MX-5 OC Forum

Hi all, finaly got my MX5 (been waiting years to own one) its a 54 plate grey Arctic.  Unfortunately it appears it hasn't been as lovingly care for as it should.  I plan to put this right if I can, I've manage to tidy up the interior and I have a couple of small repairs to do around the bodywork, (not too bad) but it's the 20 spoke alloys, quite blistered and peeling.  Apart from looking ugly, I was wondering whether it was worth the expense of getting them repaired professionaly because the job of doing it myself looks like it could be tiring and time consuming, any suggestions?  All help gratefully received. 

Sorry forgot to say I'm in Shropshire 

Hello and welcome! They are my fave type of MX5 wheel, try rubbing them down one at a time, less daunting than trying to do them all at the same time - Rome was not built in a day- very therapeutic too

If you decide to get a new set of sexy new rims, I will buy the 20 spokes from you.......please?

Dr. Eunos

My Wife recently had her alloys refurbed, they had seen better days, beyond a DIY job, anyway it was cheaper to get them done professionally then buy the same style new. Lepsons of Swindon did a grand job repairing the kerbing, welding a chipped rim and taking out a buckle, just under 75 pounds (inc. VAT) a wheel.

 Professional refurbs are relatively inexpensive at around £50 a wheel at the larger places that operate a sort of production line set up. Results are usually great.

The dreaded 20% VAT bumped the cost up.

Where did you get yours done Howie? I was enquiring in ProTyre the other day and they didn't know of anybody in the area - they use a place near Poole.

I can't help think there's a business opportunity around here if that's the case.

Thanks everyone, will probably go with zpat, I did consider repairing them one at a time myself but it just looks too big a job 

Hello Victormeldrew, Lepsons.com. Swindon 01793-887223.

Cheers Howie, they look pretty good. By the time you've spent £50 on materials and days of messing about getting an amateur finish, it starts looking pretty cheap too.

Friend of mine used to spend ages prepping his wheels for a rattle can finish, then he went for a mobile alloy refurbisher and he was not impressed, so he too went down the professional route. The down side is the expense and that the car is off the road for 4/5 days, there is a company in Liverpool that will supply  refurbed rims and take yours in return for a price?

I think the 20 spoke wheels are the best looking Mazda ever fitted.  My fronts were also in need of refurb when I got the car.  I used a company called BJV  Engineering, Hertforshire.

Excellent job and only £40 a wheel + vat. but that was 18 months ago.

R-b

The big place near me will take a car in the morning and finish it the same day if you want that option. Otherwise drop wheels off for 2-3 days.

Not used mobile refurbs - but can't be as good as this sort of place.

http://www.wheelworksuk.co.uk/

bit too far for me, will look around locally thank you

Hi DaftCow, The Wheel Specialist did a good job for me at around £245 the four (with MX5OC discount).  I opted for a more expensive colour so a standard one will be cheaper - silver, black, white or grey etc.  They are a franchise so they may have a branch near you but I used Cwmbran, South Wales.  My wheels look like Ron Webb's grey five spokes on the member's photos on MX5OC website front page. Beware the mobile operators, they usually only do the outside face, my wheels now look like new (they are date stamped 1994).

Cheers,

Bob

Thanks for that I'll look into into the Wheel Specialist, cheers

Di