upon closer inspection, the wheels received a cursory blow over with a rattle can. Bits of paper embedded between the rim and the tyre and now the paint is bubbling on the edge of the spokes. Also the fact the faces are a different shade to the inside dish is a clear tell tale.

I find it pretty disappointing in all honesty. It’s not like a full strip down is actually that expensive from the likes of lepsons.

Once winter is out of the way, mine will be getting the full treatment and then sealed.

Back to OP - there is no question that Porsche (or the contractor who did it on their behalf) should be picking up the cost of of new set of centres.

[C4ME]

There are various different designs of tool to remove the centre caps using the holes but this shows the basic idea