Alloy wheel refurb

Now i have a second car on the road its time to do some work on the Boxster. No1 is to get the wheels refurbed 19 inch Porsche Lobster Claws. As i have a set of the original 17 inch wheels i could take them off the car and drop off at a shop but due to the size this will involve a few trips. Alternatively I can leave as is and get a mobile refurb. They need lots of kerbing marks to be ground or cut out and a strip back and repaint. Anyone know if a mobile company would be able to do this . Would they be better bead blasted and powder coated? Any thoughts would help.

 

I had a set powder coated for 200 quid in Hull. I'm not sure I would just use paint if I was doing a refurb. Durability seems much higher when powder coated and price is only a bit more. I'm no expert and so await the contrasting views on this

 

My dad had this done in one day at a wheel refurb place near York. Last week, as it happens. Done on site in a day. Tyres off, damage machined off, blasted, powder coat, tyres refitted, balanced, replaced on the car. £300. They look great. Some pitting is still visible under the coating in the bits that couldn't be machined but that's the way it goes unless you want them filled and hand sanded. All the corrosion is gone so it's sorted. The car's 7 years old, it will last for another 7, by that time if he still has it he will be hanging up his keys.

 

They're decent alloys (Porsche probably have the best quality OEM alloys) so I would politely suggest avoiding the mobile option. Take them to a decent refurber and get them stripped, filled and powder coated. Will be slightly more expensive, but worth it in the end as they will last forever against road salt and grime. Not sure where you are but The Wheel Specialist in Manchester do a superb job every time. Can't vouch for any of the other Wheel Specialist franchises though. Lepson's in Gillingham are very good too.

 

In my experience the mobile guys, as good as they are, are at best for tarting up a set of wheels if you're about to sell the car, it won't last particularly well. I had a set of BMW 18" wheels stripped, machined and powder coated for £50 a wheel, that included fitting and balancing with a new set of boots I had delivered to him. They look cracking.

 

Swerve the mobile guys. Drop them off at a place of repute. Expect to pay 100 quid per for diamond turn and clear powdercoat, less for fill and colours.

 

More than likely any mobile alloy wheel refurber won't do full wheels, they'll just do the faces etc...

Sounds like you need to get them done properly, tyres off etc...

Can you get all 4 wheels off and take them to your local place (ie up on axle stands) or do you need to leave the car with them?

Where are you located, that'll help for local recommendations?

 

^ That, and only that.

Depends where you are; I've a recommendation for place in Bristol that I dropped the car off, and picked up ( the car being being securely stored meanwhile) for a fantastic job under 4 days at about that rate that including all tyre demount/reinstall /balancing and truing three of them. Properly. (Alpina 18" which were a bit 'soft' (forged, but a little too light!) and fussy about fitment - wonderful job.)

Paying less is a false economy, in the quite-short term range. You can get the proverbial mug's eyeful and instant gratification- or,
...have all the real issues from trueness and distortion via porosity, to precisiosn and a long-lasting finish for ...actually very little more money.

 

Cheap banger wheels; that's your issue

 

My Valet suggested several possible responses to that jibe, but he can be impetuous.

Nevertheless - after a delightful dalliance over several years with the mistress from Büchloe - I long ago instructed my Valet to dispose-of.

The Port stands by you, sir.

 

Porsche lobster claws are worth looking after! One of the best looking wheels ever made!

 

True that but these Sport Design from the 997 Gen 1 are growing on me but they're a bugger to clean.

 

Nah. Cups are the best they EvER made, but only work in older models.

 

Hard to argue with that. A mate fitted a set of Cup 1s to his 964 C2 and they look superb. He had some Fuchs before that that suited his 964 Targa but I didn't think they looked so good on the C2 that replaced it. He's happy he took my advice now. He also quite happy that he paid £20k for the Targa some years ago that he sold for £55k, that he used to buy his C2 with which is now worth around £70k.

 

Lepsons.

 

A friend, a very long time ago, had a Mustang with Cragar wheels on it. To make them fit as many cars as possible the bolt holes where OVAL (HiFists: think B139). Complete shite.

Original 1966 Fuchs for me, btw. They don't fit my car, but you can't have everything.