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Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons wheel refurbish)

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daveg
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Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons wheel refurbish)

Post by daveg » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:03 pm

Since buying the car the wheels have been bugging me. The centre caps were corroded, and the wheels were rough with overspray from a previous roadside refurb. The paint behind the spokes was pretty poor and starting to bubble along with some around the centre caps.

I wanted to have them properly refurbished for a while and some colleagues recommended Lepsons after seeing some MV2 wheels they had done.

I managed to borrow some wheels for the week (eternally grateful to m44rrt) and was able to leave mine at Lepsons. They take a while as they get a full acid dip, repair and baked powercoat / lacquer for a better than OEM - long lasting finish. I went for a mix of the "smoked-chrome" and "two-tone" finishes. The wheels are painted black, and then highlighted with silver chrome-fleck on the faces. This gives a very deep shine that changes with the angle you look at them. I was very happy with how they turned out and extremely impressed with Lepsons. They lived up to their expectations and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone considering a wheel-off refurb.

When I got the wheels back I wanted to seal them so got in some Autobrite Very Berry Wheel Wax after being so impressed with the Addiction Wax. The wax was just like Addiction in it's application, it went on so easily. It felt like I was waxing ice the applicator slid over the paint so easily.

What I love about Autobrite waxes is it is hard to put on too thick. With other waxes like Collinite 915 I have found the pad 'sticky' when applying and having to do lots of tiny circles to ensure a thinish coat. If you put too much on or leave it too long it's a pig to buff off. Very Berry is the opposite, it buffs off with a light pass of a Eurow Double Density Shag Pile microfibre.

And the smell - this wax is even better than Addiciton! Think strawberries, cherries and raspberries all rolled in. I had to really concentrate not to scoff the applicator when getting more wax from the pot!

Here are the black insides after waxing:

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The wax left a stunning shine and really made the chrome flake in the paint pop.

Here are some pictures of the wheels on. It's hard to capture the 3D effect this paint finish gives so I took quite a few I'm afraid!

And yes I know the car is dirty!

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The paint gradually changes from silver to black on the rims
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The insides of the spokes are dark
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You can really see the flake on the inside of the spoke in this shot
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Really need some new wheel bolts now :o
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And the finishing touch, a new set of badges :)
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Last edited by daveg on Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by AndyS » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:15 pm

I think they look pretty damn nice - suit the car well. :thumbsup:
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by cj10jeeper » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:16 pm

They look really good. Nice change to the standard flat silver on ellipsoids :thumbsup:
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by Wondermike » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:19 pm

daveg, very nice :thumbsup:

Are those 108s a distant memory yet :poke: :D

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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by daveg » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:28 pm

Thanks for the comments guys, appreciate it.

Nearly Mike, but it was nice admiring a set for a week without having to live with them :wink: . Someone is going to get a very nice set of 108s though since m44rrt is selling.
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Done - P Zero Rosso's | Stubby | 107's | ///M MFSW | ZHP | Cruise | Custom boot/license bulbs | Full circle brake | 330 calipers | EBC Ultimax/Greenstuff | Clear sides rears + 3rd brake | Strut Brace | 4 wheel align

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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by GAZA62 » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:46 pm

They look great thinking about a refurb on my 108s at Lepsons
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by adam81 » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:44 pm

They look great mate :thumbsup:

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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by lacroupade » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:01 pm

I normally don't like ellipsoids, but that finish really does something for the way the light falls on them and makes them much more sculptural - they look really really nice! :thumbsup:

Can I ask what the £££ damage was? :)
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by pvr » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:19 pm

107 are sure the nicest wheels for the Z :thumbsup:
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by Mafoo » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:21 pm

Stunning finish. Sets off your car perfectly. I spooooo need to find some 107's !!!!!!
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by pvr » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:25 pm

Your windscreen wipers are a bit high on the windscreen 8)

The aero kit with the 107 wheels in SG - I don't even mind the orange indicators on the car, it is just fantastic.
Current:
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X5M - 575 hp of fun in a V8
Abarth 595 Comp.
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by PawnSacrifice » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:37 pm

pvr wrote: The aero kit with the 107 wheels in SG - I don't even mind the orange indicators on the car, it is just fantastic.
+ 1 :thumbsup:

Damn it... not sure what to do with mine now! Possibly one of the best looking Zeds I've seen.
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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by m44rrt » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:51 pm

As DaveG says I have some real nice 108s on standard RFT tyres (5.5 to 6mm)
8" front 8.5" back - 18" rims
Bright edges all round - just one minor blemish on one wheel.
Buying mine is cheaper than doing a refurb on your 108s and putting on new tyres on with 8mm
Use your old 108s or other wheels with snow tyres next winter...
Dave has done a great job in cleaning them, many thanks
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DaveG - good looking wheels man....

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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by daveg » Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:01 pm

Thanks for the kind comments everyone. With a family and girlfriend who are not that interested in cars it's nice to have some compliments.
lacroupade wrote:Can I ask what the £££ damage was? :)
Sure, the normal price was £55 plus VAT per corner, £65 plus VAT for the smoked-chrome. Kwik-fit are paying for the rears after damaging them when fitting the Pirellis. I tried to haggle a cash discount when paying but it was too late as the invoice had already been made out - had to be done when I dropped the wheels off. Could be useful if anyone else goes to Lepsons.
pvr wrote:Your windscreen wipers are a bit high on the windscreen 8)
Well spotted! The "Fix Problematic Wipers" thread is next on my list :P
03 3.0i SE For Sale
Done - P Zero Rosso's | Stubby | 107's | ///M MFSW | ZHP | Cruise | Custom boot/license bulbs | Full circle brake | 330 calipers | EBC Ultimax/Greenstuff | Clear sides rears + 3rd brake | Strut Brace | 4 wheel align

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Re: Autobrite Very Berry Review (and Lepsons)

Post by easty027 » Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:38 pm

love em, the black inners give a real depth to them. very nice... :thumbsup:
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