Austin Wheel Protection and Refurbishment?

[Brenbo]

I thought I would start this thread to see what others are doing to protect their 18" Austin Wheels from the elements.  Apart from using Winter Wheels, I want to know whether you are using any waxes or coatings to protect the diamond cut machine polished part of the wheel. 

The reason I ask is I have notice a couple small black specs appear on the surface of the machine polished area on one wheel which is not the obvious brake dust or tar. I have only had the car just over 2 months.

On another note I have had my first bit of damage on one wheel which was not caused by myself.  I was cleaning my car yesterday (using the method outlined on another thread on this forum) and noticed slightly larger than a thumbnail sized scour mark on the diamond cut machine polished part of one wheel.  It is not curbed as the scuff is at least halfway in towards the centre of the spoke. I was wondering whether to leave the scuff but from certain angles it is really obvious as the machine polished area shines and reflects the scuff consequently does not.

I contacted my local VW Dealer in Exeter and they tell me they send wheels to Milton Keynes to be refurbished.  However I have found a place called the polished wheel company based in Wadebridge, Cornwall which is literally 30 minutes down the road from where I live and they tell me they refurbish wheels for Audi, BMW VW etc, at other dealerships. 

Apparently it will only cost me £86.40p to have the wheel dipped in chemical to strip all paint off, then repainted black, baked and diamond cut machine polished, tyre put back on and balanced again back to standard specification as if new.  Check out the website. What do you reckon, should I go for it and get them to refurbish the wheel back to new?

If you had a thumbnail sized scour/scuff on your Austin Wheels would you have it refurbished or leave it alone and ignore it?

[monkeyhanger]

If it's a manufacturing defect then VW generally replace the wheels under warranty. Last time I had a VW with polished wheels was 16" Hockenheim's on my MK5 GT 140TDI (55). These were notorious for cosmetic corrosion "whiteworm", and I was plagued by it for not only the wheels, but the foil of the wheel centre caps and the foil of the boot lid/pivoting badge. Looks a lot like white birdsh!te when it happens, not sure how deep the corrosion penetrates or whether it is just on the surface. Normally propagates from where the clear lacquer is at its thinnest, like a sharp diamond cut edge of the wheel.

Getting the dealership to accept responsibility for it being a warranty job is hit and miss. Benfield wouldn’t touch mine as they were fearful of not getting reimbursed by VW, Pulman replaced them no bother. Suppose it is probably going to be harder (more costly/time consuming) to refurb the MK7 Austin/Nogaro wheels because of the dual paint, both clear lacquer and black shadowing paint on the inside edges.

If that thumbnail mark has damaged the seal of the lacquer coat then whiteworm will propagate, if not then you could leave it alone.

[Brenbo]

Thanks for your reply.  The scour looks similar to that of a light sanding or wire wall effect lots of close hairline scratches in a random pattern. 

I don't think it is a VW Warranty issue.  It has only just happened and it does not look like white worm or anything similar.  It looks  more like someone, somehow, has scoured or scuffed the wheel as if they were rubbing it for some reason?  Very weird, but it does definitely looks like a third party has caused it for some unknown reason. As to why they would I ave not got a clue.  Maybe there is some kind of wheel fetish going on 

Would you trust somewhere like polished wheel company to refurbish the wheel as new, or do you think I am taking chances on making the matter worse?

I could ignore the scour/scuff but It does catch your eye as an obvious defect on the spoke. 

[Johnc41]

Thanks for your reply.  The scour looks similar to that of a light sanding or wire wall effect lots of close hairline scratches in a random pattern. 

I don't think it is a VW Warranty issue.  It has only just happened and it does not look like white worm or anything similar.  It looks  more like someone, somehow, has scoured or scuffed the wheel as if they were rubbing it for some reason?  Very weird, but it does definitely looks like a third party has caused it for some unknown reason. As to why they would I ave not got a clue.  Maybe there is some kind of wheel fetish going on 

Would you trust somewhere like polished wheel company to refurbish the wheel as new, or do you think I am taking chances on making the matter worse?

I could ignore the scour/scuff but It does catch your eye as an obvious defect on the spoke.

Hi mate my austen alloy was scratched so I got a company to do it for £100 and the wheel came back perfect. They thought I was mad because it was only a scratch but it was really annoying me.
The wheel is as new

[Brenbo]

Thanks for your reply Johnc41.  I was a bit aprehensive about having it done and whether they would not have the same gloss black or machine polish (Diamond cut) the bevel on the clear metal part correct.  But to hear you have gone through a similar scenario and ended up with a perfect wheel has settled my mind.  I have booked my car in for Friday 03/01/14 and will see if they can do it for me.  If the car was a year or two old I would have probably left it.  But it is only 2 months old and I am looking after it like a baby.  It is really annoying to find a defect like this when the car is so new. I have cleaned the car every week and never saw it on the wheel before. 

What products do you use to protect the alloys from the elements? 

[Johnc41]

Thanks for your reply Johnc41.  I was a bit aprehensive about having it done and whether they would not have the same gloss black or machine polish (Diamond cut) the bevel on the clear metal part correct.  But to hear you have gone through a similar scenario and ended up with a perfect wheel has settled my mind.  I have booked my car in for Friday 03/01/14 and will see if they can do it for me.  If the car was a year or two old I would have probably left it.  But it is only 2 months old and I am looking after it like a baby.  It is really annoying to find a defect like this when the car is so new. I have cleaned the car every week and never saw it on the wheel before. 

What products do you use to protect the alloys from the elements?

To be honest mate they are very easily scratched and not the best wheels for that. My mate makes his own stuff he knows a guy that works with chemicals and he broke down everything to make great stuff. I get heat resistant wax off him for my wheels and I have to say it works a treat. Let me know how you get on mate

[Brenbo]

Thanks John.  Will let you know how it goes.  Like yourself people think I am mad as well for even thinking about getting the wheel refurbished.  I know they can easily scratch but it is just really annoying to see a small defect like that on a new car.  I will have a look around for wheel coatings.  I have heard Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour is a good alloy wheel protective coating for Machine Polished Wheels, has anyone used this stuff before and is it any good?