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Anonymous
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Need to refurb my 108's so I've put my mates CSL's on for now. They look ok but the 108's are better. I'm hoping I might get lucky as the wheels look like they may have been split before.
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Anonymous
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I have a set of 108s sat in the garage too, cant decide if I should strip and refurb them, or just sell them as they are... Got the car on MV3s now and actually prefer them, so think they may be permanent!
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Anonymous
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I've just been very luck in that all of the bolts in the fronts have loosened off straight away. 
A note of caution!
I split my 108s without any bother and then took them to Glentyan Alloys in Linwood for a refurb.
They showed me a set of BBS split alloys from any Audi which they had recently refurbished and which had been returned because one of the wheels had failed in service. The bolts in the failed wheel had come slack and one had sheared. The wheel therefore had to be scrapped, partly because the boltholes in the wheel centre had become elongated, but also because it is virtually impossible to removed a sheared titanium bolt from an alloy rim.
The rims had apparently been split for refurbishment previously and it was suspected that the boltholes hadn't been plugged while the work was being carried out. It was also suspected that the replacement bolts fitted when the wheels were reassembled at that time were 'after-market' rather than OEM and may not have been the correct length.
They were obviously reluctant to take on the 108s so I had my MV2s refurbed instead. I haven't decided what to do with the 108s as yet.
I split my 108s without any bother and then took them to Glentyan Alloys in Linwood for a refurb.
They showed me a set of BBS split alloys from any Audi which they had recently refurbished and which had been returned because one of the wheels had failed in service. The bolts in the failed wheel had come slack and one had sheared. The wheel therefore had to be scrapped, partly because the boltholes in the wheel centre had become elongated, but also because it is virtually impossible to removed a sheared titanium bolt from an alloy rim.
The rims had apparently been split for refurbishment previously and it was suspected that the boltholes hadn't been plugged while the work was being carried out. It was also suspected that the replacement bolts fitted when the wheels were reassembled at that time were 'after-market' rather than OEM and may not have been the correct length.
They were obviously reluctant to take on the 108s so I had my MV2s refurbed instead. I haven't decided what to do with the 108s as yet.
grumps said:
You have to remember the 108s could be as old as 14yrs
with 3 different metals & a lot of wear , tear & weather . You can't expect them to come apart , be refurbed & go back together as they were when new , the threads are bound to be worn simply by corrosion .
Ive done 15-20 sets of them , they're all the same but generally you can "feel" the threads that won't tighten fully & usually that is a max of 2/3 a wheel . Bear in mind that other split rim BBS 18s have only 15 /16 rimbolts it shouldn't be a issue if the bulk tighten ok .
The main issue on loosening centres stems from whoever does the blasting not plugging the holes leaving sand in the bottom that prevents the bolt fully bedding down , the sand in time moves or breaks up subsequently leaving the centre to work loose from the rim .
I wouldn't right your set off , simply pay a bit of attention along the way
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Anonymous
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Thank you for the advice. When I say right them off, I was expecting numerous bolts to round or shear however, all 80 have loosened off.
I've never done a self refurb before so I don't know if it's better to send them off with the bolts now loosened and get them done or do a touch up job until the winter. The are in need of an immediate refurb in my eyes as the more I leave them then I think they will get to the point of no return.
I really don't have a clue as to where I'd start if I tried doing them.
I've never done a self refurb before so I don't know if it's better to send them off with the bolts now loosened and get them done or do a touch up job until the winter. The are in need of an immediate refurb in my eyes as the more I leave them then I think they will get to the point of no return.
I really don't have a clue as to where I'd start if I tried doing them.
Simon Blythe said:
You have cleared the biggest hurdle in getting them apart , leave the bolts in a mild solution of brick cleaner / white spirit to clean the heads .
Then unless you want the original finish ( which never lasts ) find a decent powdercoat place that will chemical strip as opposed to blast & look to pay around £200 / £250 max to have the 8 pieces done .
grumps said:
Heard mixed reviews about Glentyan so avoided them even though they are only 6 miles from me.
Whatever you do dont go to Powdertec next to the Kingston Bridge.
I had my X6 wheels done there and pretty much all of them had marks to the inside rim of the wheel.
Maybe the wheels were too heavy for them to move around without knocking them but not good enough.
The insides were not as smooth as I would have liked them either.
I accepted them but had to return 2 weeks later after one of the rear wheels lacquer started lifting on the face of one wheel.
They agreed it wasnt right and redone 2 of the wheels as I felt the other rear wheel had lacquer lifting from the inside rim slightly.
Got them back and the quality is just not good enough but hopefully they will stay in one piece for a couple of years.
Maybe I am too picky but I think you should be able to look at them and not find any faults.
Need to find somebody else for the winter wheels and the wheels on the Z.
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Anonymous
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I'm in south Birmingham so I'll see who's nearby.
Nictrix said:
Try Alloy Master in Port Dundas, Glasgow, they've got a really professional set up and have obviously invested heavily in equipment. They're used by Douglas Park BMW for all their refurbs.
http://www.alloy-master.co.uk
Alternatively ESP Coatings in Possilpark is very good albeit his premises are very basic and may wrongly put you off. Trevor the owner is a really good guy.
ESP
Address: 30 Stronend Street
Unit 2a
Glasgow
Lanarkshire
G22 6AR
I would definitely recommend having the wheels chemically stripped, the corrosion shot blasted and repainted. If they are painted and you unfortunately knock one fitting or removing a wheel it can be repaired quite easily. Powder coating would mean redoing the whole wheel over. As for elongated or poor threads, you can use something called helicoils, which are a size up, so tapping out a larger hole, inserting using locktite adhesive and refit using the original 7mm bolts. The helicoil won't be seen upon reassembly as the inner rim covers alll of the bolt holes.Really you should use locktite when securing all of the bolts.
If you were nearer to South Wales, I would recommend a superb guy who would do all this for about £100 a wheel! 
George
If you were nearer to South Wales, I would recommend a superb guy who would do all this for about £100 a wheel!
George
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Anonymous
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The bolts and holes are fine, they just need stripping and painting. I'm sure there are some decent guys in Brum.