Refurb Sport Design Split Rims

Hi All, My wheels are a little scuffed/showing slight corrosion and I think i may consider getting them refurbished. Clean Image didn't want to touch my 18inch porsche sport design alloys and stated the only way to get a decent result was to split them apart and recommended Lepsons who seems quite well known for acid dipping and re-painting alloys including porsche split rims. However, I am concerned that the rims once split will not balance and align correctly and I am wondering if they can be refurbished as a single unit rather than removing all the bolts/splitting them. Does anyone have any experience with Lepsons or this process with split rims? Thanks, Steve

This should not be a problem if you go to a reputable wheel refurb company. Ive had a number of split rim BBS wheels done and never any issues.

Thanks Mike. Who have you used before out of interest? Lepsons are close to me which makes them the obvious choice. Steve

Steve, I am in the same position as you - my 18" Sport Design split rims need a refurb and I was thinking of doing it after the worst of the winter weather is over. Once you decide who to go with to do the work, please post up your experiences and some before and after shots - I would love to know how you got on. Also, what are you doing with the car whilst the wheels are being refurbished? Are you taking it out of action for a few days or do you have a spare set of wheels?

My GT3 rims were sorted November by Lepsons and there have been no problems at all. They look so much better powder coated and the road crap and brake dust is sealed out. A huge improvement and absolutely no problems of any sort - pricey though.

Hi Tom, I am also considering taking a similar approach to you - ie. do it early spring 2010 before a planned European road trip next year, with laser alignment/suspension tweaks at the same time. I will contact Lepsons and leave the car there whilst they do the work - tyres will also be ready for a change by then so I will probably get them to quote for tyres also. I was warned by clean image that a cosmetic repair wouldn't work with split rims as any corrosion will re-appear from under the join. Only way is apparently to split them apart and acid bath them as per Lepsons - I am wondering if looked after (ie. standard usage not in heavy road salt) whether these alloys should be showing any corrosion at all and if they are particularly prone? --------- On a separate note- BTW: Do Sport Design alloys need to be noted as a modification on the insurance considering my car is a c4 (1999) or could they have been standard fitment for the car. Thanks, Steve

Elephant.co.uk seems to consider a factory wheel upgrade option on the original car as a modification. Is this not correct? It is making a surprising difference to my insurance premiums and I believe they were also original fitment on my car. Or is Elephant wrong? I don't want to risk being uninsured in the event of a claim... Thanks, Steve

Mine were a factory option with the car when new; option code XRB on my under bonnet sticker. I have not declared them as a modification as they came with the car when new.

The reason the Sport Design rims seem prone to the lacquer going milky or peeling is actually because the lip is polished and not painted like the web. Lacquer doesn't have as much of a hold on the polished surfaces and hence not as durable. Even with meticulous cleaning, brake dust left in the join will eventually eat away at the lacquer.

These wheels are notorious for corrosion caused by the reaction between the two metals and the fact that they are lacquered. Lepsons will break them and dip them, then prime and powder coat so they are much more resistant to corrosion. New bolts will probably ne required all round to add to the cost - mine cost £85.00 per wheel last year but show no signs of wear at all.

with VAT about £450.00 I should think..

I had my spare set of wheels for my GT3 refurbed, as I was putting track only tyres on them On reccomendation of a friend I sent them to BJV engineering In Herts they did a perfect Job - powder coated - black centre, silver rim. They also fitted & balanced the track tyres - saved a kwik fit moment ! From memory, they were sub £300 would definitely go there again http://www.wheelrefurbishing.co.uk/

I took my wheels to BJV this year and was not impressed. Bubbles and pitting in the lacquer.

Hello, I had the same problem 2 years ago. 996 C4 with aerokit and Gt3 split rims black centres, polished rims. Thought about tackling them myself but could not get hold of a tool to fit the bolts. Then thought if I break a bolt in the rim I would have some real grief. Then thought buy some new spurious rims and sell my Gt3 rims, decided not to as they would not be as good as the Gt3 wheels I already have. In the end sent them to my local indy- Strasse in Leeds. They farmed them out to somebody else to do and they came back ok with diamond cut and laquered rims. Cost £300. Two years on they are still ok with just asmall portion of laquer coming off one rim- I will touch that in myself. Looks like we all have the same problems!! Cheers, Chris

hiya steve, have heard nothing but good things about lepsons, when i re-furb mine in the new year i will almost certainly take them to lepsons or pristine[in the east,as i am based in wanstead] but having seen some of there work plus all the positive things people have said it seems using lepsons is a no -brainer and your based near to them. regards jason p

Thanks Jason, Since I am going to need 4 new tyres in early spring it seemed the obvious thing to do at the same time. Has anyone bothered getting the outer edge polished as per originals or just leave whole wheel matts painted? I am going to contact Lepsons this week. Steve

Just getting the wheel repairs priced up: Has anyone heard of or used Spit and Polish and how does their work compare to Lepsons? Both appear to follow the same process - take the split rims completely apart and remove any corrosion before refitting them. Thanks, Steve

I spoke to Spit & Polish and RGA Porsche to completely strip, remove corrosion and refurb sport design alloys - per wheel prices can be found below: Spit and polish (Tonbridge)- 82+vat RGA Porsche (Vauxhall) - £75-80 per wheel Both S&P and RGA both stated the costs included finish chosen by me (including original polished edges if preferred). I am surprised that Lepsons want extra to store car. Neither of the above quote extra. Am tempted by S&P as they appeared to know their stuff...

Hi Tim, Yes I will. Expect to refurb the wheels this winter, but will probably be early 2010. S&P will probably be my choice too although I don't know if they supply/fit tyres too... Thanks, Steve