Anyone interested in Ultimate Garage wheel installation guide tool group buy?

[CodeWhore]

It's a stainless steel pin to replace the crappy plastic one that Audi included with our cars. They list it at $24.95 + $6.50 s/h, and say they would do discounts for 10+ units.

Check it out: http://www.ultimategarage.com/whlhgr.html

[CodeWhore]

I can't be the only one who hates the crappy plastic Audi wheel guide tool...

[audisnapr]

what's up codewhore... I'm down.

[awl18]

I'd be interested.

[3ohAvant]

sure, depends on the discount.

[StLTurboA4]

Yeah... depends on discount.

[CodeWhore]

All right, the bulk price is up on the web site - 10 tools for $190, or $19 a piece. Looks like the entire batch will have to be shipped to one place, and then idividual tools shipped out from there. I'm guessing ~$24 shipped to-your-door final price. Any takers?

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

I am probably going to start making these. Don't mean to step on your group buy but it seems you aren't affiliated so you would benefit also. Give me a week or two to get a prototype and post some pictures of it. If it works well on my car I should be able to do it a lot cheaper. Definatley under 20 shipped. Hopefully i can get them to your door for $15. I will let you guys know. I will probably post a new thread in the forsale section when i get one made.

[CodeWhore]

For $15 shipped I'm game. Ultimate Garage wants WAY too much for theirs. I'm not affiliated with them in any way - just trying to see if we could get a deal going.

If you do start a new group buy, try also posting it on AudiWorld (http://forums.audiworld.com/groupbuys/msgs/2.phtml).

Thanks!

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

OK. Couple questions. I was going to make mine like the stock plastic ones with a hole drilled through the end incase it gets stuck. I see the ultimate garage one uses a slot for a big screw driver. I prefer the hole. What do you guys think. Also I am going to try to get a machined grip on the end also but not positive if I can get this to happen.

Mine will definately be stainless. I won't be polishing them though so its not going to look chrome or anything. But it's not like you are going to use if for a keychain or something

Hopefully I can get some made up soon and after i verify it works i can start selling them. Code whore I'll send one to you and if you like it then you can pay for it. Just so I'm credible before i start mass producing these things and to get an outsiders opinion.

[awl18]

Originally posted by Ben@SpeedBarn
OK. Couple questions. I was going to make mine like the stock plastic ones with a hole drilled through the end incase it gets stuck. I see the ultimate garage one uses a slot for a big screw driver. I prefer the hole. What do you guys think. Also I am going to try to get a machined grip on the end also but not positive if I can get this to happen.

Mine will definately be stainless. I won't be polishing them though so its not going to look chrome or anything. But it's not like you are going to use if for a keychain or something

Hopefully I can get some made up soon and after i verify it works i can start selling them. Code whore I'll send one to you and if you like it then you can pay for it. Just so I'm credible before i start mass producing these things and to get an outsiders opinion.

Keep us up-to-date with your progress. I'd be interested in this. Thanks!

[CodeWhore]

Hole would work great, as long as it is large enough for the factory screwdriver shaft to fit through. I would prefer to have knurled grip on the end too, if possible. Don't really care if it's polished, as long as it's stainless steel and not aluminum.

You can e-mail me at pmamut at hotmal dot com when you're ready. Thanks!

[LI-S4]

Count me in on this... Hole in the end is preferred and if you can knurl it as well, all the better...

Originally posted by Ben@SpeedBarn
I am probably going to start making these. Don't mean to step on your group buy but it seems you aren't affiliated so you would benefit also. Give me a week or two to get a prototype and post some pictures of it. If it works well on my car I should be able to do it a lot cheaper. Definatley under 20 shipped. Hopefully i can get them to your door for $15. I will let you guys know. I will probably post a new thread in the forsale section when i get one made.

[indica]

i am down for one! just keep me in mind when they are done.

[3ohAvant]

i'd buy one at that price too. and use a hole, not slotted. and even steel is ok, doesn't have to be SS. and that would make it so that even more people would buy it. : ) (because it would be even cheaper, in case anyone of you are wondering how I got to that lame conclusion)

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

Good to see some interest. I am going to the beach this week. I should have a prototype by next week and if everything works well I should have the first batch done and ready to sell in about 2 weeks. If all works out well I may try to make some for 12mm apps to. I guess that would be BMWs Mini and some others.

[Paul_858]

Buy lighter wheels... less bling, more zing. Rotate rotor voila.

[CodeWhore]

Originally posted by Paul_858
Buy lighter wheels... less bling, more zing. Rotate rotor voila.

You lost me... we're talking about a wheel guide tool here - the one you use to guide the wheel when reinstalling it onto the hub.

[3ohAvant]

he is saying that if you buy 15" wheels, it'll be lighter, and you don''t need this tool.

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

I have 15s on my a4 and they are harder to mount than the 18s. The weight really isn't that bad as the wheel will sit on the hub once you get it on there. The fronts suck when the rotor and hub get misaligned even by a hair. Rears you can just use the ebrake and not have that problem.

But yeah...you choices would then be:

1. Buy a sweet guide tool for $15 and have your choice of wheels.

or

2. Buy a new set of light wheels and tires for $1000-$3000 dollars.

hmm.

Either way it doesn't matter to me. I was planning on making this tool for myself before I came along this thread...and decided to help some others out...as well as myself

If I sell a thousand of these I can afford a new set of lighter wheels and tires! SWEET!

[oBluu]

I'm definately in. I don't care what the material it's made out of as long as it's not plastic.

Oh, and it'd be nice if it's the same exact dimensions as the plastic one so we can fit it in our tool kit and just chuck the plastic one.

Thanks.

[BuffysRS4]

bump

[CodeWhore]

Hope everyone had a great and safe Labor Day weekend...

Ben, any news on the production?

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

I should have something this week. I tested out a couple prototypes today.

Code Whore...PM me your address and I'll send you one out this week. Hopefully by next week I wil be able to start taking orders.

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

Ok I should have about 20 ready to be shipped out by thursday. Friday at the latest. If you are interested PM me or email me or just paypal me $15 at [email protected]

Pics coming on thursday. They are nurled on the end and have a hole drilled through like the stock ones.

They are $15 shipped in continental US. If you are from somewhere else I will figure out the cost for you.

For this week I'm just going to use this thread but will probably put one in the forsale section this weekend after I make sure everything is organized and I have enough supplies. Make sure you pass the word on to any other forums you guys are on to help me out

[awl18]

You got PM.

[CodeWhore]

Originally posted by Ben@SpeedBarn
I should have something this week. I tested out a couple prototypes today.

Code Whore...PM me your address and I'll send you one out this week. Hopefully by next week I wil be able to start taking orders.

[Tinman]

I'd be interested in joining this. . .

L8

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

Ok for sale thread with pictures is here!

clicky