Detailer and Alloy Wheel refurb in West Mids

[spanna2000]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a detailer (probably need mechanical polishing to remove swirls) and an Allow wheel refurber in the West Mids - Dudley/Halesowen area? There are plenty advertised but I'd rather go with someone who's reputation I've checked.

Also, in respect of the wheel refurb I was looking at ebay for new wheels - its seems replacement wheels and tyres might be cheaper than a refurb. Is there a risk the wheels are unsafe or am I being too risk averse? Do wheels from the newer Z4s also fit the older models? When is it safe to mix sizes of tyre front and rear - I think as standard front and rear are the same 240 size but many go for wider rear tyres.

Thanks
S

 

[original guvnor]

I'm having a 2 day detail done next weekend by Barry from AutoDetox (http://www.autodetox.co.uk) who are based in Lichfield. I'll post some before and after piccies and a write up.

 

[AlanJ]

spanna2000 - lots of questions here! Try a search first and you will find a response to many of your questions. As regards replacement wheels - you get what you pay for. Beware of cheap tyre and wheel mixes as you generally get 'crap' tyres as part of the deal. Tyres are your only link between you and the road so get the best you can afford for both performance but more importantly safety in all conditions. Staggered mix front and rear are common on Zeds and fitted as standard on some and as an 'extra on others - again a search will reveal all.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I can recommend a top level refurber in Lichfield. Doing something for me right now as part of a special project.

Happy to connect you up if it's not too far.

As Alan notes - cheap wheels, crap tyres - recipe for disaster on a 155mph car. Quality aftermarket and good tyres are a different game, but way morte than a refurb.

 

[spanna2000]

I can recommend a top level refurber in Lichfield. Doing something for me right now as part of a special project.

Happy to connect you up if it's not too far.

As Alan notes - cheap wheels, crap tyres - recipe for disaster on a 155mph car. Quality aftermarket and good tyres are a different game, but way morte than a refurb.

Agreed, OEM spec at least. Which is the odd thing. The ebay auctions I have seen seem to be offering wheels and OEM spec tyres (except for the sizes are larger than my current wheels - I need to research what AlanJ said about these also being OEM options) - set of 4 for 3-400 depending on the auction. I assume a wheel repair is about £100 each. Never had to have wheel's done before so not sure.

Re the refurber in Lichfield - what sort of price for all panel swirl removal - no major issues to deal with? The car I bought is a just for fun car 6 years old so I don't want to spend too much on it - I'd rather keep any large money for my next major purchase. I realise you get what you pay for so my budget is not silly, just capped.

 

[T400]

smartcarerepair.co.uk
based in tipton

Absolute amazing service

BMW use them for their wheel refurb work

cant fault them at all, ive had 5 wheels done by them over the years and they have always been
helpful
professional
friendly
quick
affordable

 

[cj10jeeper]

I can recommend a top level refurber in Lichfield. Doing something for me right now as part of a special project.

Happy to connect you up if it's not too far.

As Alan notes - cheap wheels, crap tyres - recipe for disaster on a 155mph car. Quality aftermarket and good tyres are a different game, but way morte than a refurb.

Agreed, OEM spec at least. Which is the odd thing. The ebay auctions I have seen seem to be offering wheels and OEM spec tyres (except for the sizes are larger than my current wheels - I need to research what AlanJ said about these also being OEM options) - set of 4 for 3-400 depending on the auction. I assume a wheel repair is about £100 each. Never had to have wheel's done before so not sure.

Re the refurber in Lichfield - what sort of price for all panel swirl removal - no major issues to deal with? The car I bought is a just for fun car 6 years old so I don't want to spend too much on it - I'd rather keep any large money for my next major purchase. I realise you get what you pay for so my budget is not silly, just capped.

Ask yourself what you're getting in terms of a set of wheels and tyres for £75 to £100 each, when a single OEM Brigestone RFT is £200 and a non runflat £100 - tyres alone!!!

Refurb - I think you're mixing up terms here. Refurb is on the wheels and that I can get done for you. Tell me the type of wheel and I'll get a price. Panels, sorting the paint, polishing, swirl remover is generally called 'detailing'. I suggest you buy some gear and DIY. If you want drop by my house and do it free of charge with my equipment and free tuitiopn thrown in.

 

[spanna2000]

MIne are 103's - which I see from the OE specs are the standard fit 3.0SE tyres on pre-facelift cars.

I now see what AlanJ means about mixed front/rear tyres being a OE option - the spec list shows "107 with mixed tyres" as an option and similar for 108s - although I need to do some more searching to find out the OE mixed tyre specs.

Good point cj10jeeper - you get what you pay for and my gut feel is to buy brand new and have traceable history. Even so, there is a hint of perhaps being a fool not to take up a sale offer from the guys that have move up to larger wheels and are offloading their older wheels at ebay's market rate. I was less interested in the fact they come with tyres than the suggestion that the wheels themselves might be cheaper than a refurb.

I am going to pay a visit to smart care repair (thanks T400 - I had found them in my searches but did not have a recommendation) as they are local and I expect a viewing is going to be necessary to get a real price. I'll let you all know how I get on.

Thank you for your generous offer cj10jeeper but my success rate with all things "craft" is fairly poor and I've pretty much decided at this stage in my life to leave those things to the professionals, at least for the major work. I can't imagine the damage I would do with a machine polisher in hand. I think you'd want to shoot your student. I will be doing all the maintenance work myself but I'm time and skill limited for doing the first repair. I think this car was machine washed very frequently by its original owner - it was "well looked after" but the car wash has damaged every surface and its the work of several days to put it right.

 

[spanna2000]

Well, the wheels are booked into smartcarerepair - I'll do some before and after photos.

The car is booked in for paint correction the following weekend with Midlands Detailing - I'll get before and after for that too. I have my fingers crossed for some good weather following that.

Regards
S.

 

[AlanJ]

Well, the wheels are booked into smartcarerepair - I'll do some before and after photos.

The car is booked in for paint correction the following weekend with Midlands Detailing - I'll get before and after for that too. I have my fingers crossed for some good weather following that.

Regards
S.

Hope it's all done to your satisfaction.

 

[spanna2000]

Well, the alloys are back and I am very pleased with the results. They look a little out of place when the rest of car is in need of its full detail but it will have to wait for a week for that.

Before Photos are not so comprehensive but this shows the type of damage

And after:

I've got to sort out the BMW roundels in the centre. Any recommendations?

Just looking at those photos it looks as though I may have a problem with the markings from the balancing weights.

 

[mmm-five]

I've got to sort out the BMW roundels in the centre. Any recommendations?

The new versions from BMW look a lot better than the old ones. The metal BMW badge wraps around the new ones, rather than sitting on top.