fuchs refurbishment

[medazzling]

I know I am leaving myself open to abuse here as this subject has been listed before but I have been unable to find direct answers to my questions.

My fuchs are just starting to show signs of corrosion/paint chipping and I am interested in getting them refurbed over winter. The car rarely goes out in the rain and certainly wouldn't go out during salt season. A few questions please:

- My wheels rims look to be satin/shiny (more towards shiney but definately not chrome like) which after a good clean looks ok until you get closer. What kind of finish do you think this is? I understand there are several ways of leaving the final rim finish, any recomendations?.
- Centres are black with some marking, once again I believe there are various paint finshes? The car is not heavily used and kept in garage, any recomendations on paint finishes?
- Approx what cost per wheel am I likely to find assuming I deliver/collect and the tyre needs removing and refitting by refurbisher?
- Any recommended companies in the West London area (Diamond Styling was listed on the Porsche site?) Experiences?

Feel free to have a dig at my request again, but some advice in between would be welcomed !

Cheers
Darren

 

[Andy Tims]

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=89471&mpage=1&key=&#89784

 

[Guest]

Darren,

Invest in a tub of Vaseline and possibly new wheel nuts, and/or a permanent marker. After that if you still have a concours craving there are many recommended outlets who will relieve you of £75 per wheel for re-furbishment.

Brian.

 

[medazzling]

I agree on the vaseline, its great for all kinds of trim refreshing.

Different thread I guess but I have heard a few people mention Woolies leather care treatment as being excellant as well, really refreshes leather colouring without looking like it has been painted! Bit more expensive process at about £45 per car but worth it.

Andy - thanks for the thread on wheels above. Knew it was there somewhere but couldn't locate it.

Any other new comments or thoughts still welcome.

Cheers
Darren

 

[oliver]

Vaseline?

How does that retore wheels?

 

[medazzling]

Perhaps to use the word restore is a bit misleading, revive might be more accurate.

Vaseline is excellant for reviving slightly oxidised/flat paint. I have used it on fuch centres and some of the matt black edgings etc on the car. I have read many similar reports by people doing the same with equal success. I think the first time I read it, it was by someone who had used it on the black cross over bar on his Targa. Tried it - great!

General view is light covering, then left 24hrs and wiped of. Perhaps others can add there thoughts on this to support me as I am a novice compared to a lot of the people out there it seems!

Cheers
Darren

 

[plhorner]

Vaseline is great, however, even when the residue is wiped off its still picks up a lot of brake dust. If you go down that route, have a second sponge ready for cleaning the wheels when you wash the car as it really makes a mess.
HTH

 

[Guest]

Vaseline is used to "restore" the silver anodised part of the wheel. The centres are simply black paint (Wurth flat black satin), so you restore the centres like any paint finish - T-Cut, polish, wax etc.

The vaseline seems to feed the anodised finish. It is particularly helpful in getting rid of the milky residue/stain that often afflicts the anodised portion after washing with slightly acidic wheel cleaners (ie most wheel cleaners).

Regarding refurbishers, you need to be aware that very few will actually re-anodise. They instead machine the anodised finish off and polish the underlying metal. This can be left unfinished and will require polishing with a metal polish on a regular basis - I have 2 wheels with this finish. It may also be clear coated to give a finish which looks very much like the original but the clearcoating will lift around any blemish or stone chip and soon looks tatty - I have two wheels with this finish. You can also powdercoat clear for a more durable finish similar in appearance to anodising. The factory anodised finish requires very little maintenance as long as you clean regularly and ensure you use a ph neutral cleaner and maybe once a year rub a little Vaseline into the finish - I have 6 wheels with this finish and prefer it to the others.

The only place I know that offers re-anodising is thru Nick's site www.early911.co.uk. I am having 4 wheels refurbed in RSR pattern thru him shortly. It is more expensive (£150 per wheel in round numbers) but they re-anodise the whole wheel face.

HTH
Richard

 

[Chris_911]

Also try Biagio Chrzanowski

a.chrzanowski@ntlworld.com

Looking to get him to do my wheels in a few weeks. Recommendation from the DDK BBS.

 

[lesworth]

I shall give the vaseline a try as my wheels look a little flat. In particular, the plastic centre caps are now grey rather than black. Can these be painted and if so, does anyone have a recommendation?

 

[plhorner]

I think you'll find the centre caps are alloy rather than plastic.

 

[Guest]

I think I know Biagio. I bought some mint 7*16 fuchs from him.
He frequently advertises on Ebay and lives in Northants. Several show winning Vdubs have polished fuchs done (by hand) by him.

 

[Jacob]

ORIGINAL: plhorner

I think you'll find the centre caps are alloy rather than plastic.

I have seen some after market centre caps for £20 for all four corners - I guessed at that price they must of been plastic - or sh1te[]

 

[plhorner]

ORIGINAL: Jacob

ORIGINAL: plhorner

I think you'll find the centre caps are alloy rather than plastic.

I have seen some after market centre caps for £20 for all four corners - I guessed at that price they must of been plastic - or sh1te[]

For £20 I think you guess right. Whilst at Brands for the festival I was looking at crested centres for mine, nearly fell over when I found out the price - £140 However, I did find replacement std. items that were definitely alloy and they were £40 per set.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: lesworth

IIn particular, the plastic centre caps are now grey rather than black. Can these be painted and if so, does anyone have a recommendation?

Has anybody done this succesfully, will a can from Halfords do the job??