Great result with wheel refinishing [Alloy Wheel Repair] - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

KevinM · 8th June 2007, 06:03

When my car was last in for an oil service, the dealership curbed one of my rims. They offered to repair it; I was skeptical given what I've read about matching the shadow chrome finish. In fact, soon after I picked up the car in Dec. 2004, my wife curbed one of the wheels and I just replaced the wheel rather than deal with trying to find someone who could refinish it properly.

Anyway, the wheel was done today - turned out absolutely perfect. In fact, I'm having the company refinish the wheel my wife curbed as well (I kept it as a spare).

The company is Alloy Wheel Repair (http://www.mobilewheelrepair.com/). They have mobile units throughout the US, UK and Canada. I can certainly vouch for the Tucson branch (Jerry and his son Ken).

The match on the finish is 100% - if it looks any different it is because of the lighting in the pictures.

supratony · 8th June 2007, 07:09

Looks good. How much do they charge per rim? How long does it take? and does the tire need to come off?

KevinM · 8th June 2007, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by supratony

Looks good. How much do they charge per rim? How long does it take? and does the tire need to come off?

$125/wheel. Takes about 1 hour. The wheel is removed from the car but I am pretty sure the tire is not removed from the wheel.

wilsodh · 8th June 2007, 18:31

Looks very good.

I have a rim that is slightly bent. It is barely balanceable with a counter-weight. Do you know if they can true up slightly bent rims also?

Dave

schnelleM5 · 8th June 2007, 19:35

Thanks for sharing your experience, Kevin. Great to know that our OEM wheels CAN be refinished to a high standard! Even from the pics it looks like they did a fantastic job on the wheel.

KevinM · 8th June 2007, 22:11

Dave - per their web site, the company can fix bent wheels.

Al - thanks and hello.

Hawkwind · 8th June 2007, 22:38

Kevin - did their paint extend into the wheel past the outside edge of the rim? That's where it seems to get harder to match the 2 layer shadow chrome effect. You can't just spray a coat of opaque silver and match the shadow chrome. But it seems that the outside edge of the wheel doesn't have the 2 tone effect, so if the repaint is limited to that area, then the match is easier to achieve.

KevinM · 9th June 2007, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwind

Kevin - did their paint extend into the wheel past the outside edge of the rim? That's where it seems to get harder to match the 2 layer shadow chrome effect. You can't just spray a coat of opaque silver and match the shadow chrome. But it seems that the outside edge of the wheel doesn't have the 2 tone effect, so if the repaint is limited to that area, then the match is easier to achieve.

I'll ask when I pick up my other wheel next week. However, I think the entire wheel was painted and clear-coated. All previous blemishes are gone and the area by the lug nuts is as new.

KevinM · 17th June 2007, 01:05

Picked up my refinished spare today and so asked them Hawkwind's question. They do paint and then clearcoat the entire wheel. However, they can also do just the lip; this costs less.

Hawkwind · 17th June 2007, 22:10

Sounds like they really are experts if they can reproduce the shadow chrome effect, with the blend of dark shadow to light chrome.