Hi all,

Managed to kerb my N/S front yesterday when filling up, much to my anger and disgruntlement. God knows what the other filler-uppers thought when I was stood there swearing.

Anyway, as I've worked on alloys before I thought I'd repair this myself with an assortment of grades of aluminium oxide paper and some paint.

Trouble was the paint was a tricky choice and I didn't have access to either this forum (nothing above 3G) and no open dealers. So after much deliberation and comparison of paints against the wheel I opted for "Audi Silver".

Now the colour is actually a pretty damn good match, BUT it's lacking in both metallic fleck and sheen - in essence it's a tad grey. :(

Here' we go, freshly done:

The end furthest away, now minus masking:

The side closest to the camera on this shot:

On this shot it's the bottom left corner

Now I think the proper paint code is called "VW Alloy Silver". Does anyone have any experience of either purchasing or using this? Is a lacquer required or can it just go on as is?

Reason I'm asking most of this is I had a proper mobile alloy firm come out last time as I couldn't be bothered and essentially he used a flap disk on an angle grinder to remove the scuff (think it was like a polishing wheel) and then a rattle can to cover up and the job was excellent - you can't tell he's been there. This means it is possible to do with such simple tools and a single can of paint, I just hope I can get that paint.

Cheers,

Chris.

Or apparently this gives an exact match - has anyone used it? Wurth "German Alloy Wheel Silver".

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001MPSTM8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p263_d0_g263_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0KVEGZKQ9CMMF2RQK4PA&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

Looks good to me in pic!

Look for audi oxygen silver, someone on here has just had theirs done and reckon its a 100% match. Yes you will require a clear lacquer with yours. Ideally use a white primer too to get a lighter silver.

Paint code L1H7, link for other thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/237799-vrs-zenith-alloys-oem-paint-code/page__pid__2815922#entry2815922

Can you buy this from an Audi dealer or will I have to find an auto paint shop to have it mixed?

Also the finish is not 100% smooth either. Think lacquer is definitely in order here. God knows how they managed to get such a good finish with one can. :(

I think some cans can be made with a clear coat mix, but you'd be better off with a separate can. The finish is all about the prep. Sometimes on silver you are better off coating the whole wheel, to try to blend silver is very very hard. I'd get the paint mixed at a local paint place and then give the wheel a scotch pad to key the surface, wipe clean with a tack rag, coat with white primer a few times, flat this back so its ultra smooth, then a few thin coats of silver. Don't flat back the silver coat just clear coat over it, not too much clear as it will mute the flake but not too little that there will be no depth in the shine. Once dry just use a cutting compound to achieve a glass like finish.

I've done several refurbs on my standard Octy wheels over the years, and use Halfords VW Diamond Silver, followed by Halfords Clear Lacquer.

In most cases I have not had to spray the whole wheel, but do take in some inches all round the repaired part, and even more area with the clear coat.

So far I have not been able to see the repaired areas after the wheel was replaced.

Hmm, the Halfords stuff I could get tomorrow whereas finding somewhere to mix the specific paint code could be tricky. The wifes Fabia is diamond silver and I have used the touch up pen from that to deal with a few chips on wheels and must say it is a very good match, and nice and full of flake.

I think my issue before was my spraying distance was too far as I was trying to avoid orange peel. Maybe 4 - 8" next time as opposed to the 12" I was doing it at, and it might be less rough.

Hmm, the Halfords stuff I could get tomorrow whereas finding somewhere to mix the specific paint code could be tricky. The wifes Fabia is diamond silver and I have used the touch up pen from that to deal with a few chips on wheels and must say it is a very good match, and nice and full of flake.

I think my issue before was my spraying distance was too far as I was trying to avoid orange peel. Maybe 4 - 8" next time as opposed to the 12" I was doing it at, and it might be less rough.

The trick is very light coats of silver and several of them. Then the lacquer also several coats and it blends the new into the old. I reckon I spray from about 12" away, approx.

Wheel surface must be very clean and dry of course and ideally the wheel horizontal on bench or something, and the tyre near the area masked off.

The trick is very light coats of silver and several of them. Then the lacquer also several coats and it blends the new into the old. I reckon I spray from about 12" away, approx.

Wheel surface must be very clean and dry of course and ideally the wheel horizontal on bench or something, and the tyre near the area masked off.

Ok lovely - trip out tomorrow morning to get some diamond silver and more lacquer. Maybe a scotch pad too so I can smooth out the current texture where I've painted and get the next coat wetter to compensate.

In essence this will make the Audi Silver a bit like a primer as it's given good coverage but as I say lacks the flake and gloss which I'm hoping diamond and lacquer will provide.

Thanks for the advice.

Sorry, just to add - VW Diamond Silver - will that get me an almost exact colour / flake match (providing I use lacquer?). Or is it worth me holding out for the genuine paint code LH17 from somewhere. Currently hunting for paint mixing places near me in case.

Ok lovely - trip out tomorrow morning to get some diamond silver and more lacquer. Maybe a scotch pad too so I can smooth out the current texture where I've painted and get the next coat wetter to compensate.

In essence this will make the Audi Silver a bit like a primer as it's given good coverage but as I say lacks the flake and gloss which I'm hoping diamond and lacquer will provide.

Thanks for the advice.

Okay - bear in mind I'm talking about regular standard Vega alloys as fitted to 1.8 Elegance - can't guarantee they are the same silver as yours !!

Just googled the Vega alloys and the colour looks the same. Wouldn't surprise me if they used the same code across the board to save ££ and keep things simple.

Thanks mate - Diamond Silver it is.

Just a word of warning, this is for Audi but I'm guessing that these paints are shared throughout the VAG group. Don't underestimate how many different shades of silver there are...

After a bit of deliberation I've changed my mind and decided to find some proper L1H7 paint. Found someone selling it so placed an order.

Thought that I might need some if I kerb another wheel so I'd rather have some of the proper stuff in stock.

Thanks for all the advice guys,

Chris.

I had an alloy scraped in a tyre shop without me noticing. To be honest all I did was touch it up and although it stands out like the balls on a greyhound when I look at it closely I cannot see it at all without stooping down. I thought I would have a lot more scrapes and then get them completely refinished but have been otherwise lucky so far. Be interested to see how you get on.

Hi

You mentioned you had a source for the correct paint but never let us in on the secret.

Care to share???

Need to sort wifes wheel as she kerbed it and burst a nearly new tyre when a kid ran out in front of her. I thought the kids parents should have stumped up for the tyre and the repair but they fecked off.

Cheers

Dave

This guy

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=180889628144&index=2&nav=SEARCH&nid=07995690617

Will see how good the quality is.....

Just checked and the wheels on my Ambiente(Helios) are the same colour as the Zeniths I've just got to replace them. I believe the Elegance ones are the same Silver too.