Refurbing alloys

[logicalChimp]

My alloys are scruffy as f*ck, and i\'m finally ready to do something about them.  They are all roughly in the same condition - following couple of shots are of average marks:





Any suggestions / tips on how I can make them look better?  I\'ve got a dremel, although currently no polishing bits - would this be a reasonable approach?

The catch:  I\'m parked in an open carpark, have no spare wheels, and no axel stands.  I do have a large battery-powered mains adapter, so I can use the dremel in the car park (at least for short periods, i think - haven\'t tried it yet )

[yehreally]

are they mania racing ? try wet and dry, masking tape, spary paint and a lot of patience.
 
best result take them to a wheel refurbisher £70 each for a pro job (mayb cheaper).
 
or go to a metal polisher and ask him to remove the paint from the rims and polish them up :Thumbsup!

[logicalChimp]

I was thinking along those lines myself.  Only trouble is, I can only get one or two wheels off at a time (and only then if I get myself a set of axle-stands).

Given that I don\'t have spare wheels, or a replacement car, getting them to a  shop would be hassle, and all the time they are there, I can\'t use the car...

So, I\'m wondering what I can do myself, one wheel at a time...

and yeah - they are Mania wheels

[noyzboy]

Sounds like you need to borrow a set of wheels

Martin H

[Philo]

^ what he said, you need to borrow a set of wheels.

If you are going to do it your self i would recommend taking the tyres off. It will make the job loads easier.

There are a few wheel polishing guides out there...
I only have this one bookmarked...
http://www.s10forum.com/how_to_polish_aluminum_wheels

[Aceman]

Lok on ebay or similar - you can usually get a set of original wheels pretty cheap..

I got 4 original wheels with MOT passable tyres for £30....


As for hand polishing, mine were £175 a wheel + vat. That was the whole wheel (all spokes, all little bolts, 3 piece split rims etc etc).

Slightly pricey....

[Philo]

Polishing is hard and everyone I spoke to suggested against it. You can still get fairly good results with a poor mans wheel referb. i.e. respray them your self.

I have some beaten up 17"s with 2 very good front tyres you could have for £30. Been meaning to sell them for ages.

[logicalChimp]

I agree that getting a spare pair of wheels would be sensible option (would save me using the spacesaver too if I get a flat) but...

I live in a single room flat, and I don\'t have a garage - so unfortunately, the only spares I can afford to keep are those I can fit in my (very small) tool box :/

Still - I\'ll have to look into spraying them (instead of polishing)...

[logicalChimp]

Hmmm - Painting looks like a viable option.  Question - what colours do people think would work?

Obviously, gloss black would go OK - but I was wondering what other colours people think would work well with the metallic red bodywork.

For reference, here are a couple of shots of the car - day and night

Day:


Night:


Maybe a gun-metal grey or something would work?

[yehreally]

call mania and ask if they do a paint kit as these are the more desireable mania alloys and would probably get you good money if you decided to sell when in refurb condition :yes
 
...then get some HUUUUUGGGEEEE deep dish shiny ones like in the refurb guide
 
nice car toooooooooooo

[noyzboy]

Is your car your daily driver ??

Martin H