15" BBS, refurb not cost effective??

[jimf]

Hi folks,

I bought a set of standard but flaky BBS alloys a few months ago with the plan of having them refurbished over the winter.
I've been pricing up my options now and it is starting to look like it is not very economically viable to do this and I may as well buy a set in good condition with tyres.

I reckon the value of this set in need of refurb is £100, I have been quoted £300 to have them professionally refurbished. Once I've bought tyres which I estimate £75 a corner I'm looking at having spent £700!!!

So I looked at doing a DIY job, having them blasted then spraying them myself and fitting some part worn tyres which I would budget £30 a tyre. Yesterday I took a wheel to the local blaster and was quoted £40 a wheel! So the original value of the wheels (£100), plus blasting (£160), paint costs (£100), tyres (£120) and fitting costs I am looking at £500!

So what do I do? I reckon sell the wheels to the local drifters and buy a fresh set. Any thoughts would be very welcome guys.

[hillbilly30]

Same situation for me Jimf, Mine are not rough but not very bright, and have some naff brand tyres on (not very happy dealing with M52), thing is the last set of perfect rims that went through ebay made £575!! Without tyres!
I guess I could get £200 for mine as the tyres are all 5mm+?Tough call!

[Grrrmachine]

You're using flawed logic in your pricing, because of how you think about tyres.

TYRES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE CAR!

They're the thing holding you on the road. Old, used, part-worn tyres are simply not worth the cost savings. No matter what rims you fit to your car, you should be budgeting at least a few hundred for decent rubber, so whether you're fitting show-condition Borbets or manky old BBS, the cost of the tyres isn't a factor in your cost calculations.

So your real decision is whether to throw 300 quid at a set of wheels that cost you 100, and whether they'll be worth 400 quid at the end of it. Can you get a set of straight unchipped freshly painted BBS on eBay at that price from a known good seller who won't have welded them up? I dunno, but even if you can get them for 350 quid you still have to pay for shipping, so all in a decent set of rims for 400 seems reasonable.

I'd bite the bullet and give them to a professional refurber. I hade my Alpina copies media-blasted and then painted them myself, and it was a proper chore doing all the filling, sanding, rubbing, priming, rubbing, priming, flatting, spraying etc. I imagine basket-weaves would be even more work.

[jimf]

When I am comparing buying a set of second hand wheels that might come with tyres already fitted to refurbishing mine and buying tyres, then it is necessary to factor in the value of tyres. I have no problem fitting a set of part worn tyres to my cars. I fully understand the importance of tyres and am very fussy about brands and quality. The car only does 2000 sedate miles a year in dry weather so what's the harm in fitting a good set with 5mm tread that will last me years for half the price of a brand new set.

[Grrrmachine]

"Last for years" is the key point. Most UK consumers don't seem to care, but in Germany you fail the German MOT if the tyres are six years or older, since the compound dries out and stiffens, severely affecting the tyre's performance. In Poland we run two sets of tyres, so each set sits in a garage for six months a year doing nothing, but you still chuck them out with 5mm of tread left when the DOT code tells you its old... unless you're a toothless farmer living in the middle of nowhere.

Hence why it's flawed logic. Part-worns are false economy, unless you just need a set of rubber to get you through an MOT before you sell the turd on to some unsuspecting punter.

[jimf]

I am aware of the aging factor of rubber too, I choose my part worns carefully. I understand your point about the pricing factor though. Thanks

[DanThe]

[Gert_8]

I am in a similar situation to you Jim. I paid more than you did for your set of wheels and the refurb cost is £100 a wheel! You then have to factor in the cost of the rubber. I would not run part worn, remoulds or any shite brand. As Grrrr has said, it's the rubber that keeps you safe.

Bite the bullet and get the work done. You may find a decent set if wheels but these will cost you (recently refurbed set on here sold for £300). After adding rubber, your not going to be far off your original figure mate.

[verde]

Jim if you decide to shift the wheels Il probably take em off you. However, dependant how rough they are and how good a job you want I might give them a shot for you

[Gert_8]

Trevor is selling a set at the mo -
Look reasonable, but will still require a refurb..

Verd, you don't have the time to do anything these days!!!

[G-Bear]

If the refurb company you if so plan to use, offer other blasting, powder coating services etc. Might be worth thinking of any other parts (or people nearby who want the same service) that need a refurb.

The local guy I have used in the passed offers better deals if you you get a batch done. Perhaps a small saving but it helps..

[polsta]

£40 per wheel for blasting is steep , they are and can be a right pig to do, about £25 per wheel if right

see if theyl do them for £60 -70 a wheel all in, think about it- to have bare blasted wheels and then paint them yourself- will cost a fair bit in primer/paint alone, and if not done decent will chip/crack/flake easily

£400 for a nice set, to look nice, on a car thats driven a few hundred miles a year...will last, so what you quibbling about, just get them done !!

ive got a set of wheels fully refurbed, inc refurbed center caps, and the nuts, and new bmw badges, and they look mint, youl be glad when youve got it done

[pukar]

...how much will be selling your old ones for? if they are the BK reps, then i would sell them on as they are not that desireable, so could help for the BBS fund

[Gavla]

So your real decision is whether to throw 300 quid at a set of wheels that cost you 100, and whether they'll be worth 400 quid at the end of it. Can you get a set of straight unchipped freshly painted BBS on eBay at that price from a known good seller who won't have welded them up? I dunno, but even if you can get them for 350 quid you still have to pay for shipping, so all in a decent set of rims for 400 seems reasonable.

This is where you need to ask yourself if you are spending to get your money back or spending to satisfy yourself.

If you were refurbing to sell on for a profit then no not cost effective at all. If you are refurbing to have brand new looking wheels on your pride and joy then cost effective does not count...

£750 does seem a bit steep, shouldn't cost more than £80 per corner for a refurb and powder coat IMO and then £70 for a decent tyre.

[Fastroad]

£750 does seem a bit steep, shouldn't cost more than £80 per corner for a refurb and powder coat IMO and then £70 for a decent tyre.

Works out £600 for refurb and tyres + original price of wheels so looks closer to £750

[Rtaylor2208]

Gees I can get them refurbed down in Ayr and Glasgow for £160 all in and there is a fella in bailiestone at the moment doing a Christmas special at £115 for all 4.

Add 4 new decent tyres, I paid £160 for Avons in 205x50x15 and although not amazing in grip were still miles better than the Chinese shite that was on them before. That's a lot cheaper than you are being quoted.

[Gert_8]

Rtaylor - what process do they use? It would be cheaper for me to have my set sent to you and collected at that price!!

[Rtaylor2208]

Blasted and powder coating at West Coast Tyres in Ayr, they have a selection of different colours. I'll need to get the details of the ones in Glasgow as there on my works laptop.

The fondmetal basket weaves on my old cab were done by west coast. The actual wheels are in the wiki wheels page.

[Gert_8]

Can you post the address and contact details, please?

[Type15]

Gert_8 & Rtaylor - I've got 4 15" BBS need doing. I'm in Fife so can get them across easily enough. Can you get a price for 8 and we can do them all together?

[Gert_8]

I'd be happy to work with that.

Rtaylor, will their price cover doing the centre caps too, or just the wheel?

[Rtaylor2208]

Here you go Gert.

Unit 3 Heathfield Ind Estate Boundary Road
Heathfield Industrial Estate
Ayr
Ayrshire
KA8 9DJ
Fax: 01698 281 366
Mobile:07871900479
01292 267 573

They also do new and part worn tyres. If it's the boss you speak to tell them I referred you. He will remember the cab as when they went to return to my wheels they actually offered to buy them as the had another customer willing to pay very good money for them.

[Gert_8]

Thank you. I'll give them a call and see what they say about doing 2 sets.

[Rtaylor2208]

Not sure on the centre caps as mine didn't need doing as they were a different finish to the wheels anyway. They can also have them painted rather than coated so you could have them painted to match the original colour but I'm not sure if there is a difference in price.

[Gert_8]

Thanks. I'll ask. I imagine they will ask for more money to do that.

[Rtaylor2208]

This is the exact wheels they did for me:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... f0724y.jpg

[Gert_8]

Certainly a good job - but no centre caps.

[jimf]

Thanks all for your comments guys. I'm actually thinking of heading down to Glasgow area over the festive period so I might consider shopping around for a better price of a full refurb if I can't get a better price up here first.

[Morat]

I have a set of perfect 15" BBS that are now surplus to requirements. They're currently wearing a set of Kumho KU-31s which are in good condition. If you're interested, make me an offer
Cheers,
Morat

[DanThe]

For 15 inch wheels there should be plenty of places that will refurb for under £50 a wheel, just make sure you are approaching proper wheel refurb places though that can show you their setup, wheels before and after and are happy to explain the process to you.
Backstreet powdercoating factories are a waste of time if you want the wheels to last

[Type15]

Gert - did you get a price for 2 sets - I haven't been on the Zone since before Christmas. I'll give them a call if you like. I'm still interested in getting mine done.

[Gert_8]

Hi type. I had a re-think. By the time I got my set sent then collected from Scotland the cost would probably be the same as me buying a decent set. I think the refurb price suggested didn't include the centre caps. I've got a couple of offers, so just waiting for pics and prices.

If I buy a set, then my existing ones will come up for sale. They aren't brilliant, but I've seen much worse. Sorry I can't be of help any more. Let us know how you get on please. Thanks

[pac1982]

thing is if you go out and buy some cheap after market wheels they are only gonna start flaking or corroding in 18 months time anyway so you'll have to spend that refurb money at some point regardless

[Rav335uk]

Rather than having them "Blasted", it's abetter to have them Acid dipped.
This removes all the paint/powder coat ,much better without pitting the alloy.
Blasting them should only be done to remove corrosion.