As some of you know my cousin is buying a new van but wants new wheels for it. He's narrowed it down to two but both have diamond cut surfaces. There's warnings on the site saying they need to be cleaned regularly else they'll deteriorate. How exactly do they deteriorate? His biggest problem is that he's always working and doesn't have time every week to clean the van, maybe once a fortnight or once a month.

Now I'll be sealing and waxing the van when he gets it and I normally use AG EGP and Collinite which should be fine for the van itself and on my own wheels I do the same. But is this fine for diamond cut wheels?

Diamond cut alloy wheels need specialist care and servicing; not only can damaged alloys offset the whole look of your car but water can seep in and damage your wheels

Diamond Wheels are machine cut and require weekly washing with neutral PH detergents. We do NOT offer any warranty against corrosion as the condition will entirely depend on customer care and maintenance. During the winter months, special care must be taken to wash and remove Road Salt and Grit.

Jeepers....Diamond cut rims sound fragile!! Not ideal if ur cousin isn't regulary cleaning them?!

That's what I saw but it seems 99% of the wheels for Vivaro's (except the standard 16"s) that are actually suitable for vans have diamond cutting on them.

Delaminating is the biggest issue with them

What does that mean? Any way of stopping it?

Stone chips causing water to get in behind the lacquer making it come away.

White worming!!

Worst design in alloys ever. If they're not washed and waxed very often, they will start to white worm, then eventually peel off.

Mates bodyshop has contract with VW and 90% of his work is Refurbing the wheels even on brand new cars.

stip the lacquer and polish the face regularly to protect instead, you just cant stop lacquer worming/peeling

As has been stated above these sort of wheel finishes are a nightmare and one of the reasons many people steer clear of them as in the long run they will look crap over time.......... :think:

My 19's were Diamond Cut and I kept them in good condition for as long as I could, I am sure your aware of how often I clean my motor, trouble is after one week of being left on it's own after having been out in the salt covered roads and they were knackered. In the end I decided to Mirror Polish them and that turned out to be easier to maintain as you can also rub that back and polish marks out, on Diamound Cut, once the lacquer is penetrated you have had it.........

You have to be really careful with the sort of Wheel Cleaner's your using as well as these can eat through the lacquer and stain the wheels........

Thanks guys I thought as much. He did ask if they do end up going like that could he get them sprayed in a different colour. I presume this is possible with diamond cut wheels? How much does mirror polishing cost to do? That may be a good option

Thanks guys I thought as much. He did ask if they do end up going like that could he get them sprayed in a different colour. I presume this is possible with diamond cut wheels? How much does mirror polishing cost to do? That may be a good option

The problem is that as the Diamond Cut finish is lacquered it needs to be stripped and then painted over but it can be done and most 'front face' refurb jobs will do exactly that, a good example of this is the Audi Speedline Alloys with the Diamond Cut Lip, they always go and people either Mirror Polish them or just paint over them...........

Mirror polishing can be cheap but it all depends on the complexity of the wheel and area, I think when I got my dishes done it was around £40 per wheel...........

I've already come across this problem with Diamond Cut Wheels. Mine are polished with a chromed layer on top. Nightmare to keep clean especially when you can't stop kerbing them :(