Alloy Refurbishment

[Ozymandias]

Just privately purchased a 400h and loving it but the alloys have the usual blight - blistering and lifting.

I'm based in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK and am looking for recommendations/experiences of good alloy restorers around here.

So far I've found (four alloys, drive in, strip, coat, balance and refit):

The Wheel Specialist - same day service £265

Midlands Alloy Wheel Refurb - same day service £180

Prestige Wheel Centre - 3 day service £216

Why does one company need three days?

Anyone have experience of the above or a better recommendation?

Thanks for any input.

This is the first time I've ever needed to do this as my old Saab has alloys that have lasted 15 years without any issues!!

[eskezz]

I know from membership of another community that some members have used City Powder Coatings in Birmingham at £20/£25 each wheel with generally satisfactory results.

Never used them myself but just one to add to your list (assuming they are still operational).

[n4chv]

It all depends on how the alloys are refurbished - some companies will refurbish the face of the wheel only and not do any work on the back of the wheel (most owners don't mind as it's only the visible part that they want looking good) whereas other companies are more thorough and will refurbish the entire wheel but this means more time, effort and usually more cost

Cost wise, your quotes of £180 and £216 sound good for a set of 4 wheels. £265 sounds high.

I am not familiar with these companies as I use a mobile refurbisher in Northampton where I live.

As good as Lexus vehicles are, I do wonder why their alloy wheels corrode so easily

[Ozymandias]

I know from membership of another community that some members have used City Powder Coatings in Birmingham at £20/£25 each wheel with generally satisfactory results.

Never used them myself but just one to add to your list (assuming they are still operational).

Yes I looked at City Powder Coatings - the reviews seem a bit mixed but the price is good. Their website is down at the moment and they only seem to offer to refurbish alloys with no tyres and off the vehicle. I must be getting old as it all seems too much effort :)

[rayaans]

When I had mine done by my Lexus dealer, they took 2 days. They put them in an oven to bake for a day so the finish is much more hardwearing than just painting.

[Ozymandias]

When I had mine done by my Lexus dealer, they took 2 days. They put them in an oven to bake for a day so the finish is much more hardwearing than just painting.

I must admit I am leaning towards the 3 day service of the Prestige Wheel Centre in the hope that the extra days days will mean a better job.

[rayaans]

When I had mine done by my Lexus dealer, they took 2 days. They put them in an oven to bake for a day so the finish is much more hardwearing than just painting.

I must admit I am leaning towards the 3 day service of the Prestige Wheel Centre in the hope that the extra days days will mean a better job.

Well it has got fantastic reviews everywhere Ive looked.

[lurch]

I would definately get them powdercoated and not just painted. Lexus just replaced mine with refurbed wheels that were just painted, they lasted less then 18 months before corroding again, had them done myself powdercoated and are still good three years on, had they done porsche grey metallic. Hopefully picture of wheels from previous post.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/uploads/monthly_06_2014/post-24999-0-23950500-1403017860.jpg

[n4chv]

Powercoating definitely gives a much better finish and is much longer lasting too

The refurbisher I use always goes down the powder-coating route - he's had plenty of experience with Lexus alloys and finds it surprising it's one area where their fit and finish isn't top notch given the rest of the vehicle build

[rayaans]

To be fair to Lexus, the finish on the wheels aren't always to blame. I had my 54 plate RX300 from new, no bubbles, no lifting on any of the wheels at all. I part exchanged the car in 2012 for my current RX450h and even the Lexus dealers were amazed at how the wheels had no problems. Those wheels had never seen a wheel sealant in 8 years, had never been fully cleaned from the inside and still, no problems.

The main reasons for wheel corrosion:

1) Acid based wheel cleaners are the main culprits. If you have a diminishing wheel finish, chances are, the wheel has come into contact with an acid based wheel cleaner. They basically get into the cracks in the finish, react with bare alloy underneath and cause it to corrode. The bubbles you see are corrosion under the surface of the paint.

2) Hand car washes/automatic car washes - again, they heavily rely on acid based wheel cleaners to shift the grime quickly and cheaply.

3) Road salt - we all know this causes corrosion. Best thing to do before winter is use a wheel sealant. If you dont want to use a wheel sealant, hose down the wheels every week. No point in totally washing the wheel as it'll just get dirty again but hosing down will remove most of the salt.

I kerbed my RX450h wheel about 8 months ago. I use Valetpro Bilberry as a wheel cleaner. Its very safe and alkaline based, it needs agitation but id rather agitate with a brush than use an acid based wheel cleaner which corrodes my alloys. Ive used it on the kerbed alloys with no problems whatsoever. The new Lexus wheels from 2012 onwards are very hard wearing compared to the 04 RX300 I had though.

[billgatesisaconman]

Hi Paul, I had mine done at TWS Manchester a few weeks ago ... I'm happy with the wheels & they did a good job ... one thing though powdercoating doesn't give quite the same shine as paint ... you may find the £265 is plus VAT ... they charged me £320 all in for same day refurb... :arrrggg-matey: :arrrggg-matey: :arrrggg-matey:

[PhilipK]

Cost wise, your quotes of £180 and £216 sound good for a set of 4 wheels. £265 sounds high.

My personal experience (mostly with BMW and Porsche) is that you need to pay around £100 (inc VAT) per wheel to get a proper job done - that includes removing and replacing the tyre, balancing, etc - so I usually pay close to £400 for a set of 4 wheels.

The other culprit for destroying the finish on alloy wheels is brake dust, which is quite corrosive if not washed off reasonably regularly.

[DanD]

From my own experience, and until someone contradicts me, even if you have your wheels refubished, they will start bubbling again after 18 months to two years. I think it is the making of the wheel itself that is the issue, rather than the painting / coating, where the alloy reacts to a variety of chemicals.

On that basis, i would say that it is not worth spending a lot of money, as it is only a question of time before you have to do it all again.

Given that it is a problem that affects so many RX owners, I am surprised not to see more RX's with after market rims.

[billgatesisaconman]

You may be right Daniel, but have you tried to find aftermarket rims for an RX ... I looked for quite a while and there doesn't seem to be a lot of choice without paying ridiculous money ...

[DanD]

I have to admit that no, I have not looked into it.

I wonder if the wheels from a RX450h might fit... I do not believe they suffer from the same corroding issues... might look into that one...

[DanD]

I have to admit that no, I have not looked into it.

I wonder if the wheels from a RX450h might fit... I do not believe they suffer from the same corroding issues... might look into that one...