Adamant1971

It's a good deal for powder coating if that's what you want. Good if your wheels are cast but not good if they are forged. The temps required to bake the coating on can damage the structure of the aluminum, if baked to hot. There can easily be hot spots in the oven, unless they have a really expensive unit that is well controlled.

While powder coating is more durable, if chipped it will peel off quicker. As well it may become more difficult to get your centre caps matched if they can't be baked.

Since my rims are going to require a polished lip, one wheel slightly straitened and I also want a 100% original match to the ruf speed line colour I will be going the paint route.

There are pros and cons to both methods, just make sure it's what is best for your wheel.

Adamant1971

Well I dropped them off at Carcone's today. They are going to refinish the lip in a light finish (too much rash to polish them up) and paint the rest silver to match the existing wheel colour. Plus they are going to refinish my centre caps, I just have to drill out the rivets on the emblems and then drop off the caps. Clear coat all over. $125 per wheel.

Tons of wheels in the shop, they took me back and showed me some to approve the colour for the lip. Very nice guys. Should have them back next week, will post pics.

Adamant1971

So I went to pick up my rims today, but 3 of the 4 had a minor imperfection on the polished lip. It looked like something had touched the clear coat while it was tacky.

Overall they look really good, they seemed eager to please and are going to wet-sand the three and re-clear coat them.

Stay tuned for final pictures, below is the 4th wheel that was OK.

aviography

Wheel? What wheel?

Oh damn that avatar of yours distracted me AGAIN!!

Hopefully the new clear coat will adhere well to the coats already on there, I understand the clear coats are often laid "wet-on-wet" to promote adhesion from one coat to the next coat, I suppose time will tell, do they have lifetime guarantee against peeling etc.?

As well, given where Carcone's is (Bloomington Side Road, right?), they should carefully package up the remaining 3 rims when they have been re-done and ship them to you at their expense, there is no reason why you should have to spend another two hours driving there and back again.

Adamant1971

Good question, I just called and they said their product is not put on wet as long as they wet sand between coats. Looks like they were not cured fully and the bottom three got marked from the inside flap of the box pressing on the foam, into tacky clear coat. That's why the one on top was fine. Should have them back in a few days.

lopro

that one came out great. Looks brand new. Nice

Speedyellow993

They look pretty good.

Did they offer you any discount or did you have to pay The posted prices?

Adamant1971

125 per wheel, with the refinished lips, painted centre, painted caps and clear coat over all. Pluses they fixed one slightly warped wheel (very slight).

They are done, will get them on Monday and post hi res pics of all 4.

Zookie

Thats a Awesome Deal and Work

lopro

yes I agree, not bad at all. I hope it is a perfect finish this time around. Can't wait to see pics.

Adamant1971

And look great, should get my rubber on them this week. But won't go on the car until spring.

So all in they cost my 650 on ebay and 500 for the refinish. Not bad for a sweet set of speedlines.

Adamant1971

More pics

aviography

They do look very nice!

Assume they fully refinished the wheels including the backside?

Can I ask which shop are you planning to use to mount the tires? It's always good to know a good tire shop nearby!

Adamant1971

Yes they were fully re-finished. I'm going to tires23 at Matheson and Dixie, never been there myself but was recommended by a friend that takes his STI there. I got Continental Extreme Contacts DW's for 830 taxes in and installed, not bad considering cheap thrills in Milton wanted 1100.

But I will likely have a discussion with them before they mount as I don't want even the smallest mark on these wheels.

aviography

That would be my concern too, I have stopped by this shop a couple of years ago and quickly looked around, they had quite a few alloy rims on display, but I was not so sure about their mounting equipment after watching them take off some old tires and put on new ones....., so make darn sure (and I know you will) you watch them mount some tires first and are 150% satisfied before you even take these rims out of your car!

BTW, Cheap Thrills often have, uh, cheap tires, but check their DOT date codes on the sidewall, I've seen them sell 10 year old "brand new" tires!!