Pretorias color change

[Booth11]

A bit late now but have a read of this thread with pics of the backs of the spokes stamped. Some pics missing due to stupid Photobucket but some still there. 

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/14809-how-to-identify-a-genuine-19-inch-pretoria-alloy/

They can look very different in certain lights.  But something about the coulor and finish of your newly aquired Prets looked a little odd but now you know the truth about them being refurbed but they don't look the oem colour.   It's probably irrelevant but if you have access to Flickr there's loads of pics of my Prets in varying lights (on the car).  In later pic the two Lepsons refurbed ones exactly match the originals except the finish is a higher quality that the factory finish!   https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/

[scanesare]

Thanks for that, would have maybe helped if I had come across it a bit earlier and so could bargain the price a bit since they were refurbished. Wheels are genuine though.

Not a real issue now as I just came back from the tire shop. So 3 wheels needed between 20-25gr. of weights to be balanced, which I think is well within limits for non damaged wheels and one was absolutely perfect (lol, could that be the curbed one?). Obviously we didn't put any weights on but since we confirmed no issues were present I took them straight to the paint shop. Should be ready in a couple of weeks.

[scanesare]

After 3 weeks I got the wheels back, sand blasted and powder coated:






They look ok i think, not as glossy as I expected (in the photo they look glossier due to the light) but on the inside cylindrical area from close enough one can notice an "orange-skin" pattern (more visible in last photos. Somehow it's more in the looks than in the actual texture, that one feels rather flat. And on the contrary, the spokes are very flat, weird.

I also checked their authenticity according to Booth's instructions in the link above, they seem legit, "Borbet", "VW" all the other markings are there:

[Booth11]

Are you happy with them?  They look very orange peely.  Even the spokes have the orange peel effect to a lesser degree.  They’ll match VW notorious orange peel bodywork paint.

If they were mine, I would not be happy with that finish at all.

 

[scanesare]

Are you happy with them?  They look very orange peely.  Even the spokes have the orange peel effect to a lesser degree.  They’ll match VW notorious orange peel bodywork paint.

If they were mine, I would not be happy with that finish at all.

As I said I merely find them ok, meaning that even though I'd like a better finish obviously, I can accept them on car. Biggest issue is I'm abroad in a region where I have not any "inside" info about shops and their quality or people that are usually into this kind of stuff to give any tips so, going somewhere else (if I ever found something else close) i could end up with a similar result. And honestly, all that effort I've made sourcing the rims, the shop, arranging everything using time I couldn't normally spare has made me become fed up all-together with the whole subject to bother any more. I now just want my summer tires to finally arrive, mount them without any further issues and drive the car with something stickier and more exciting than my winter Michelins which have been on since November...

Should have sticked strictly to glossy black offers but they were just not available for so many months so when that silver set showed up i thought i could get the same result more or less by powder coating. Lesson learned and life moves on, i think when tires are mounted and on the car it will be much less noticeable.

[mcmaddy]

A blind man on a galloping horse probably wouldn't notice them but if they were mine I wouldn't accept them. Could always run with them and see how they go and get them redone at a different place.

[scanesare]

A blind man on a galloping horse probably wouldn't notice them but if they were mine I wouldn't accept them. Could always run with them and see how they go and get them redone at a different place.

Lol, i like the comparison, shoot! 

They didn't look as bad in the painter's premises although that was inside not the brightest room. When I got back and put them under direct light in the garage it's where all the weak areas showed up clearly. As I said, I would probably put them on the car and I feel they'd look ok especially when fully mounted with tires on but right now I might pay the painter another visit on Wednesday and see what they have to say and if they think they can do any better this time

[mcmaddy]

You might find when the tyres are put on that the edges of the rims might chip or flake. Put some more pics up after you get your tyres fitted.

[scanesare]

You might find when the tyres are put on that the edges of the rims might chip or flake. Put some more pics up after you get your tyres fitted.

With such a thick paint layer I doubt it    but I will post the final pics with tires on of-course. Took them out in normal daylight yesterday and in up-right position for another inspection and their look was much more palatable, those photos directly under my garage spotlights really exaggerate the weaknesses so we'll see how the end results looks like.

[scanesare]

Finally... Michelin PS 4S arrived and fitted without extra issues, and once on the car it's exactly as I thought, I have already forgotten about the orange-peel.

"Roses are red, violets are blue, Clubsport with Prets is a dream come true"  Excited is an understatement...