Hi, Need some advice please regarding my Gemini Alloy wheels - Had car now 3 months and realised the Alloys were refurbed straight away, which wasn't really an issue until now, as the paint around a few of the wheel nuts is flaking off.. So obviously the garage I got car from did not do a good prep on the wheels. I can see that the colour is black under the paint chips which is probably why they resprayed them - as the silver/bronze? colour they are now is nearer the original silver colour of the Gemini.

Anyway I'd like to have them professionally refurbed but I can't because I'm on a PCP agreement. I've rung the finance company regarding car modifications and they told me I can refurb them BUT at end of agreement I would need to return them to their currant colour!.. So that rules that out.

They did say I can put new Alloys on, so long as again I keep and replace with the existing Alloys. So my dilemma is if I do nothing then more and more of the paint will chip off especially when wheels are removed, and it shows because of the black paint underneath. And pretty sure I'd get nowhere with the car company if I tell them now that their workshop did a rough job on the refurb, as they'd say I bought 'as seen'. Which I did, but the alloys looked okay then with no chips. Any ideas - what would you do?

You can have them professionally refurbished to the Original colour. 

 

I assume this was a used car you bought since the wheels were refurbed by KERB SIDE autos for some dealer / trader. 

 

The finance company do not even know the original colour or the state of the wheels on the car they financed. 

 

If you want the car nice while you have it then get the wheels done properly and return the car with better wheels than it came to you.

Just do not get some outrages colour on them. 

Yes I'd have been happy if car had the original Gemini Silver & diamond cut look. The car came from Carshop who are a big company and have a quick turnaround so I realised after I got car that they'd cut some corners on it.. Anyway yes car was/is a used 2019 model with 31k on it.

Didn't realise Finance company don't know currant colour of wheels? I don't know either! as it's not on my paperwork and I can't even touch them up without knowing exact colour..

I'd really like black Alloys as car is Black - but that's very obviously not original when and if I hand car back. So maybe I can get a good refurb done then in close to the original Gemini colour with a diamond cut. Thanks 👍

Gemini wheels are Anthracite. You could get them redone in another colour - I'm considering smoke silver or Anthracite without the diamond cut myself - but some insurance companies view this as a modification.

 

There's pics of black and silver in this thread;

 

And the original paint code is HA7 according to this thread;

 

Edited 30 October, 20232 yr by HappySam

@HappySamWhich insurance companies consider changing the colour of the wheels the car came from the factory with as a modification to declare? 

No idea. There was this thread on Pistonheads a while back; https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1729057&i=0

 

and if you search alloy wheel colour change insurance you'll find several mentions of declaring it.

To be safe I think that you should declare to the insurers that you have thought about changing the colour, after all that must be classed as something with intent or conspiracy to make a modification and it was posted on a public forum 😂

 

I'll get me coat..............................

35 minutes ago, J.R. said:

To be safe I think that you should declare to the insurers that you have thought about changing the colour, after all that must be classed as something with intent or conspiracy to make a modification and it was posted on a public forum 😂

 

I'll get me coat..............................

Yes I'd planned to tell my insurance of a colour or different wheel change - can't give them any reason at all to not pay out on a possible claim... 

2 hours ago, HappySam said:

Gemini wheels are Anthracite. You could get them redone in another colour - I'm considering smoke silver or Anthracite without the diamond cut myself - but some insurance companies view this as a modification.

 

There's pics of black and silver in this thread;

 

And the original paint code is HA7 according to this thread;

 

Thanks - I didn't know they were Anthracite - looks much better than silver imo. And I've made a note of that paint code too for the refurb guys