Who is doing this here in Ireland?
Ive rang a few guys but they just want to refurb, paint and lacquer.
I want to get the OE diamond cut finish on the wheels
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Who is doing this here in Ireland?
Ive rang a few guys but they just want to refurb, paint and lacquer.
I want to get the OE diamond cut finish on the wheels
Pm EndaC as he has had them done and I think it was some where Dublin.Quote:
Originally Posted by michael320
Think it was Collins engineering that done enda's
That's them yeahQuote:
Originally Posted by Gar
Yeah it was Collins engineering in Bray that did mine. I'm not too pleased with them though as a year on they've deteriorated very quickly
Did they not laquer them???Quote:
Originally Posted by EndaC
They did John, three coats if i remember correctly.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoktorB
The other set of motorsports I have on my M3 which were done in the UK are blemish free two years on and I would say with probably 75% of the mileage that my 318is ones have.
Feck that!Quote:
Originally Posted by EndaC
Nuluk wheels lads.
Interesting because I’m trying to decide on what approach to take with the wheels on the M. One of them is fairly badly kerb scratched. They are the standard 19” polished outside spokes with the inner an anthracite type colour.
I believe the wheels were originally painted completely in that anthracite colour and then the spokes and outside rim diamond cut to give it the metal polished look. This cutting seems to leave micro abrasions on the surface of the polished area in order for the lacquer to stick to it. A smooth surface in itself wouldn’t provide any adhesion for the lacquer.
If the lacquer is damaged or pores open up to let moisture in, these surface abrasions form channels helping it to spread quicker than it normally would and creeps behind the rest of the lacquer obviously causing corrosion and the metal to powder etc. Only solution is to strip, polish again and re-lacquer.
I’m told that the guys in Bray do a great job in polishing, but the lacquer finish is not great. Of 4 re-furbed wheels, one of them started to lacquer peel before it went back on the car and another one went after 6 months.
One option for me is to have the alloys repaired, cleaned, powder coated and then diamond cut and lacquered to get back the OEM look. I was quoted €145 per wheel and would take a week where I got the quote from. As mentioned, I’m hearing scare stories of the poor quality lacquering and how quickly the wheels can go when it’s not done properly. Guys in Bray are more expensive than that I believe.
Option 2, is to go through the powder coating process as above but leave the whole wheel painted in a single colour - something like a smoked anthracite - and paint can be lacquered without issues. I was quoted €115 per wheel and would be an over-night job.
Option 3, is just to have the polished silver areas re-polished (although not necessarily using the diamond cut process) and then waxed but not lacquered because of the lack of adhesion. I was quoted €75 per wheel. It’s an overnight job and these guys can loan me a set of wheels
The merits of lacquering a polished wheel?
Initially I was sceptical about not having any lacquer protection whatsoever on a cleanly ground alloy. However, there are other protective products such as wheel guard product from Chemical Guys which after a few coats, will probably provide as good a cover as lacquer. And a new coat could be applied when washing so the layer builds up.
In that sense, option three is starting to look interesting for me as I’d prefer to keep the OEM look because I can’t picture the 19” wheel in a single colour. If option 3 goes wrong, the experiment will have cost €300 and then maybe fall back to option 2 when I stop crying and save up another €450.
I'd be interested in other peoples thoughts and sorry for the long post.
:happy:
Do it once - do it right!Quote:
Originally Posted by IrishEyes
OEM finish from Nuluk Wheels in carrickfergus. Its expensive but good work generally is and they will stand over their work.
Personally the wheels on your M3 are the worst wheel ever fitted to an ///M car and deserve nothing better than to be used as plant pots or put in the bin.
I wouldnt waste the money on them and just put it towards a wheel upgrade.
Bit far away there old toff and it takes 3-4 days. And they'd probably be damaged on the way back.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoktorB
Re the M3 wheels, to my eyes I think the 19" look quite OK. I don't have any problem with them at all. And €75 is going to go a long way to a wheel upgrade. :-)
My gaffer has a 2012 cl500 with 20"AMG wheels with a polished finish on the face of them. They got kerb'd and refurbed to a showroom finish. I'll find out Monday where it got done and PM you Micheal.
Same here, I can't recommend them.Quote:
Originally Posted by EndaC
Next time I have them off I'll be sending the wheels to nu luk or lepsons.
tbh, i dont think Nu Luk or Lepsons will do any better work than whomever made the OEM rims for BMW in the first place.
Its that sharp edge on them that makes it easy for laquer the get a bite and then start peeling and milky look.
There is no way to combat that long term.
Leaving them laquer free and regular maintenance would be the only permanent solutions. Doesnt matter where you send it, it will peel again 'when' is the question.
Does anyone do clear powder coating? It would be more durable than the lacquer finish.
I dunno if it's even possible tbh..
I refurbed a set of 19" E46 M3 wheels myself following a thread done by one of the guys on m3cutters. Long process first time round but results were pretty good.
See link here to my DIY thread
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26598
I left wheels without lacquer just put a few coats of wheel sealant on them.
I think leaving the wheels bare without lacquer and putting wheel sealant on would def be a good option for someone doing low mileage and who would clean and seal wheels regularly. This might suit irisheyes.
If the op wants I can give you some polishes etc to try one wheel. I think I have them left over from before.
Don't have time to polish wheels. If 'when' is a long enough period then that's fine by me. I'm not expecting an indefinite period but I do expect longer than a year - mine didn't even make a full year before water got under the lacquer and all four of them have started going milky.Quote:
Originally Posted by listermint
TBH, that's the way I'm thinking at the moment. Because the mileage is relatively low, just get them polished and treat them afterwards with a sealant such as CG's wheel Guard. And re apply it when washing the car. I'll let someone else repair the kerb damage and then start the protection rather than have them lacquered.Quote:
Originally Posted by TomTom
Thanks for all the info lads. Still torn on what to do, buy a second set and be done with it or get the damaged one repaired and the set re-furbed....
I know you want to make the car look "stock" but if it was me I wouldnt bother with the polished 19's.Quote:
Originally Posted by michael320
Would the shadow chrome 18's not do your job. I really like the stance on the coupes with the 18's. They have more tyre and gives a more focussed, racier stance than the lower profile tyres on the 19's.
Otherwise I'd go with an aftermarket set of wheels.
I dont like the 18s on the M3, never did. I presume thats why BMW got rid of them after a year or so.
You sure about that? I thought 19's were always an option with the exception of the CSL.Quote:
Originally Posted by listermint
I think they suit the car imo
http://www.bmwarchiv.de/images/exterieur/jr07849.png
My favourite wheel on the E46 M3 :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos
Like them too and would put them on the car before the 19"Quote:
Originally Posted by HealyC
Only thing is they will look a bit lost on a saloon IMO
Im fairly set on the 19's, I've always liked them. Ive ruled out aftermarket wheels for now, partly because I cant find anything I like but mainly because the wheels I actually do like are 6 grand.
I'm not a fan of the 19's (or 18's for that matter) but they'll suit your car well - they'll pop against the blue, and make it look more like it rolled off the factory floor that way.
Steven Thornton does diamond cutting of wheels afaik - his contact details are here: http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/tyres-for-sale/partworn-tyres-dublin-8/3945983
He's based in beside Wheel Wizards too.
The 19s were always an extra I believe. Quite a few 2006s floating around on factory 18s.Quote:
Originally Posted by listermint
never liked the 18s on the m3, think they get lost in the flared arches. I love the factory 19s, i think its hard to find a better wheel that suits the m3 imo so can see why sticking with them.
have you thought about getting them refurbed in silver? think there was a thread put up only recently about that. Everyone has there own opinion on it but oem 19s in brilliant silver would pop against that colour imo and really set the wheel off compared to diamond cut
Worth adding here for search reasons I think - Recently noticed a new place in cookstown industrial estate called DCWR Diamond Cut wheel refurbishment, I'd imagine it's a case of doing exactly what it says on the tin. Haven't seen any of their work yet.
I recently got mine done in rim solutions. Top job done.
Murphy n gunn use them now for there work also.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...64d4f7a6ad.jpg
Theres no substitute for the diamond cut finish. Very nice! :cool:
The 19"s were not laquered originally. If you use a 83 grade polish on a da it will take most blemishes from them and then a good sealant will keep them nice for 12 months.
If you do apply laquer they will go milky pretty quickly due to the edges as earlier mention.
any more opinions on this? is it between collins, rim solutions and nu luck if getting them done in Ireland?
I got mine done hereQuote:
Originally Posted by RobH
www.diamondcutwheelrefurbishment.ie
They're going back on today, so I'll post some pics
Looking forward to the pics and your opinion on the finish. I have my Style 40s for the e36 waiting for treatment.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH