Diamond Cut Wheel Repairer in Devon?

[glospete]

My wife got too close to a kerb today and managed to hit it with the front near-side wheel. Lots of digs and marks across about 90 degrees of the wheel - see pics. Does anybody have a suggestion for a good wheel repairer who can handle these S-Line diamond cut wheels in the Devon area please? Or would a new wheel be cheaper - any idea how much one is?

 

[veeeight]

A new wheel is in the order of £500-600 from the dealer.

A refurb is around £120.

 

[glospete]

Thanks veeeight - so a refurb seems the most cost effective route. Now all I have to do is find a repairer in Devon!

 

[veeeight]

Or send and return service:
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/finally-happened-grr.234577/

 

[Wondering Soul]

Got recommended a company called 'Pristine Alloy Wheels' by my local dealer (Plymouth Audi). Said average cost is around £80-120 per wheel but haven't got round to getting a quote for two of mine yet. Was mentioned in the topic that veeeight just posted I think!

 

[glospete]

Got recommended a company called 'Pristine Alloy Wheels' by my local dealer (Plymouth Audi). Said average cost is around £80-120 per wheel but haven't got round to getting a quote for two of mine yet. Was mentioned in the topic that veeeight just posted I think!

That's interesting as Plymouth Audi are part of the same group as my dealer Exeter Audi (Marshalls). I sent an email to Pristine yesterday evening so I'll see what they say. I'm going to Dunstable in October to see relatives so might be able to deliver it to Milton Keynes then. Luckily I have a set of winter wheels so could swap to them a bit earlier than I planned. I'm just a bit nervous letting a tyre fitter loose on my wheel to remove and refit the tyre in case he damages the edge - or am I being paranoid?

 

[Wondering Soul]

Cool.

Would be interested to know what they get back to you with as far as a quote goes, as your damage isn't nearly as bad as mine. I'm missing metal on one wheel !

 

[NATOuk]

Are the S-Line alloy wheels diamond cut? They didn't look it to me when I saw them last

 

[veeeight]

Those in post #1 are part diamond cut, the entire rim and part of the spokes.

 

[veeeight]

I'm just a bit nervous letting a tyre fitter loose on my wheel to remove and refit the tyre in case he damages the edge - or am I being paranoid?

@glospete - Obviously, I'm not as paranoid as you, but

I recently had a puncture. Having attended to that temporarily, I drove around, until I found a tyre place that had

Plastic lower jaws on the machine (instead of metal)
Plastic upper roller on the machine (instead of metal)

Spoke to the supervisor, showed him my alloy which was unmarked before the work
Asked them to please take care on the machine
Inspected the allow after they had finished

The time the alloy is at most risk is:
Breaking the bead when the tyre is vertical on the machine
Damage to the rim from the roller, plastic/composite roller is better than metal (horizontal)
Damage from the hand tool used to ease the bead off the rim (horizontal)

If your alloy has spokes that are proud from the rim - this is when its most risky. The carelessness of the fitter can easily mark the spokes with the hand tool

And the place that I found with plastic jaws and plastic rollers? Kwik-Fit
Yes, there are horror stories about K-F - but it's all down to the skill and attention of the fitter.


So no, I'm not as paranoid as you, and there's nothing to worry about

 

[Ignition1]

I had mine recently repaired (all 4 in fact) - car was out of action for a week as they had to "send them off to a specialist".

I feel your pain with the scratches. It's all I could look at. Staring at them in disgust and shame.

 

[glospete]

@glospete - Obviously, I'm not as paranoid as you, but

I recently had a puncture. Having attended to that temporarily, I drove around, until I found a tyre place that had

Plastic lower jaws on the machine (instead of metal)
Plastic upper roller on the machine (instead of metal)

Spoke to the supervisor, showed him my alloy which was unmarked before the work
Asked them to please take care on the machine
Inspected the allow after they had finished

The time the alloy is at most risk is:
Breaking the bead when the tyre is vertical on the machine
Damage to the rim from the roller, plastic/composite roller is better than metal (horizontal)
Damage from the hand tool used to ease the bead off the rim (horizontal)

If your alloy has spokes that are proud from the rim - this is when its most risky. The carelessness of the fitter can easily mark the spokes with the hand tool

And the place that I found with plastic jaws and plastic rollers? Kwik-Fit
Yes, there are horror stories about K-F - but it's all down to the skill and attention of the fitter.


So no, I'm not as paranoid as you, and there's nothing to worry about

Oh that's alright then !! Now I'm even more worried - thanks for nothing veeeight Ha Ha
Sorry to hear about your Haldex - it'll never happen to a 1.4 though!

 

[glospete]

I know I'm mad but I've ordered a new wheel from Audi and they will fit my current tyre onto it FOC next Friday. Then I take the damaged wheel to South West Wheels in Exeter and they will send it to Pristine Wheels in Milton Keynes to have it made better - £90 including VAT. Then I've always got a "new" wheel ready for when my wife/I do it again LOL

 

[veeeight]

You're not alone, @Pulp84 did the same when he dropped his S3 alloy through clumsiness.

What price OCD

(I will now own up to a spare 8P S3 Rotor alloy sitting in my garage for that very reason, I got a used but unmarked OE alloy off eBay for £200 - but obviously yours is much rarer so that route isn't open to you!)

Which reminds me, must sell mine!

 

[Ignition1]

I know I'm mad but I've ordered a new wheel from Audi and they will fit my current tyre onto it FOC next Friday. Then I take the damaged wheel to South West Wheels in Exeter and they will send it to Pristine Wheels in Milton Keynes to have it made better - £90 including VAT. Then I've always got a "new" wheel ready for when my wife/I do it again LOL

Nice.

Looking at your signature you have Park Assist? I would use that wherever I can if I had it spec'd!

Though front wheel scratch sounds like she turned into a space to park along the curb rather than reversing into it. I've always thought there would be a useful assist for that as well.

Another assist I thought of is one to take you out of a space or a driveway and onto the road. In some places it can be tight to exit (other cars parking too close etc.) or some driveways are difficult to exit if you turn onto a road at a right angle. Perhaps for another discussion.

 

[glospete]

Nice.

Looking at your signature you have Park Assist? I would use that wherever I can if I had it spec'd!

Though front wheel scratch sounds like she turned into a space to park along the curb rather than reversing into it. I've always thought there would be a useful assist for that as well.

Another assist I thought of is one to take you out of a space or a driveway and onto the road. In some places it can be tight to exit (other cars parking too close etc.) or some driveways are difficult to exit if you turn onto a road at a right angle. Perhaps for another discussion.

Nope - she was driving along a narrowish lane and just got too close to the granite kerb! Park Assist wouldn't have helped I'm afraid to say. Yes, Kerb Assist should be the next feature on cars! BMW 7 Series has remote parking and exit on it (from a smartphone) - but a ****** if the guy next to you puts his 7 Series too close to yours and you cant get into your car.

 

[veeeight]

We'll surely then you just get your smartphone out and reverse it without having to get into it?

 

[glospete]

Yes but what about the guy next to you who returns to his car (which doesn't have self-parking) and can't get into his?

 

[veeeight]

Sunroof?

 

[glospete]

That's just silly
Better to leave your handbrake off and then just pull your car out of the space - or is that even more silly?

 

[veeeight]

What if you left it in gear or "P"

Of course, if it was a hatchback, you could crawl in through the loadspace.

If it were a Saloon, you'd be snookered.

Didn't this actually happen to @h5djr in Germany ?

 

[glospete]

Didn't this actually happen to @h5djr in Germany ?

If someone did that to me I think my short fuse would explode and the perpetrator might just find his car with 4 flat tyres!

 

[M1ke H]

I know I'm mad but I've ordered a new wheel from Audi and they will fit my current tyre onto it FOC next Friday. Then I take the damaged wheel to South West Wheels in Exeter and they will send it to Pristine Wheels in Milton Keynes to have it made better - £90 including VAT. Then I've always got a "new" wheel ready for when my wife/I do it again LOL

And another one here.....

Four wheels on the car and a spare (repaired) in the garage (10 spoke titanium)

 

[glospete]

And another one here.....

Four wheels on the car and a spare (repaired) in the garage (10 spoke titanium)

Oh that's a relief that I'm not the only loony person on this forum

 

[glospete]

I know I'm mad but I've ordered a new wheel from Audi and they will fit my current tyre onto it FOC next Friday. Then I take the damaged wheel to South West Wheels in Exeter and they will send it to Pristine Wheels in Milton Keynes to have it made better - £90 including VAT. Then I've always got a "new" wheel ready for when my wife/I do it again LOL

Yep today I was changing my summer wheels to my winter wheels and whilst cleaning one of the 18" S-Line wheels it fell over on the drive and marked a few "spokes". I couldn't believe how soft the metal must be. Now I don't propose to get it repaired (yet) but I seem to recall someone saying how to make a DIY repair using fine wet and dry or something like that. Can anyone point me to the thread as I've searched and can't find anything. Or any other suggestions to alleviate the pain?

 

[glospete]

Anyone?

 

[veeeight]

but I seem to recall someone saying how to make a DIY repair using fine wet and dry or something like that. Can anyone point me to the thread as I've searched and can't find anything.

@glospete

Here you go

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/i-could-cry.245007/#post-2478085

I recommend Würth Automotive Lacquer if you're going to go down this DIY route.

 

[wiggsy]

I feel the pain mine did my rear left coming out a side road? How the hell do you manage that?

Wife - errrrrm how much do you love?
Me- why?
Wife - I need to tell you something?
Me- you better not of kerb my f..King alloy....
Wife- standing 8count... (Only kidding about the violence)