Wheel replacement or repair?

[bn8959]

Hi

I've just picked up a 2016 FL with 21" titanium coloured wheels. I've noticed one wheel has a smallish curbing that has cracked the lacquer. I'm not concerned about getting it perfect again, but I presume it's going to start corroding and get worse now.

It would cost about £160 to refurb at Platinum Alloys, Swindon. I'm concerned through that the finish would never be quite the same and it would look different to the rest. I guess, since it's not a respray, there would be a better chance of it looking ok.

Just wanted to know if anyone else has had a satisfactory refurb on this type of wheel?

Alternatively Audi want £1,200 for a new wheel! Does anyone have an alternative source and/or a part code for them?

Many thanks
Ben

[Markp]

Ben that price is full full dip and respray and it should match the others.Platinum are very good.
I would leave for now until it gets kerbed again - or buckled

[bn8959]

Probably sensible. I was going to have a restorative detail, and full gtechniq coating on paintwork and wheels; also my tread is about 3mm. So was planning to wait until I change the tyres and then get it all done - but the cost was adding up! I think ill just go ahead with the detail and paintwork protection, and wait on the wheel and tyres - can get a bit more wear out of them then too. I just wanted to get the paintwork sorted asap.

Cheers.

[Ian_C]

If the damage to the rim isn't too severe, you could always just apply more lacquer to seal the surface and stop water getting underneath and ruining it. Either proper lacquer, or the Mrs clear nail varnish! Will stop water ingress / corrosion / white worm etc

[E14STO]

White worm??
That is first time I've heard this but I have one section on my 21's with some white squiggle on it and I've wondered what the hell it was!

[RS6chris!]

Na

Just go aftermarket

OEM Wheels are <beep>....

[Bit_evl]

I used MyAlloys.co.uk in Basingstoke to do another car recently and they did a really good job.
Four wheels, tyres off, full strip, refinish, two colour paint job, finish.
£70 a wheel + £10 per night if the cars stays over. 2 nights for mine.





They did a great job of matching the original colour scheme.

[Ian_C]

Purely out of interest.... because I am definitely NOT in the market for a C7!..... am I right in saying the PE 'Y spoke' design 21s don't seem to suffer the bending issues the original 21s suffer?

I'm sure only a few sets of PE 21s have come up for sale second hand, but what kind of dollar would a set go for?

Edit - used this thread as I didn't want to start yet another bendy wheel thread!

[DragonRR]

Some of the mobile "chips away" franchises are pretty good at doing kerbed alloys and usually for less than £100. I've used a company called Revive and the work done is pretty much undetectable even on Diamond cut alloys.

@Ian - I haven't had my PE for long enough to make a properly informed comment but the PE wheels look far more substantial than the non PE alloys.

[Bit_evl]

MyAlloys.co.uk in Basingstoke will take a wheel and totally strip it, refinish and paint it in total for £65. I have no connection with them other than having recently had a very good job done on all four wheels on a different car by them. They also do the unbending for an additional charge if needed.

My issue was with the PE 21" Y Black specials not the 5x twin spoke. 3 of 4 were bent.

[MikeFish]

Ian, apart from bit_evl above I have not heard of any issues with the PE wheels. I thought bit_evl had a few problems with the car though and wasn't clear cut that the wheels were the problem originally?
Maybe we haven't heard of as many issues are they are rather and newer though.
On eBay, when they come up they are about 2.5k.

[Bit_evl]

viewtopic.php?f=76&t=123023

First issue was warped discs.
Then the wheels caused the issue as well.