Steve 96C4S

You San Diegans have it good out there in Sunny California as there is a guy that can fix road wheel rash from his mobile vehicle right in your garage or driveway! (pics are of a BMW but this is merely an example)



http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/3600119-1.html


The price was "$95 for the wheel with most damage, he charged me $75 for the other wheels because they had less damage. " These are the prices from the post on my 7 series web forum. From the above link, here's how it works...
"Nathan Pittman of "Velvet Touch" Wheel Services, Inc. 760-846-0942. Here's the process:

- The wheels are never removed from the car, wheels cleaned of brake dust
- The car is jacked up a few inches
- Puts the car in Neutral so he can rotate the wheels while working on them
- With an air compressor from his truck, he sands and polishes the rim
- He polishes it and buffs it smooth, all the defects are smoothed down
- Finally he sprays on a clearcoat, he masks off the tire to avoid overspray
- He recommends that it dries for an hour and don't wash the wheels for day
- All 3 wheels were done in about 2.5 hrs

Overall, I'm very impressed with his work. He gets about 20+ calls a day so he's very busy yet, professional. He lets his work do all the talking so I'm giving him free "word of mouth, pimp service". He works on all cars not just BMWs and he has 6 other trucks in the area, working at other car dealers. He has contacts in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas that do the same type of work. He asks that you contact him and he'll provide the info. "

Can you believe this!? I had to see it to believe it... Are we just unlucky in the Northeast that we don't have people like this, or is there a company that can do this here? It's a market niche that I'd like to one day fill when I have a lot more knowledge than I have now. Anyone up for going into this business with me?

Can you imagine - getting your road rashed wheels fixed in your garage as you wait? This seems to be a dream come true... anyone like to sign up in advance to have me do YOUR wheels as you wait in the comfort of your house if I start a business here doing this!?

Kind of joking, kind of not. I want to find out more about this. I'm right, aren't I? There really ISN'T anything like this in the Northeast corridor?

Some of my 18" 993 wheels need to be fixed from pitting but I don't want to send them off due to the inconvenience factor.

Steve

Mark in Baltimore

Steve,

You mentioned this at the meet and drive and it sounds intriguing. Do you have a link with more info?

Speedraser

Definitely sounds intriguing.

Steve 96C4S

I put a call into Nathan and am awaiting a response. This looks to be a great business opportunity here for me! Now, whether I find the time to pursue it or not is questionable, but I'm looking into it. I'm starting to tire of the corporate culture in my current career (Cable TV and Internet sales for Comcast), so a change into a field I love (CARS!) is most interesting. Plus, it provides a fantastic service to fellow car nuts and would give me an opportunity to meet like minded car fiends on a daily basis!

To be continued...

Steve

SKM

Steve,

Wheel refinishers exist in all major markets. They tend to do mostly wholesale work for car dealers, just like many paintless dent removal experts. There's a steady flow of work for the dealers who need to have cars retail ready so many wheel refinishers do not bother to advertise for retail customers. If you check with your BMW or Porsche dealer, either the used car manager or the service manager can recommend some that work your area.

While this approach to wheel repair is satisfactory for many cars, it will never provide the durability of a factory finish or even some of the results provided by professional wheel refinishers who have a factory environment rather than do touch-ups in a parking lot.

JasonAndreas

Checkout Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists Inc. they do mobile onsite repair of wheels (bent, etc.) and they don't have anyone listed in Maryland.

Steve 96C4S

Thanks for the additional info on these mobile refinisher guys. I'm looking into this thoroughly now. I know there are no mobile guys in MY area right now. Maybe that will change in time.

Peace,
Steve

TYNUSKT

Steve,

The only mobile wheel guy I've heard of in MD/VA/DC is Wicked Wheels and I only know of him because he comes to BMW of Sterling I believe on Mondays to do work at their shop. Not sure if their territory runs into MD or not.

There is a place called Wheelworx and Ye Olde Wheel Shop. I think Ye Olde Wheel Shop is near Baltimore and i thought Wheelworx was out in Owings, MD. but I may be wrong. As far as I know these guys are not mobile.

Good luck. I have two wheels right now I need to get worked on.

wht993cabrio

I hear you about bailing on the "corporate culture", but you might have a tough time feeding your Porsche habit...at least for a while.