Would you get wheels diamond cut on NI roads ?

[CharlySkunkWeed]

We're getting @Mel wheels refurbished. She likes them as they are except one is kerbed. The factory finish is like a satin grey inner with diamond cut lip (and a wee triangle on the face). Our options are just a "basic" repaint the whole wheel in a light grey colour, or the same but with the diamond cut redone.
I swore I'd never have a wheel with a polished lip again after having ones corrode after 8 months but they were cheap Japanese (kei racing) and 15 years ago. I know diamond cut will be similar and I know how easy they can corrode and even the refurb companies wont even stand over it. But the wheels as they sit at the minute haven't got any corrosion in the 3 years they've been on the car. We dont use wheel cleaners etc. and it doesn't get a hard life.
If we get them re-cut and sealed them up with some fancy ceramic coating, how long could I expect them to last ?
Bear in mind that it's a fair bit dearer to get them cut rather than just a repaint so it may not be worth the hassle.

(That's not corrosion in the pics, they've just been outside till they get refurb)

 

[Odhran]

Facing the exact same predicament at the minute. 2 of my AMG wheels are in absolute ***** despite being Uber careful and there being zero kerb marks etc (they have corroded from the centre caps almost to the end of the spokes). Very reluctant to get them recut and considering opting for the RMS favourite ‘Shadow Chrome’ instead. Question for anyone in the know - most references I can see to this mention powder coating. My guy sprays as opposed to p’coating. Is the finish achievable with spraying?

 

[Brian mc21]

It’s not that much dearer. Last couple of weeks I got a set of 18” type r wheels redone in silver. £240. Last week got a set of 17” vw rims with diamond cut face for £300. Cobra customs.

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

Facing the exact same predicament at the minute. 2 of my AMG wheels are in absolute ***** despite being Uber careful and there being zero kerb marks etc (they have corroded from the centre caps almost to the end of the spokes). Very reluctant to get them recut and considering opting for the RMS favourite ‘Shadow Chrome’ instead. Question for anyone in the know - most references I can see to this mention powder coating. My guy sprays as opposed to p’coating. Is the finish achievable with spraying?

I'd wonder are certain brands more prone to corrosion? Like the Audi wheels are spotless other than where someone kerbed them. Like would a non factory diamond cut be better or worse or the same as factory?

 

[hippyross]

It’s not that much dearer. Last couple of weeks I got a set of 18” type r wheels redone in silver. £240. Last week got a set of 17” vw rims with diamond cut face for £300. Cobra customs.

But which one lasts longer?

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

It’s not that much dearer. Last couple of weeks I got a set of 18” type r wheels redone in silver. £240. Last week got a set of 17” vw rims with diamond cut face for £300. Cobra customs.

I've only had one quote and it was 440 plus vat diamond cut 300 plus vat for standard.
Both I thought was dear but other places I've used previously work has been "ok" but I'm willing to pay for a quality job.

 

[Brian mc21]

I once had a set of BMW 313 reps that were all milky under the lacquer. I took all the lacquer off the faces and polished them up and just left them like that. Never had much bother with corrosion and a bit of autosol when you can be arsed and they done rightly. Only thing is you don’t get that rainbow like tint that you do with the diamonds cut.

 

[Lyons]

Tough one. I do think those styles suit the grey/diamond cut combo better, but it never lasts.

 

[Brian mc21]

I would say the paint. The guy in Cobra customs told me they now double lacquer the diamond cut so maybe that will help durability.

 

[Coog]

My XJ6 wheels are diamond cut and despite only being used in fair weather there is the odd white worm in them. They look class but wouldn't last well over here during the winter IMO

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

I once had a set of BMW 313 reps that were all milky under the lacquer. I took all the lacquer off the faces and polished them up and just left them like that. Never had much bother with corrosion and a bit of autosol when you can be arsed and they done rightly. Only thing is you don’t get that rainbow like tint that you do with the diamonds cut.

I actually did a similar I actually did a similar

DIY job on the winter wheels we fitted. But I'd like these wheels done properly.

 

[Brian mc21]

Dearer doesn’t always mean better. We had a wheel done by a certain well known refurb company with an extra £25 for special order paint which took the bill for the wheel to £125 iirc. Noticed a few small marks where I was hitting the very corner of the back of the spokes when cleaning the back of the rim. Obviously the overall thickness mustn’t have been great.

 

[MarkM]

Cobra now put double the laquer on diamond cut wheels, ceramic coated they’ll be fine, problems start if they get chipped or curbed though, they definitely aren’t as hardy as painted ones

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

Tough one. I do think those styles suit the grey/diamond cut combo better, but it never lasts.

That's my worry. I also asked if a 2 tone paint job was a possibility (like hyper silver instead of diamond cut) but they said it would get expensive.

 

[Lyons]

You could do them shadow chrome, would probably be the best painted colour choice.

 

[Steve750]

I sold my parallels about 500 miles after I diamond cut them. They spent longer in my room ‘curing’ than they did on the car
I saw a stone chip on each rear dish and had to get shot of them. Looking back I should have just used a lacquer pen to prevent the corrosion happening
Amazing to look at but they break your heart

 

[colin84]

Diamond cut just won't last with our climate, which is why most (if any) won't give you a guarantee with it. Not just mask off those parts and spray them yourself?

 

[combergti]

Tough call some wheels look better with diamond cut as they were originally. My monzas are in a real **** state with the lacquer coming away. They're the worst thing about the car. Can't decide to get them done again or paint or replace altogether. Or try sell the car as is.

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

I sold my parallels about 500 miles after I diamond cut them. They spent longer in my room ‘curing’ than they did on the car
I saw a stone chip on each rear dish and had to get shot of them. Looking back I should have just used a lacquer pen to prevent the corrosion happening
Amazing to look at but they break your heart
View attachment 305639

Thing is most corrosion I've seen in in the "dish" of the wheel or from the centres out. These wheels dont really have much surface to get chips etc. Or will that not matter ?

Diamond cut just won't last with our climate, which is why most (if any) won't give you a guarantee with it. Not just mask off those parts and spray them yourself?

Want a proper job done on these ones.

 

[Todd]

Diamond cut for me. I always think it really cheapens a wheel if it’s fully painted instead of the original diamond cut finish.

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

Diamond cut for me. I always think it really cheapens a wheel if it’s fully painted instead of the original diamond cut finish.

I agree but it's not a real obvious diamond cut, maybe just bare aluminium lacquered over ? Does that make sense ? Like if u look at the pics it doesn't look full diamond cut. Wouldn't look too out of place all one colour as from a short distance you cant really tell at the min.

 

[AlpineF30]

Diamond cut does look better but when I was posed with the choice for my M3 I went with the shadow chrome.

Not a millions miles off diamond cut but has been on the car for 2 and a half years now and not a mark on them.

The diamond cut on my M4 had corrosion after 8 months. Dealer said can be micro chips and will occur around the centre when the nuts are removed if they hit the surface with a nut or the gun.

 

[Carson]

I had our 19s on the Avant done twice simply because the usual white worming / corrosion started on the polished lips. It’s impossible not to get a micro stone chip and then the inevitable happens. Never again, I went for fully painted with matt lacquer.

 

[CharlySkunkWeed]

I had our 19s on the Avant done twice simply because the usual white worming / corrosion started on the polished lips. It’s impossible not to get a micro stone chip and then the inevitable happens. Never again, I went for fully painted with matt lacquer.

View attachment 305647

Very similar design. So yours still corroded then ?

 

[Eddies]

I wouldn't get diamond cut. I'd seen ones last only a winter here and be wrecked. I used to redo my lips years back and they where about coated loads and didn't hold up was out evey 6 months redoing them again. I got mine sprayed to remove the diamond cut back in July ish time, by a27 engineering and had another body shop pass comment on how well they were finished.