Fed up with diamond cut wheel damage - pics of fully coated alternative?

Wibbly

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Managed to prang another wheel yesterday after many months of no damage to any wheels. Seriously considering having them completely coated which will both be cheaper and easier to temporarily repair yest look ok.

So for the OEM PFL s-line alloys, has anyone got a good picture of what they look like fully coated, thus hiding the diamond cut surface with paint? I'm thinking of keeping OEM colour...
 
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I'm looking to do the same this summer - have them done in a sparkle silver, not sure if i should have them powder coated or painted?
 
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A mate had something similar done with his diamond cut BMW wheels but had them all done in a satin chrome have to say they look smart and very original.
 
Yup I'll be doing the same as soon as my wife kerbs a second wheel! I get all my wheels powder coated with a shadow chrome finish.........
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Anyone got a pic of what this style of wheeel look like when completely powder coated?
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Sorry for a dumb question , but what is the advantage? Is it easier/cheaper to repair a powder coated wheel if it is learned?
 
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Sorry for a dumb question , but what is the advantage? Is it easier/cheaper to repair a powder coated wheel if it is learned?

Yes - if the diamond cut surface is damaged it can be filled and blended rather then having to remachine every diamond cut surface on a wheel lathe. I've heard the limit for refurbing a diamond cut wheel is twice due to the limited amount of material around the rim - also on an S3 wheel the diamond cut part of the spokes gets wider and starts to look obvious and non original.
 
I assume you meant can't rather than can . Ok that makes sense . I have three wheels damaged ,two only slightly . Have not bothered to have repairs yet , but interesting option .
Thks
 
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Anyone got a pic of what this style of wheeel look like when completely powder coated?
db7DZlrbAmm0iAm4Y43MfRuMVypb7Pq4ZqKdwZX3nOZZx4fERgVzBnNeNWfZHnc-ynYJ8WBwnwlM7XVYN6lNRO2Hpe0pdmmVicHHHS0iac6_kTR8A_C6KsLd2dUE55MaBH3PH7YVv0fevdRKqg8HiMnhY0GC6jlb2RnOIY6S92vykISuFmn2VfSKjRoPXz2Y3MF175rZunzNT8u6D8KD6MdjFue-iX0Mam_AozcV8tDfXVj7V5f7hE81Ahl2Ozk_bXNKFGuTRqcbQEV-gM6fih3e8U8DBHcYa6PFx-wXuh_8yNtDDr6T-JZ7-V_BAfuodDzQGpk1gU7BgQbTFz4KGww_ARAZUAp4vQLW7iIJxQi4f_JPHAbGS-n42CoKKP96SaICg_DTEfZY2BHKQVBVx68IjoiJQ7eXLzOjTA4_cr-nRzxRdjZ61wSDIUrdz0MH1EtMvP6I0yNzl9W2r-omkm8NWH8LL0DT3cUgiRErVhV5dRzI08fnxoFYt1to7cFNYuVkasNRiXZ0GErzCNWld0wAXr6UAIIhEvMQh8m8lrAW1P07jNIh-PNRjHiePGVJuYNeh9N9KSeCdDVAJhUxWWqQ1PUO8rRFP4Q4okKERbIfUgNh1FI03wfNop_AY5YYlzqgW6RkpuJdesBfP4RtSuu1lVuyv1SGsQUinMguyKM=w1773-h1329-no

Won't it look very much like it does already, minus the scratches obviously? What I meant is, you can't really see the diamond cut part on that picture as it is so it just looks all silver. If you're thinking of a different colour you could try a bit of editing in photoshop or something similar. Really it all boils down to how much you like the diamond cut part? :)
 
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Look at the spokes at 7 o'clock, that's how :p

Yes, thanks. And then with clean wheels and the sun yesterday I noticed how nicely it can catch the diamond cut surface. Oh well, problem is sooner or later I will catch them again :-(

I think I'll get them done (powder coated) when it comes to replace the tyres - and will pair the repaired wheels with tyres that provide a little better protection (and road noise!). Both the damaged wheels have been re-cut once already anyway (before my ownership), so it's a losing battle...
 
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Sorry for a dumb question , but what is the advantage? Is it easier/cheaper to repair a powder coated wheel if it is learned?

Cheaper (~ 1/2 the price I think) per wheel and you can do it as often as necessary in principle. Also, between re-coats, you can probably get a damaged coating/wheel to look better than diamond cut with a DIY/paint repair.

Diamond cut wheels the way they're done by Audi on the s-line are very exposed and likely to collect damage (little tyre protection). They look great IMHO when undamaged and certainly help to sell the cars, but are def a liability. Looking around I actually see very few diamond cut wheels on any cars that are undamaged unless they happen to have non-low profile tyres that can 'take the hit'...
 
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I also heavily curbed my rear right rim recently and the damage is very severe. I really hate how the spokes extend beyond the width of the rim itself...

so obviously repairing the machined surface (diamond cut) is more, but the question is.. how much more to make it worth repainting or powder coating all four rims?
 
repairing the machined surface (diamond cut) is more, but the question is.. how much more to make it worth repainting or powder coating all four rims?

Diamond cut can usually only be repaired twice (after which too much material has been removed my the cutting process). Seems to be around £120 per wheel depending on where you go. Power coating is around half that, as I recall. So you'd 'break even' at 2 diamond cut vs haveing all 4 'converted'. Or thereabouts.
 
Even after having diamond cuts refurbed they'll still suffer from laquer peel/ water behind after a while whereas fully painted or powdercoated wheels wont suffer the same so unless you kerb a PC or painted wheel it "should" last as long as the car if it's been done properly
 
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I had my old new a3 sline wheels done days after picking up the car.. for me I didn't like the silver against the white so I had them powder coated a bespoke colour (gloss gunmetal with a little flake) transformed the car IMHO.. #imafussybugger
 
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Now been reading power coating isn't always such a good idea as the temperatures used for curing can change the alloy and affect its strength. Assuming that is ok nonetheless, anyone got experience of the longevity of wet paint process vs. power coat on wheels?

Another advantage of wet paint process is that it can be touched up after damage, whereas a power coat cannot effectively be touched up. Or so I read.
 
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Now been reading power coating isn't always such a good idea as the temperatures used for curing can change the alloy and affect its strength. Assuming that is ok nonetheless, anyone got experience of the longevity of wet paint process vs. power coat on wheels?

Another advantage of wet paint process is that it can be touched up after damage, whereas a power coat cannot effectively be touched up. Or so I read.

We have had so many wheels refurbished for different reasons and not one has ever been powder coated, we have always used a bodyshop and it's better IMO as you get a factory paint colour.
 
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I had them powder coated a bespoke colour (gloss gunmetal with a little flake)

Not suggesting you don't religiously keep them clean ;-) but I bet that colour doesn't show brake dust too badly as well!
 
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Now been reading power coating isn't always such a good idea as the temperatures used for curing can change the alloy and affect its strength. Assuming that is ok nonetheless, anyone got experience of the longevity of wet paint process vs. power coat on wheels?

Another advantage of wet paint process is that it can be touched up after damage, whereas a power coat cannot effectively be touched up. Or so I read.

If you have them done at a proper wheel refurb place it should be ok as they should know the temps to work to.
I spoke to a tyre fitter a while ago as he had a few customers taking freshly coated wheels to him for the tyres refitting (the refurb place was behind his garage) and he had people returning with problems. The refurb place powdercoated all sorts of things (gates, railings, etc) all at the same temps where alloys needed to be done cooler as if too hot the wheels would distort/ weaken.
There's a place in Rotherham (AP tyres) that does coating and they have a few examples on display showing the different colour options, they also have spare sets of wheels/ tyres which you can borrow while yours are being done to keep you on the road.

I'd prefer to have mine painted so i could have them done in a light silver with a little metallic flake, the only powdercoated silver wheels i've seen have been flat silver
 
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I've had mine done silver.
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I've no idea mate. One of the lads at work got it done for me. They were badly kerbed beforehand.

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My PFL with anthracite.
 

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Planning on getting my after market done in this finish think they suit OEM Rims too.
 

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I had mine painted.....satin black
 
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My wheels were refurbed by Audi when i bought my car back in November. I'm assuming they use some other local company but I'm pretty sure they were resprayed and not powder coated. I took a few photos with my phone after cleaning the car today, not the best photos though.
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My wheels were refurbed by Audi when i bought my car back in November. I'm assuming they use some other local company but I'm pretty sure they were resprayed and not powder coated.

Yes, looks like it. Thanks for the photos.
 
Did you go ahead and get them done? In the same positiong with the same alloys !


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my wheels are f***ed!

I've taken a metal file to them already and filed down the damage just so is smooth, not going to bother with any filler or anything like that, I'm just going to Plastidip them black.
 
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