mechanics.trade
Alloy wheel refurbishment
Refurbishing an alloy wheel strips the damaged finish back, repairs the kerb damage underneath and refinishes the wheel.
What alloy refurbishment means
Most are powder coated, which is a tough baked finish. Diamond cut wheels, which have a bright machined face, need a lathe to recut and can only be done a few times before the face is too thin.
What the job covers
- Kerb damage repair and refinishing
- Full powder-coat refurbishment
- Diamond-cut face restoration
- Colour change and custom finishes
- Buckled wheel straightening
When you might need it
- Kerb rash along the rim from parking.
- The lacquer is lifting or the finish has gone milky, which lets water under it.
- A vibration at speed that balancing has not cured, which can mean the wheel is buckled.
What it costs, and what changes the price
Typically £60 to £150 per wheel.
- Powder coating costs less than diamond cutting.
- Larger wheels cost more, and a full set usually costs less per wheel than doing one.
- A buckle needs straightening first, which is priced separately.
How long it takes
Usually two to three days for a set, because the finish has to cure. Some mobile repairers do a single kerbed rim in a few hours.
Common questions
Is refurbishing cheaper than replacing?
Usually, and it keeps the original wheel, which matters on older or less common cars where a matching replacement is hard to find.
How many times can a diamond cut wheel be recut?
Two or three, typically. Each cut removes a little metal from the face. A refurbisher will tell you if a wheel has had enough.
Will a repaired wheel be as strong?
A refinish does not affect strength. A crack is different, and most reputable firms will decline to weld a cracked wheel.