Alpina Cap Refurb

Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:30 pm

Hi all,

I have a full set of Alpina caps that have each got a bit of paint chipping on them. I'd like to try a respray, and was just looking to see if anyone has already done this on theirs, and if it's worth the hassle? Any tips on priming the plastic, or what paint I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance!

Connor

Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:35 pm

I take it these are BK Rep centrecaps, not origionals then?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:16 pm

If they are BK's, just buy some more. I got my spares from BK for a tenner each.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:24 pm

As far as I know, they're originals. If they were reps, I'd just get new caps.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:05 pm

ConnorTreacy wrote:Hi all,

Any tips on priming the plastic, or what paint I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance!

Connor

Why would you need plastic primer for???

Origional Alpina caps are metal with a lockable key, so no plastic primer is needed.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:17 pm

What size are the wheels ? If they are 16" - they may be fake, they may be genuine (fakes don't have locks on the caps), if they're 17" - they're fakes.

Simples.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:40 pm

I'll bow to the experts here, but I'm pretty sure they're real, and fairly sure the caps are made of a tough plastic, not metal. It's dark now, so I'm not gonna go out and take a photo of the cap itself, but here's a photo of one of the rims. You be the judge.

Once you've all decided whether they're real or not, can you come back and answer my question about refurbing the paint job?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:50 pm

Right, first question is does the cap lock via a key????
They look origional, but they are DEFINITLY not plastic, but metal centres.
Refurb is done by powdercoating the same colour as the wheel.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:53 pm

they are the real deal wheels

do you mean the 'cap' that fits over the lock ? or the centre cap ?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:55 pm

e30topless wrote:they are the real deal wheels

do you mean the 'cap' that fits over the lock ? or the centre cap ?

Good question that Steve, as the centrecap is metal, the "Keycap cover" is plastic

And did you get my PM

Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:56 pm

They have the wrong size tyres!

As said, the caps are metal. Alluminium like the wheel itself.

The lock cover is plastic though.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:57 pm

bss325i wrote:They have the wrong size tyres!

You HOMO!

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:02 pm

bss325i wrote:They have the wrong size tyres!

I just put 2 new tyres on today too, same size! What's the right size?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:02 pm

205/50/16's

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:03 pm

Rav335uk wrote:
bss325i wrote:They have the wrong size tyres!
You HOMO!

Not only does it look shit, it also undergears the car and gives a stiffer ride.

Genuine Alpina wheels can buckle easy especially on our poor roads. Having an even stiffer side way increases the risk of this happening.

None of that is homo.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:05 pm

No ! mark Barry?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:12 pm

Rav335uk wrote:No ! mark Barry?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:31 pm

Rav335uk wrote:205/50/16's

Gutted. I considered putting 50s on it but thought I'd better stick with what was on it before. Oh well, next time.

As for the caps, I did mean centre caps, and I could have sworn they were plastic. They feel and sound very light, even for aluminium. Every day's a school day I guess.

Has anyone done the powder-coat before? Is it easy to get the Alpina badges out beforehand, or do they need masked? I won't bother with it if it's not worth doing, but they're the only thing that stands out as needing fixed on an otherwise tidy car.

Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:48 pm

To remove the Alpina badge, heat up the back of the cap directly behind the badge, makes the adhesive go soft, and with a tiny flat blade, you can prise them out.