Wheel Damage - Need Opinions!

May be to late but when we have a damaged wheel to get repaired (I work for a car dealership) we have a few mobile rim repair guys we deal with. Always good work and they restore stuff to factory. Usually $125-$160 per wheel. Call a couple of larger dealerships and ask if they have someone they use for wheel repair?

Now it seems you are using a body shop to make repairs and a coating shop to coat it? I would just find a wheel repair guy and get them fixed by a person who does it for a living. Body shops tend not to fix rims they order new ones as it is usually being paid by an insurance company. ;)
 
Well.... all is well again!  I found a dedicated powder coating guy out in Waukesha, WI, different person than what you recommended SHO-Time, and he did a great job.  He works for a company that powder coats wheels for a living, so he was my winner.

I gotta be honest, I really really wanted a grey tone on the wheel, but he only had something that actually closely represented the stock color of the wheel on hand.  I already liked the look of the silver wheel on this color car, but that's where I look back at at like the ST's Rado Grey or something even a little darker yet.  Oh well.  It has a very slight orange peel, but whatever... it looks great to me and you only see it if you're really looking for it.  He even fixed a few flaws the wheels had on them initially.  He mentioned a metallic powder coat commonly comes out with a slight orange peel, but honestly I didn't care enough.

Funny thing, Goodyear called me today with filler content asking me how satisfied I am, and then telling me a few people in the shop said I posted up negative reviews of their shop online, facebook, etc.  Fortunately for them, I have not (yet) and this is the only semi-public forum where I have.  They can't get to this post unless they register.  I also don't know anyone that works at that shop, let alone I hardly know anyone where I live...  Too funny.  I'm going to ask him to tell me where these negative reviews are.

Overall, the second time around with the tire install I'm happy.  It sucks it had to come to this, but it's fixed.  The guy who installed the tires saw me checking out the car and asked what I thought because he did the job.  I told him he did great work.  He mentioned he put the tires on by hand, and if that is really true, that must have been a biotch!

Excuse the car... she's dirty, but the wheels are clean!  I'll get a sunny side shot later tonight.  Next project is to wax up the wheels per the powder coater's suggestion!
 
PokerMunkee said:
Looks good!

Now tint those windows! lol.  I can't drive a car without tint...

Oh you and me both!  Every time I sit in it, I can't stand factory windows.  I've got 35% in my G8, and while I'd like it darker, it still looks good and is close to WI legal limits.  I'm hoping to get that done before those ugly white flakes start flying.


SHOdded said:
Wow, came out NICE!  Finally!

Thanks!  :)  I know, right?  I can't believe how long it took to get these darn things done!
 
Haven't had much opportunity to snap a pic in sunlight because the weather has sucked and I spent about 10 hours detailing my G8 this past weekend... but here is a shot shortly after a storm passed.  I'm quite thrilled with the turnout.

Next car to get that kind of detailing treatment is the SHO... the wife's car can wait!  LOL!  Her's is leased, anyway.


Edit:

For the curious minds, I also attached pics of the G8 and the hard work I put into her.  :)
 
SHOdded said:
What's your detailing routine/equipment/products?  Can't argue with the results :thumb:

Thanks!  :)

I use a series of Meguiar's Professional products as well as a synthetic wax.  My initial routine was going to be the M205, M7, Synthetic Wax, and then M26, but I had to skip the M7.  I tested an area with it and it seems my pad was a little too abrasive and introduced micro swirls.  I used the M205 again and it removed them.  I wanted a light cutting power and the M205 was my cure all!  I've also got a Porter Cable 7424xp buffer.

I made 6 passes over my paint, doing a 50% overlap and going up / down one pass and left / right the next... and you have to take your time and not hurry!  Working in small sections (2x2 is recommended) and wiping off immediately after you're done with that section so it doesn't dry... it would suck to take off if it dried!  I taped as much off as I could, before my roll ran out, just so I minimized spots that shouldn't get wax, polish, or glaze.  I wish I could have done the glaze, but unfortunately I need a different pad.

Wax, I did the synthetic wax first since it lasts a lot longer and gives a better shine, followed by the Carnauba.
 
Good ol' 205. 

I prefer my CG products but man, if you don't have 205 sitting around, you're not really detailing.
 
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