[geoffgp]

Anyone had kerb scuffed alloys repaired by a BMW dealer bodyshop? If so what were your experiences? Or did you use an independent. Managed to scuff mine the other day!

[Captain Cow Pat]

Ouch

[-AndyH-]

Do not get a dealer to refurb your tyres. They will make a mess of it (and charge you for it) and it will not last. All the dealers do is use a body filler, reprime, base coat and lacquer - all of which they do within the day. They also do not remove the tyres to do the repair.

The best place for a refurb is Lepsons (http://www.lepsons.com). These look like to 18" 400m? It would be £78 for the refurb (including taking off/putting back on and rebalancing the tyre). They can also match the paint colour so you don't need the other alloy to be done.

[Steve C]

As above, take it to your local repair man rather than BMW.

I scuffed a wheel on my previous BMW (polished M3 alloy) and got it repaired locally for £60 (including tyre off/on). I think BMW wanted £100+ for the same thing.

[geoffgp]

Originally Posted by Steve C

As above, take it to your local repair man rather than BMW.

I scuffed a wheel on my previous BMW (polished M3 alloy) and got it repaired locally for £60 (including tyre off/on). I think BMW wanted £100+ for the same thing.

Thanks. I did have my doubts about BMW. Anyone know of a good repairers in Surrey? Lepsons a bit too far i think.

[-AndyH-]

Do you have any spare 18" wheels? Lepsons do a free courier pick up/delivery at the moment.

[geoffgp]

No, unfortunately! Have you had wheels refurbed by them?

[-AndyH-]

Yep. They are the only company I trust to do alloy refurbs. I also have a 400m alloy going to them shortly.

I've had issues over the years with other companies who also are recommended on forums etc. Things ranging from lacquer peel to poorly finished edges where they have been curbed. Most of them are happy to correct the problems again (lacquer peel is often blamed on the way the alloys are cleaned however...) but on BMWs it's a pain in the *** if you don't have any spare wheels as you're without your car for most part of a week.

I live a good 150 miles from Lepsons, but they get alloys from all over the country. Their pricing is really good too (another local firm charges nearly 2x what Lepsons do).

[geoffgp]

Originally Posted by -AndyH-

Yep. They are the only company I trust to do alloy refurbs. I also have a 400m alloy going to them shortly.

I've had issues over the years with other companies who also are recommended on forums etc. Things ranging from lacquer peel to poorly finished edges where they have been curbed. Most of them are happy to correct the problems again (lacquer peel is often blamed on the way the alloys are cleaned however...) but on BMWs it's a pain in the *** if you don't have any spare wheels as you're without your car for most part of a week.

I live a good 150 miles from Lepsons, but they get alloys from all over the country. Their pricing is really good too (another local firm charges nearly 2x what Lepsons do).

Andy

I looked at the site and it seems the refurb involves stripping and repainting etc the complete wheel. I'm not sure I'd want that on what is a small, but irritating, scuff. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[Madeup Name]

I used Wicked Wheels in Guildford to do my BMW wheels, about £65 each iirc and they were excellent.

[-AndyH-]

Originally Posted by geoffgp

Andy

I looked at the site and it seems the refurb involves stripping and repainting etc the complete wheel. I'm not sure I'd want that on what is a small, but irritating, scuff. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

Spot repairs don't last, you will be able to tell where the repair was and it will cost you the same as a full refurb.

I have an area on my alloy less than 1 sq cm where it was left leaning against the wall and has damaged the paint. I don't really want to get that refurbed, but I don't have any choice unfortunately. At least I know though that the finish will be the same (or better) than when it came from BMW's factory.

[RichardM]

I used three local places with very different results. One, a mobile unit which refurb wheels for various main dealers in the area did an amazing job. You couldn't tell at all they had been refurbished and the wheels were in a real state before.

I've also used a company who have their own unit locally to me, all looked promising but they did a complete bodge job, I had them redo all of the wheels and I still wasn't happy. It was enough to go back to the lease company but I couldn't have lived with it.

I also tried Chipsaway and that was also a very poor finish.

[crazybones]

Originally Posted by RichardM

I used three local places with very different results. One, a mobile unit which refurb wheels for various main dealers in the area did an amazing job. You couldn't tell at all they had been refurbished and the wheels were in a real state before.

I've also used a company who have their own unit locally to me, all looked promising but they did a complete bodge job, I had them redo all of the wheels and I still wasn't happy. It was enough to go back to the lease company but I couldn't have lived with it.

I also tried Chipsaway and that was also a very poor finish.

The issue with mobile repairs is that they look good initially, but the finish is usually not long lasting and will start to flake after 6/12 months.

In my experience, the only way to properly repair a rim is to use a business which strips back the wheel via an acid dip and then resprays. Lepsons have a good reputation and offer free collection of the rim or The Wheel Specialist in Fareham. TWS recently refurbished my 4 winter alloys and did an excellent job.

[nobby810996]

I had my black e92 wheels refurbed at local BMW Bodyshop and they did a cracking job. Wouldn't hesitate to use again, but hopefully won't have to!!

[venkata]

Had mine done by local dealer who sent to a local body shop. Did a fab job, cost £80. Its been 6 months and still looking good...

[venkata]

Before and after shots

[geoffgp]

Originally Posted by crazybones

The issue with mobile repairs is that they look good initially, but the finish is usually not long lasting and will start to flake after 6/12 months.

In my experience, the only way to properly repair a rim is to use a business which strips back the wheel via an acid dip and then resprays. Lepsons have a good reputation and offer free collection of the rim or The Wheel Specialist in Fareham. TWS recently refurbished my 4 winter alloys and did an excellent job.

Because the damage is quite minor, although irritating, it seems a bit drastic to strip and repaint the whole wheel. And as its just the one wheel I'm a bit concerned it won't match the others for colour.

Thanks for all your replies....

[-AndyH-]

Originally Posted by geoffgp

Because the damage is quite minor, although irritating, it seems a bit drastic to strip and repaint the whole wheel. And as its just the one wheel I'm a bit concerned it won't match the others for colour.

Thanks for all your replies....

It will be harder to match the colour from a spot repair.

If your alloys were a special colour or custom colour, then you will probably be advised to get both alloys on the same side done to match. But this is a standard silver used by most German manufacturers. I think the 403M are a different story (apart from being diamond cut) as the grey paint is very expensive.

I've had spot repairs/face resprays and full refurbs over the years. The only method that has lasted more than 12 months has been the full refurb. That doesn't mean everyone does it perfectly - I've had issues before with peeling lacquer/bad edges.

I am getting my 400M done with a full refurb (for the most minor problem!) in the next week and am happy to put some pics on here. The rest of the alloys are sitting side by side in the garage so I am probably in a better position than anyone to see how good the colour match is!

[geoffgp]

Originally Posted by -AndyH-

It will be harder to match the colour from a spot repair.

If your alloys were a special colour or custom colour, then you will probably be advised to get both alloys on the same side done to match. But this is a standard silver used by most German manufacturers. I think the 403M are a different story (apart from being diamond cut) as the grey paint is very expensive.

I've had spot repairs/face resprays and full refurbs over the years. The only method that has lasted more than 12 months has been the full refurb. That doesn't mean everyone does it perfectly - I've had issues before with peeling lacquer/bad edges.

I am getting my 400M done with a full refurb (for the most minor problem!) in the next week and am happy to put some pics on here. The rest of the alloys are sitting side by side in the garage so I am probably in a better position than anyone to see how good the colour match is!

Look forward to seeing the pics. I will then be truly convinced, and will have by then probably damaged a couple more!

[crazybones]

Originally Posted by geoffgp

Look forward to seeing the pics. I will then be truly convinced, and will have by then probably damaged a couple more!

Unfortunately, several of us have learned the hard way that it is difficult to get a long lasting repair to a rim other than by a full refurbishment. My experience is that the lacquer lifts after a winters driving and don't even think about taking a pressure washer near a repaired wheel

[Jamese93]

To be honest both have their place. BMW dealers in the UK? Forget it. Crap quality as everyone says. Over here in NL? Very good, as new...

Proper repair +1 for Lepsons they're brilliant. They've done many wheels on cars I've restored in the past and the quality's great. Overkill for a small rash on a modern car though? Don't get me wrong as I detail my cars like the best.

Reality is most BMW dealerships outsource wheels to cheap and shit smart repair places so be careful in the UK. Here? Dutch wouldn't stand for it thankfully!

Good luck....

[geoffgp]

Originally Posted by -AndyH-

It will be harder to match the colour from a spot repair.

If your alloys were a special colour or custom colour, then you will probably be advised to get both alloys on the same side done to match. But this is a standard silver used by most German manufacturers. I think the 403M are a different story (apart from being diamond cut) as the grey paint is very expensive.

I've had spot repairs/face resprays and full refurbs over the years. The only method that has lasted more than 12 months has been the full refurb. That doesn't mean everyone does it perfectly - I've had issues before with peeling lacquer/bad edges.

I am getting my 400M done with a full refurb (for the most minor problem!) in the next week and am happy to put some pics on here. The rest of the alloys are sitting side by side in the garage so I am probably in a better position than anyone to see how good the colour match is!

Mine are 18" 398's would they be the same colour as your 400M's?