[Hoops]

I know this topic has been discussed many many times over the years but....

I would like to get the X5's 20" Y-Spokes refurbed but i want to know what the best options are;

Ive used Lepsons in the past and always happy with results BUT its such a pain in the arse that you have to either leave car with them for 2-3 days OR have the wheels sent down to them - either way the car is off the road for that period of time.

I just want the wheels looking bright, shiny and brand new again - not looking to spray them a different colour or anything.

I would dearly love to use a mobile type refurbisher so that they come to the house and its done there and then etc - BUT ive no idea whether they can get as good a finish as say Lepsons would get????

Can anyone give me their thoughts? Are there any companies out there that are more local to me (Chigwell) and who are equally as good as Lepsons??

Help/Advice/Thoughts most appreciated.

[Hoops]

Has anyone heard or got any experience of J.P.Polishing on Canvey Island?

http://www.essexalloywheelrefurbishm....uk/index.html

Just spoke to the guy there and he seems very nice and knowledgeable - sounds like the wheels go through a very thorough process - quoted me £60 per wheel and will take 3/4 days.

[creepy coupe]

I can vouch for these

http://www.lepsons.com/

[ed335d]

Have you kerbed them already

May be worth asking if anyone on the X5 forum has a spare set you could borrow for a few days. Probably a good time as someone may be making the winter/summer tyre transition.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by STEVIEHOOPS

Has anyone heard or got any experience of J.P.Polishing on Canvey Island?

The problem is location - getting a boat there is a right pain in the arse .

[Em135eye]

IMO very few mobile outfits can do the job properly - they tend to just fill and paint the scuffs.

I had mine done here:

http://www.thepolishedwheelcompany.com/

Obviously no good to you as it's miles away but worth checking the techniques they use - proper chemical strip, re-paint and lacquer. The finish actually looks better than new.

Cost about £260 all in - well worth it.

I had previously used a mobile refurber with a good reputation - the wheel looked dull and the repair was obvious. It was also much harder to clean afterwards. Might have just been unlucky but the difference between that and the recent refurb was enormous.

[creepy coupe]

Have you tried your BMW dealer. On my 335i Sytners repaired them on site (only kerb rash) and the repair was first class.

[Em135eye]

My dealer uses the company I mentioned and charges about £30 mark up per wheel - they all sub it out. Go direct if you can.

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Have you tried your BMW dealer. On my 335i Sytners repaired them on site (only kerb rash) and the repair was first class.

Depends who they sub it to

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Have you tried your BMW dealer. On my 335i Sytners repaired them on site (only kerb rash) and the repair was first class.

Originally Posted by 335diesel

My dealer uses the company I mentioned and charges about £30 mark up per wheel - they all sub it out. Go direct if you can.

My neighbour did this and they extracted £75 from him for one wheel. One hell of a mark up, but I suppose you have to weight up convenience factor and the 'if-you're-not-happy-it's-up-to-them-to-sort-it' factor compared to the price. Going direct makes sense if you can get a trusted referral from someone.

[Hoops]

Thanks guys. Lepsons i know well as ive mentioned above - was really looking for another option. I think i will forget the "mobile" option as i want a top notch job done. Ive provisionally booked myself in with JP above so we shall see.

[chrisbin]

laptab in Birmingham will do a same day turnaround on normal refurbs and have a very good reputation....

[toxicnerve]

Steve,

Let me know how things go with JP (assuming you go through with it). Are they doing a same day turn around for you? Also, do they do a full strip of the entire wheel and coat both inside and outside?

I'd be interested to hear how good the finish is. I need to get mine done sometime and while the dealer option is ok, they only do the visible surface rather than the entire wheel.

[charliesum]

www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk
North London Unit 7 Edmonton Trade Park
Advent Way
London
N18 3AJ
(For SatNav purposes use N18 3AF)
Phone:

Fax:
0208 887 6669

0208 887 6155

E-Mail:

Contact:
london.n@thewheelspecialist.co.uk

Paul Phillips

website states SAME DAY FITTING AVAILABLE

the local ones to me are spot on in fareham hants mate and will do trim, badges refurbed etc

[davyk31]

I would certainly lend you a set of X5 wheels but given I'm in Northern Ireland its a little far to travel.

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Steve, Let me know how things go with JP

Will do fella. Im provisionally booked in with them for a week on Monday. He briefly talked me through the process they use and i remember it sounding involved etc and he mentioned they do an almost identical procedure to Lepsons. I may well ring back and double check they strip entire wheel etc. But he sounded nice on the phone and like he knew his stuff. Been quoted £60 per wheel and he needs car for 3-4 days.

Originally Posted by charliesum

www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk

Thanks Charlie. Have to say i would be surprised if they can do all 4 wheels in a day - i would have thought the process, if it were a thorough one, would take longer than a day - but i will certainly ring them and find out - and its a damn site closer to me than Canvey bloody Island!!

Originally Posted by davyk31

I would certainly lend you a set of X5 wheels but given I'm in Northern Ireland its a little far to travel.

Thanks matey - very kind of you - shame youre not closer!!

[Mike in Hampshire]

Originally Posted by charliesum

www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk

the local ones to me are spot on in fareham hants mate and will do trim, badges refurbed etc

+1 on what Charlie said, the outlet in Fareham did mine in one day (you have to be there at 8 a.m.) and did a top job. Recommended. The Wheel Specialist are a national franchise.

Charlie - nice to see another "local" on here! Oh, and Play Up Pompey, just in case you're a Blue, like me. If you're a scummer, sod off!

Mike.

[Cafe.Racer]

Another vote for thewheelspecialist.co.uk

Nottingham bunch did mine, four in a day, drop off, strip, powder cost, refit tyres, rebalance (with black wheel weights) and new geniune M-Sport badges.

I dropped it off at 8:30 and picked it up at 3:30.

He even ran me to the train station after I'd dropped the car off.

[toxicnerve]

Just a thought. With these places that do a one-day turnaround...do the various primers/powders and lacqueurs etc really get time to cure properly before they're back on your car?

[E902717]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Just a thought. With these places that do a one-day turnaround...do the various primers/powders and lacqueurs etc really get time to cure properly before they're back on your car?

Powder once cured in the oven takes approximately 24 hours to cure completely

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by E902717

Powder once cured in the oven takes approximately 24 hours to cure completely

So is that a no then in terms of one day NOT being enough to cure properly?? If so, i would rather them have the wheels longer so they cure fully.

[Oli]

I would only go with who you know and trust. Ie Lepsons, that's who I use and no one else. Can you not hire a car?