Refinish Wheels or Buy New?

**DizkoDan** · 09-17-2016 08:35 PM

When I bought my Q5 last year, all 4 of the wheels had some rash on them. I recently had an unfortunate meeting with a low curb in DC, and did some more work on one. They are 20" Titanium Peelers, and I actually really like the wheels unlike some folks. However, one of the wheels is actually peeling paint/clear coat. We now think that someone had at least one of the wheels (poorly) repaired at some point before doing more damage to them. So rather than a simple sand and repaint/seal, they need to be completely stripped (sandblasted) before being repainted. This obviously means it's going to cost a lot more. Most estimates I've gotten have been in the $900 range, and of course I have to send them off somewhere to have them done so I'll be without wheels for like 3 days. I could do this on a week when I'm traveling so it's not as big of a deal, but still.

I'm really torn now on what to do. I feel like I can get a pretty decent set of wheels for a few hundred dollars more. What would you do?

**VroomVroom** · 09-17-2016 09:00 PM

Personally....I'd go for the refin work. For a number of reasons. First being that I really love those wheels. Amongst many other great ones, that style is my all-time favorite Audi wheel. Second - you've got a known-good very high quality wheel. Aftermarket wheels, especially in the $1,200-ish price range....not so much.

FWIW, $900 seems a bit high, unless that includes shipping and unmounting/remounting of tires. Most shops in my area - which tends to be on the high end of the high end, so to speak - will do this for $150/wheel.

Good luck!

**riceboy22** · 09-17-2016 09:05 PM

Those are actually pretty popular wheels, so I'd probably get them refinished. And you should be able to get a good powdercoat shop to take care of them for less than $900. Espo's Powder Coating here in NY is like $700 + mounting and balancing tires.

Edit: I guess I should have just said listen to what Jerry said above lol.

**DizkoDan** · 09-17-2016 09:20 PM

If I could find a place to do it at $600-$700, it's a no brainer. Not having much luck in the NoVa/DC area. That was the range I was getting for just repairing/repainting.

And I agree on quality, this is definitely one of my concerns especially for a 20" wheel which is not going to be able to take the hits as well as a smaller wheel would.

**alpineaudi** · 09-17-2016 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by DizkoDan

They are 20" Titanium Peelers, and I actually really like the wheels unlike some folks.

I love the peelers! Magnificent design. You could also look into to powdercoating which depending on the severity of the rash - may cover up the blemishes (with some light touch up prep) and give your Q5 a new look. Good luck!

**BarryT82** · 09-18-2016 05:39 AM

Wow! That's a lot for powder coating. I know a guy that'll do it for a couple hundred dollars. I had some VW 19" wheels powder coated with a color and then a coat of clear on them for $400. It would have been $280 without the clear.

**goblues38** · 09-18-2016 10:11 AM

I will give you $400 for them as is if you decide to get new ones.

**DizkoDan** · 09-18-2016 07:07 PM

I'm gonna look into powder coating since it seems like a more reasonably priced option. Now my only question is, try to match titanium color, or go gloss black. I have an Ibis White with black optics, so I'm thinking gloss black wheels would look good on it.

**ThunderDent** · 09-18-2016 07:41 PM

I recently powder coated all four 21s gloss black for $110/ea. at a local shop.

If it's small amount of rash a mobile repair specialist may do wonders however.

I run 20 Titanium peelers on my winter set up, and they are a classic design to be certain.
Titanium or gloss black either one would look great against Ibis. I ran the titanium peeler/ibis combo on my last Q5 and it looked great!

**DizkoDan** · 09-19-2016 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by ThunderDent

I recently powder coated all four 21s gloss black for $110/ea. at a local shop.

If it's small amount of rash a mobile repair specialist may do wonders however.

I run 20 Titanium peelers on my winter set up, and they are a classic design to be certain.
Titanium or gloss black either one would look great against Ibis. I ran the titanium peeler/ibis combo on my last Q5 and it looked great!

I saw your gloss black wheels in your build thread (though not on the SQ), and they look awesome! I love the titanium color. It hides brake dust pretty well, and minor scrapes aren't really noticeable from a distance. My one concern with going to a glossy black would be getting them scraped up in the winter.

**rhite95** · 09-20-2016 05:11 AM

A friend of mine had one of his Roush wheels fixed from a place called Wheels on Site.
They came out nicer then new. He is the DC area. I think he said the fix was 179.00.

**drivenagain** · 09-20-2016 05:38 AM

couple of places in DC area do great mobile repair work, a lot cheaper than what youve been quoted

**DizkoDan** · 09-20-2016 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by rhite95

A friend of mine had one of his Roush wheels fixed from a place called Wheels on Site.
They came out nicer then new. He is the DC area. I think he said the fix was 179.00.

Originally Posted by drivenagain

couple of places in DC area do great mobile repair work, a lot cheaper than what youve been quoted

I contacted wheelsonsite last year right after I got the Q, and they quoted me $600. That was before the peeling though. They cannot simply be repaired/repainted if they are peeling. They need to be stripped, and none of the repair places do that. They have to send them off to someone else to have them sandblasted. The lowest estimate I got was $225/wheel for stripping/repairing/painting/sealing.

It looks like I'm gonna go with Extreme Powder Coating in Lorton. They quoted $150/wheel which I think is reasonable for this area.

**teamBrando** · 09-20-2016 09:27 AM

Contact Wheel Ding King at 240-426-9210 and say Brandon sent you. He's the best wheel guy in the DC area and quickest too.

Good luck.

**SQ5-ER** · 09-20-2016 12:12 PM

I'd refinish them without a doubt. That's a cool design and the Audi wheels are going to be better quality than almost anything you can get in that price range. Color is subjective obviously, but white with black optics just SCREAMS for black wheels to me!

Good luck!

**DizkoDan** · 09-20-2016 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by teamBrando

Contact Wheel Ding King at 240-426-9210 and say Brandon sent you. He's the best wheel guy in the DC area and quickest too.

Good luck.

Thanks! I hadn't heard of them, cuz MD. Pretty stellar reviews in the various places. Sent him a message, so we'll see.

**DizkoDan** · 09-26-2016 05:25 PM

So I paid a visit to the Wheel Ding King today. I think they turned out pretty sweet. Need to replace lug covers with black ones, and need to put stickers on the calipers.