Wheels: Refurb, or buy new?

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bosun73
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:43 am

Hi All,

I bought my car last summer, it's got the original 15" BBS style 5 wheels, but without any centre caps. They are in Average-to-Poor condition. I would think that to refurbish the wheels plus get new centre caps for them would cost in the region of £550-£600. Is that about right?

I can buy new 15" Ronal LS wheels for £475 (incl del.).

So I am interested in what other people think: buy the Ronals or refurb the BBS? I am not an OEM fanatic - I just want a car that runs well, and is pleasing to the eye. The car is my daily driver.

Thanks.
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martauto
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:42 pm

bosun73 wrote: I just want a car that runs well, and is pleasing to the eye. The car is my daily driver.
If you are happy with the Ronals then sell the BBS as they still command a decent price .
At the end of the day , it`s your car and you live with it so going down this route you could have a new set of wheels for less than maybe £300 ??
Someone will let you know how much the wheels are worth so grab some pics and let us see them so a good guide price can be given.

Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
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bosun73
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:38 pm

martauto wrote:
bosun73 wrote: I just want a car that runs well, and is pleasing to the eye. The car is my daily driver.
Someone will let you know how much the wheels are worth so grab some pics and let us see them so a good guide price can be given.

Mart.
Thanks. I've put some pictures below... As you can see, they're not great.

As you say, it's all a matter of personal preference whether or not you buy new or refurb the old ones, however, I am just interested to know what other people think...

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TurtleDesignTech
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:30 pm

They are in excellent shape apart from the paint and kerb rash on wheel number 3.

You could probably get them refurbished for @£50 each = £200.
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bosun73
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:15 pm

TurtleDesignTech wrote:They are in excellent shape apart from the paint and kerb rash on wheel number 3.

You could probably get them refurbished for @£50 each = £200.
Thanks, but I think that yours might be a conservative estimate. I reckon closer to 300 inc VAT for a set of 4 wheels... I might ask for an online quote from a refurb company. In any case, I would still need to get centre caps. So, it's still the best part of £500.

Btw, I have just noticed that only one of the wheels is stamped with BBS. The other 3 say F.P.S... Does this mean that I have only 1 actual BBS wheel, and that the other 3 are Foundry Pedrini Siena?!? Or are BBS and FPS one and the same?
Cloggy Saint
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:12 pm

I'm in a similar situation. I have original BBS wheels of which 3 are very good and one is quite scruffy. If I get the dodgy one refurbed that will make the other 3 look rough. I'm also toying with the idea of Ronal LS but I'm not so keen on the finish of these wheels. Am I right in saying they have an almost chrome finish to them rather than the original BBS silver?
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bosun73
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:29 pm

Cloggy Saint wrote:I'm in a similar situation. I have original BBS wheels of which 3 are very good and one is quite scruffy. If I get the dodgy one refurbed that will make the other 3 look rough. I'm also toying with the idea of Ronal LS but I'm not so keen on the finish of these wheels. Am I right in saying they have an almost chrome finish to them rather than the original BBS silver?
It's true that the Ronals look shinier when I have Googled it - I hadn't actually noticed before. Just drive through a muddy field, that should sort them out.
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Partridge
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Post Tue Mar 20, 2018 11:25 pm

Come to Birmingham and save yourself some loot.

https://www.citywheelrefurbishment.co.uk/price-list
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Gavla
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Post Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:04 pm

8O

That place is super cheap! Wish I lived in Birmigham not London...
Cloggy Saint
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Post Wed Mar 21, 2018 5:10 pm

Partridge wrote:Come to Birmingham and save yourself some loot.

https://www.citywheelrefurbishment.co.uk/price-list
Much cheapness. Are you associated with them?
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Partridge
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Post Wed Mar 21, 2018 5:46 pm

Nope, don't know how I first came across them, but they did a really scabby set of 14" BBS for my winter tyres and did a good job. It's a real industrial barn, stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap.

Come to Brum and we can talk Malachite Tourings?