Wheel refurb?

[PranK]

Has anybody had their wheels refurbished? I reckon it's likely bloody expensive. Even a sand blasting quote for my 17s was 200-300 per wheel!

The E39 wheels are basic BMW M Sport (or M Tech at the time.) they have slight rash and some have signs of bad repair in the past on the lips. The main issue is that they've become really off coloured. 

I think it will be too much as this is definitely (supposed to be) a budget resto.

I've been looking at others for sale but they all have some minor damage and colour issues. 

In the end I think I'll just need to sand blast them myself and do a respray.

 

[dyl33]

I got a quote to restore a set of Volk racing gtc wheels at a wheel restoration shop which involved repainting the centres fixing some small gutter rash and repolishing them and the quote was $2.5k

I ended up getting them sandblasted and powdercoated for $240

 

[PranK]

29 minutes ago, dyl33 said:

I got a quote to restore a set of Volk racing gtc wheels at a wheel restoration shop which involved repainting the centres fixing some small gutter rash and repolishing them and the quote was $2.5k

I ended up getting them sandblasted and powdercoated for $240

 

Yeah this confirms what I was thinking. Volks are worth a crap load more than my M Sport 17s and 2500 is nuts! 

240 is crazy cheap, was this 20 years ago?

I have a fairly good air compressor so I'm tempted to get an eBay sand blaster. 

[dyl33]

35 minutes ago, PranK said:

240 is crazy cheap, was this 20 years ago?

2 weeks ago $240 cash.

200-300 per wheel is wild for sandblasting and can't see a wheel costing more then $100 per wheel to powder coat.

 

 

[GTSBoy]

Keeping in mind that sandblasting is really aggressive on softer metals like cast alloy, and you can do damage that you might regret. For trash wheels, not a problem. For wheels with value/scarcity issues, etc.... perhaps a less aggressive media is a better choice?

[PranK]

11 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Keeping in mind that sandblasting is really aggressive on softer metals like cast alloy, and you can do damage that you might regret. For trash wheels, not a problem. For wheels with value/scarcity issues, etc.... perhaps a less aggressive media is a better choice?

I was wondering about this. I'll do some research.

[Duncan]

Its the labour that costs....it will be hours per wheel to strip, prep and paint/coat

On the bright side they should come back perfect....until the first time you make a mistake parallel parking.....

[soviet_merlin]

4 minutes ago, Duncan said:

On the bright side they should come back perfect....until the first time you make a mistake parallel parking.....

But, curb rash is easy and relatively cheap to fix.

It's the imperfections on the rest of the wheels that I'd like to see gone. Don't want to spend big money on wheels that are out of production though. I'd be so worried about breaking one afterwards on the offroad-adventure that is Sydney roads these days.  

Following this topic with interest.

[blind_elk]

I got a quote to refurbish some BBS look-alikes -best part of 2k.

I had some alloys sand blasted - bad idea, in retrospect. Had to wear gloves to handle them! I had them powder coated to protect the rim.

Rather than sand blasting, I recommend hydro blasting (blasted with micro-fine glass beads carried in a water stream). I had a set of TRX rims done recently for only about $200 total.

[soviet_merlin]

17 hours ago, blind_elk said:

Rather than sand blasting, I recommend hydro blasting (blasted with micro-fine glass beads carried in a water stream). I had a set of TRX rims done recently for only about $200 total.

Do you have any before and after photos? That's $200 just for the hydro blasting?

[blind_elk]

The powder coating came in at $250 EACH.

The TRX rims got a coat of clearcoat on the outside only.