Kerbed Gemini :-(

[CBMotorsport]

I've had the car 6 weeks and the first time the Mrs uses it properly for a week while I was away she kerbs one of my wheels. I'd told her to be overly cautious as they are so easy to kerb and said if in doubt stop and leave plenty of room to the kerb etc etc. But no... :-( 

 

I hate kerbed wheels, they just look scruffy, and make it look like you don't care and you can't drive. The scar is about 2 inches long and is on the very outside edge of the rim. Although not a major one, I'll always notice it, so I am going to get the wheel repaired.

 

Any idea of cost to repair? It's an anthracite gemini.

 

Thanks,

 

CB

[mk4gtiturbo]

Expensive as it's a diamond cut finish.  Normal painted would be about £40 a wheel, as it's diamond cut it won't surprise me if it's £100 or more.  You could try www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk as I hear they are quite good.

[BA Baracus]

Cost won't matter because your missus should pay for it...

 

Sure she will be more careful next time  :p

[CBMotorsport]

Umm..

 

She will def pay for it, she's even offered to. I doubt she expects me to take her up on the offer though but it will make her more careful next time, especially at £100 a time.

[toni8b]

A woman that cannot drive a car in not a proper woman.

 

I think you need a divorce.

[M12MKD]

This is one reason the other half will not be driving my Octavia (19" xtremes!!).

 

I feel your pain!

[Black_Sheep]

I've had 2 repaired so far; one was £108 and the other £156. Both were minor damage to diamond finish only - only needed to be recut and lacquered / polished.

The anthracite is classed as a custom finish and normally charges a premium if paint required.

Where are you located so that people on here can recommend places that have been used before?

[pipsyp]

One reason for getting regular Gemini's or Pictoris fitted despite not being half as attractive.

I had a fairly bad experience of having diamond cut alloys on my old Fabia vRS and swore I wouldn't have them again....but then you see them in the flesh and it wipes those thoughts out of one's mind!

Edited 2 September, 2014 by pipsyp

[meb90]

I was quoted £200 by two different places to repair an 18" anthracite gemini as I had gone right through to the metal for about 5 inches around the circumference of the rim, and taken a few small chunks out too!

 

I was told that due to the damage, it would be a full blast back to metal, rebuild, paint, diamond cut and then laquer type affair.

 

Blooming kerbs!!!

[CBMotorsport]

I've had 2 repaired so far; one was £108 and the other £156. Both were minor damage to diamond finish only - only needed to be recut and lacquered / polished.

The anthracite is classed as a custom finish and normally charges a premium if paint required.

Where are you located so that people on here can recommend places that have been used before?

 

I live in Hertfordshire, but work in Milton Keynes/Bucks area.

[gullyg]

Some of these prices being quoted aren't far off the cost of a new one, especially if you fancy a full sized space (or if swmbo is going to kerb 4 a full set of winter wheels )

 

http://www.skodaparts.com/product/octavia-alloy-wheel-18-inch-gemini-2013-2013-50648

[Keith64]

Try Pristine Wheels in Woburn Sands.

[decuk]

Reading this thread, I'm glad I had a set of AlloyGators fitted the day after I got it. They maybe don't look marvellous (black). They scuff easily, The raised curb and narrow drive access at home is my problem.I have to knock them back in occasionally with a £ shop rubber mallet. But so far rims are ok. £100 fitted. But make sure they give you the remaining trim as I think there's enough for 5, I forgot, and the mallet in the kit.

[themanwithnoaim]

I think you need a divorce.

I'm sure he wasn't thinking of spending that much !

[TroyChallenger]

I kerbed one of my 18" Gemini silvers (I've never kerbed a wheel, alloy or otherwise) driving home one night after a family night out (I expressly told the wife we shouldn't be late seeing as I'd have been up since 5a.m but did she listen?)

 

Hey ho, I was driving so it was my fault even though I was worn out.

 

I bought a new one from http://www.skodaparts.com/products (£286 delivered IIRC) and sold the scuffed one on Gumtree for £145.

 

It costs too much to have them repaired, just buy a replacement.

[Black_Sheep]

I bought a new one from http://www.skodaparts.com/products (£286 delivered IIRC) and sold the scuffed one on Gumtree for £145.

It costs too much to have them repaired, just buy a replacement.

Eh?

You were rather lucky IMO to get £145 for the damaged wheel given the high cost to refurb - was that for the rim only or rim and tyre fitted?

£286 + £20 for tyre fit / balance et al gives a net cost of £161.

If you can get the wheel repaired for £108 then I don't see it as cheaper?

Custom anthracite paint is what bumps up the cost too - with the benefit of hindsight I should have changed all wheels to gloss black at circa £50 per corner.

Edited 3 September, 2014 by Black_Sheep

[Neily03]

I kerbed one of my 18" Gemini silvers (I've never kerbed a wheel, alloy or otherwise) driving home one night after a family night out (I expressly told the wife we shouldn't be late seeing as I'd have been up since 5a.m but did she listen?)

Hey ho, I was driving so it was my fault even though I was worn out.

I bought a new one from http://www.skodaparts.com/products (£286 delivered IIRC) and sold the scuffed one on Gumtree for £145.

It costs too much to have them repaired, just buy a replacement.

A sliver Gemini can be easily repaired for around £70....

[CBMotorsport]

Having had a further look, the damage is literally only to the very inner edge of the rim where it's not painted anthracite, and really quite minor. I can't see it costing 3 figures hopefully.

 

I'll try pristine wheels Keith, I drive past them almost weekly, so I had them down on the list. Also been recommended Perfect Paint in Blakelands, apparently that's where VW take their cars. 

[pipsyp]

I kerbed one of my 18" Gemini silvers (I've never kerbed a wheel, alloy or otherwise) driving home one night after a family night out (I expressly told the wife we shouldn't be late seeing as I'd have been up since 5a.m but did she listen?)

Hey ho, I was driving so it was my fault even though I was worn out.

I bought a new one from http://www.skodaparts.com/products (£286 delivered IIRC) and sold the scuffed one on Gumtree for £145.

It costs too much to have them repaired, just buy a replacement.

You can get wheels decently smart repaired for £60-80 and it'll look like nothing ever happened. Buying a new wheel (particularly a painted one) is a bit extreme unless extensively damaged/possibly buckled or cracked.

I've kerbed a few wheels in my time and never had to buy a replacement wheel.

[Black_Sheep]

You can get wheels decently smart repaired for £60-80 and it'll look like nothing ever happened. Buying a new wheel (particularly a painted one) is a bit extreme unless extensively damaged/possibly buckled or cracked.

I've kerbed a few wheels in my time and never had to buy a replacement wheel.

A decent wheel repair specialist will be able to sort minor buckles and cracks out too.

Only difference with repaired diamond cut wheel is that the diamond cutting takes a few mm of metal away so the detail around the edge of the Gemini wheels is a bit wider than the norm.

[markytop]

I'll give another shout for Pristine Wheels in Woburn Sands - when I lived in MK I took the wheels from my TVR there to be re-done. They did a great job, and even took photos etc when they were fully stripped right back to show where there may be damage or fatigue in the base alloy, just so I was aware before they covered it all back up when painted. Obviously these were 12 year old wheels, so unlikely to have the same issues with a new Gemini, but I was impressed by their attention to detail and process. They can even lend you a set of wheels as replacement while they are being repaired.

Not necessarily the cheapest place, but I was impressed with them, hence my recommendation.