GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: JP2021 on 15 May 2021, 10:09
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I've seen a few internet discussions regarding the pro's and con's of diamond cut refurbs and powder coating refurbs, but nothing concerning powder coating diamond cut alloys. My experience with diamond cut wheels is like many, not good, as they just don't seem fit for purpose when it comes to durability. So, should I get my diamond cut alloys refurbed, or get them powder coated? If powder coated, would it be possible to copy the same design/colours? Looking at the attached photograph, do you think I'm being too precious and should leave them as they are (all four wheels are of a similar condition)? Any thoughts/suggestions gratefully received.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DyP426GN/Front-Passenger-Wheel.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HVjkzQB0)
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100% agree on the durability issues associated with diamond cut alloys - I dislike them with a passion!
There are one or two forum members who’ve had their diamond cut alloys refurbished in a two colour paint / powder coat finish to replicate the diamond cut appearance without the white worm issues associated with diamond cut wheels. However, refurbishing in a two tone paint / powder coat finish is likely to be quite a bit more expensive getting them done in a single colour; once the first colour has been applied, there’s lots of precision masking up required before the second colour can be applied to the parts that are currently diamond cut. That precision masking up is likely to be quite a time consuming process, and time is money to wheel refurb companies. Additionally, I don’t think all wheel refurb companies would do a two tone paint / powder coat finish because it is a relatively time consuming, labour intensive process.
I’ve seen pictures on various forums of Santiago and Negaro (mk7 GTD) alloys refurbished in a single colour - anthracite / gun metal colour - and IMHO that colour works well with a Tornado Red car. Here’s a set on a Diamond Black GTI;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=278775.0
Edit; there’s a picture of a Tornado Red mk7 GTD in post #12 in the discussion thread at the link below where the Diamond cut Nogaro alloys have been refurbished in a single colour (anthracite grey), and the white GTD in post #66 the OEM Nogaro’s have been refurbished in Audi Grey.
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/new-gtd-owner-from-northern-ireland.345425/
Edit no.2; Here’s the discussion thread where forum member GolfTi has their diamond cut Austin alloys refurbished in a two tone powder coat finish to replicate the original diamond cut finish. Cost last year was £140 per wheel - that compares to around £80+VAT per wheel for a good quality single colour paint / powder coat refurb or £100+VAT for diamond cut on a 19” alloy (Lepsons prices; https://www.lepsons.com/prices/)
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=286595.msg2622409#msg2622409
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(https://i.postimg.cc/PrPb2jBG/IMG-0678.png)
Bought my car with painted diamond cut wheels.
I'd say maybe consider a diamond cut refurb once (I believe they can only be refurbed once anyway?). Then after that get them painted something different. Once they're painted it makes it a lot easier for them to be repaired/touched up
I also think diamond cut wheels are useless and should be scrapped. The negatives far outweigh the positives for me and I'm terrified in case one gets damaged at their prices
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Having see a few diamond cut refurbs recently at my local refurbisher, my summary is as follows:
I'd stick with diamond cut on the Santiagos I don't think they lend themselves that well to being a full single colour, and can look cheap when done so. If I were doing it I'd have diamond cut with Aston martin sparkly grey replacing the gloss black, same with Brescias or Cadiz alloys. I'd definitely ask your refurber if they can do a two-tone paint with silver on the front and grey on the back, at least you get half your desired look.
That being said I did see a nice set of Santiagos done in a standard Pretoria gloss grey colour and it did look well against a white car.
I'm a fan of diamond cut alloys but dislike their durability hence why I've always removed mine before they got whiteworm for painted alloys or refurbed them a full colour for winter use.
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I think those Santiago which have been powdered on the black GTI look really good.
Diamond cut look good too, right up to the point the laquer gets compromised then you know the inevitable going to happen, then they look bloody awful.
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I think those Santiago which have been powdered on the black GTI look really good.
Diamond cut look good too, right up to the point the laquer gets compromised then you know the inevitable going to happen, then they look bloody awful.
I think they look good powder coated too.
On my last car I took the diamond cut alloys off and fitted a set of powder coated alloys shortly after getting the car. Those wheels were on the car for nearly 4.5 years and in spite of going through 4 winters they looked pretty much the same as they did 4.5 years earlier when they were new. I doubt the same could’ve been said about the factory diamond cut alloys if I’d left them on the car.
I put the diamond cut alloys back on the car just before I sold it. The powder coated alloys sold within 4 days of advertising them - the buyer wanted them as they were fed up with the white worm issues on their diamond cut wheels………………..
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I put the diamond cut alloys back on the car just before I sold it. The powder coated alloys sold within 4 days of advertising them - the buyer wanted them as they were fed up with the white worm issues on their diamond cut wheels………………..
*Notes down - Hide diamond cuts, buy nice BBS to be 'economical' incase wife asks* :wink: It was the same with the old polished lip alloys had to break out the autosol every wash!
If you could guarantee diamond wouldn't white worm we'd all stick with the factory options, that being said if the OP runs winter alloys the diamond should last.
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If you could guarantee diamond wouldn't white worm we'd all stick with the factory options, that being said if the OP runs winter alloys the diamond should last.
Agree, I could probably live with the ‘bling’ looks if we knew for certain they wouldn’t suffer from white worm if looked after.
Winter alloys would be a solution - it’d be interesting to know if white worm is an issue in those countries where winter tyres are mandatory; most owners will run their winter tyres on steel wheels rather than just swap the tyres on their diamond cut alloys.
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Technically diamond cut alloys don’t need to be lacquered, but you have to protect them regularly with a sealant or other protector. Whiteworm is a problem with the lacquer (not helped by how well lacquer bonds to the diamond cut finish) so not applying it after a refurb is an option.
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What about a coating of clear plasti dip on top of the diamond cut finish to act as a sacrificial layer?
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Get yourself some winter beaters like I did, diamond cut really isn't that bad.
Had these and a set of Brescia's on mine in rotation for a while now, no white worm at all so far.
(https://i.postimg.cc/J4bT0ZSW/winters.jpg)
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What design are those wheels and if you don't mind me asking, where did you get them and how much? What's the majority opinion...... would powder coating my oem stock wheels put off potential buyers of the car in the future?
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What design are those wheels and if you don't mind me asking, where did you get them and how much? What's the majority opinion...... would powder coating my oem stock wheels put off potential buyers of the car in the future?
They’re 18” Belvedere’s - they’re lightweight and quite a rare alloy (they’re the standard alloys on the mk7 GTI Clubsport and mk7.5 GTI TCR).
https://www.kunzmann.de/shop/en/wheels-18-inch-rims-belvedere-vw-golf-7-vii-gti-genuine-volkswagen.htm
Powder coating OEM diamond cut alloys might put off some buyers; I think it would depend on who you were selling to - IMHO it might have an impact on part exchange value if you were trading in against another car at a VW dealership but probably not if trading in at a non VW dealership or if selling privately.
I’ve always kept my OEM diamond cut alloys and I buy a second, more durable set of wheels that I run on the car all year round. The diamond cut alloys go back on the car when the time comes to sell it. If my second set of wheels don’t fit my next car then I sell them to recoup some of the purchase cost; there always seems to be a demand for good quality, well cared for used alloys and I’ve never had any issues selling them.
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Good advise, see where you're coming from. As my GTi is a 2014 plate, when I do come to sell I'd imagine it'd be privately as I doubt if the trade-in value a main dealer would offer would be anywhere close to a private sale. With that said, perhaps the powder coating route might be the way to go, although I still feel some indecision in my thoughts. Those Belvedere's look great, but looking at the price in the link, may be a touch out of my price range.
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You can get a used set on Ebay for around £1,300, they're what I'm trying to get to be my winter set as they look easy cleaned! Failing that I'll get a standard used set of 18in gti/gtd/R alloys and factor a refurb into the cost for winter since I have tyres.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154398410716?hash=item23f2dcc7dc:g:S2IAAOSwYgBgZhXB
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Looking around on the net, saw these on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174725756538. They're described as Santiago 'Style' and the seller states they're VIA and JWL tested (I assume this is a safety standard aka a kite mark?). The price looks too good to be true and I think the word 'style' in the title may be the key phrase? I've also been quoted £110 a wheel by a local company with a good reputation for a diamond cut refurb of my 19" Santiago's which includes replacement wheels whilst mine are away for a week. Now my dilemma is, should I wait before a refurb as many have said the damage to my wheels are minor, go for the diamond cut refurb, go for a powder coat, or invest in the wheels on eBay and keep my Santiago's as a second set that I'll get refurbed in the future - any thoughts gratefully received!
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I say this as the owner of a set of Reifnitz replica wheels. The JWL mark appears frequently on wheels manufactured in China and is actually the Japanese safety mark. I am unsure of its authenticity. I believe this is the case for the VIA mark too. I think Exonian has commented on this recently too. You pays your money you takes your choice.
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If you think OEM Alloys white work badly, the aftermarket copies are destroyed after 3 months in winter. If you're considering buying a set of 18's to use as beaters why not get a set of Pretoria styles for the same price?
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If you think OEM Alloys white work badly, the aftermarket copies are destroyed after 3 months in winter. If you're considering buying a set of 18's to use as beaters why not get a set of Pretoria styles for the same price?
Agree. The quality of finish on some of the cheap aftermarket replicas is quite poor - especially some of the Chinese copies. I wouldn’t replace a set of OEM diamond cut alloys with a set of cheap diamond cut replicas if the main reason for replacing the OEM alloys was white worm corrosion.
You can get a set of four 18” Pretoria replicas from CM Wheels for £480 in gloss gum metal, gloss black or quartz silver. Link to the gunmetal version below;
https://cmwheels.com/product/18-vw-golf-r-pretoria-style-wheels-gloss-gun-metal-vw-audi-5x112/
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I think there's a forum discount from CM Wheels as well I think it's maybe 10%? May have to phone up at ask though.
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Had my Santiago’s powder coated a couple of years ago, don’t regret it,
(https://i.postimg.cc/wBtvCBVp/90-D663-CE-71-F3-43-D3-9-A05-AA5-C22-EF9-E10.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qtT4n4Sb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fRqyqdYC/C1-E6-EF18-65-F7-4-E61-93-F3-5-C4899-B9-A2-E7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bZbqssCS)
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Had my Santiago’s powder coated a couple of years ago, don’t regret it,
Nice; they look really good, and the colour is spot on in my opinion :cool:. That’s how should have come from the factory - or at least VW should have offered it as an option.
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Those powder coated Santiago's on your white GTi look fantastic. Reckon they'd look great on my Tornado Red GTi, anyone have any photo's of such a combo? What's the exact colour?
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Those powder coated Santiago's on your white GTi look fantastic. Reckon they'd look great on my Tornado Red GTi, anyone have any photo's of such a combo? What's the exact colour?
Not a GTI or Santiago’s, but there’s a Tornado Red GTD with anthracite / gunmetal coloured Nogaro alloys at the second link in my first post on page one of this discussion thread. That’ll give you a good idea of what the grey alloys / red car combination looks like on a performance mk7 Golf.
IMO, anthracite / gunmetal alloys work well with most paint colours, but I think they look best with white or red cars.
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I need to get my Brescias sorted at some point. I'm thinking powder coating. Trying to decide on a colour - there is quite a lot of black on the Brescias that give it the appearance of narrow spokes. I'm a bit concerned that other colours might just lose the detail, short of 2-tone powder coating. I've seen them done in black and they looked horrid IMO. Gunmetal might also be too dark. I love the platinum colour that Porsche offer on their 911s - not quite as bright as silver, to offer contrast with my WSM paint, but not too dark that I'd lose detail
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Those powder coated Santiago's on your white GTi look fantastic. Reckon they'd look great on my Tornado Red GTi, anyone have any photo's of such a combo? What's the exact colour?
Was a couple of years ago, think it was called black chrome done by Danum alloys in Doncaster
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Update.... I went Powder Coat!
(https://i.postimg.cc/HsXsgJqf/Santiago-Diamond.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9rXjPfFp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sgzfDjy1/Santiago-Diamond-Wide.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/56PWsMXM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3WM61x9G/Santiago-Powder.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9wpJFV6X)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SxGSnBNd/Santiago-Powder-Wide.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cvryj53t)
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Update.... I went Powder Coat!
They look great and work really well with Tornado Red IMHO. Is the colour Smoked Chrome?
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I'd say they were Smoked Chrome as this is what I decided on and what they look like to me, but the company that did the refurb call it "Bling"!
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Very smart looking!
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I do like that finish :smiley:
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I do like that finish :smiley:
Me too. It should’ve been offered as an option to the flaky diamond cut finish from the factory.
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Me too. It should’ve been offered as an option to the flaky diamond cut finish from the factory.
My local refurbisher has started doing satin gold with a diamond cut face, although we all disagree with the durability of diamond cut I think they would look very smart on a white 3 door GTI, I believe only the Santiago's could pull that look off though.
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I'm planning to refurb my Austin wheels and am leaning towards powder coating. Has anyone got photos of a black Mk7 GTI with any sort of powder coated finish?
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Thought this would help those that want painted alloys but don't want to sacrifice the common two tone look.
My refurbisher I go painted the diamond cut area silver then painted the rest, then added gloss clear coat to the grey and satin clear coat to the silver area.
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0QQsYky/IMG-0487.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cKCn6F4B)
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Me too. It should’ve been offered as an option to the flaky diamond cut finish from the factory.
My local refurbisher has started doing satin gold with a diamond cut face, although we all disagree with the durability of diamond cut I think they would look very smart on a white 3 door GTI, I believe only the Santiago's could pull that look off though.
Where is your local refurbisher and any idea on price?
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Me too. It should’ve been offered as an option to the flaky diamond cut finish from the factory.
My local refurbisher has started doing satin gold with a diamond cut face, although we all disagree with the durability of diamond cut I think they would look very smart on a white 3 door GTI, I believe only the Santiago's could pull that look off though.
Where is your local refurbisher and any idea on price?
They're based in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Can't comment on the price of that work, I'd assume it would cost more than normal due to more labour involved. They're usually a lot cheaper than you expect.
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Thought this would help those that want painted alloys but don't want to sacrifice the common two tone look.
My refurbisher I go painted the diamond cut area silver then painted the rest, then added gloss clear coat to the grey and satin clear coat to the silver area.
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0QQsYky/IMG-0487.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/cKCn6F4B)
Those look brilliant! Think the Brescia would suit that sort of look
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Those look brilliant! Think the Brescia would suit that sort of look
They definitely would I've started searching for a set now :rolleyes: The same place also regularly changes the gloss black back on diamond cut alloys to a dark metallic grey to help stop the look of gloss black scratches.