Hi all, I'm looking at a vehicle that comes with Propus wheels. Just wondering how easily they are repaired (including DIY) for the inevitable dings. On my SEAT, it was pretty easy to repair with alloy filler and buy the genuine spray paint to touch up. Just wondering if the spray paints are as easily sourced etc and if so someone can point me in the right direction of the right paint etc.

Well, for what regards the reparability, they are as any other alloy rim, so filler and welding if needed can be made.

The problem comes with the "shining" surface, which requires a specific workshop that makes "diamond cut" finish. Unless you come across the (very expensive) tooling, I do not think you can DIY that.

A damaged rim like that would need to be, for example, welded/filled, then painted, then goes to the diamond cut, then on top the transparent lacquer. It is not cheap, I seem to recall 2.5/3x times the cost of a "normal" wheel spray, but this to be confirmed by some local shop in your area ....

Also, wheel needs to be very straight for the machining, so make sure they go first for check. Usually the same shop that makes the diamond cut will inspect them beforehand, at least that they did for me, and for free - I had a set of Pentas made for an old MB.

My approach to this is wait until they are too bad to cope with and then get them done professionally in a single colour.

My view is similar, to use them until they look very bad or the finish starts to rot & replace them with aftermarket wheels when I'm going to replace the tyres at the same time.

There are nice basic aftermarket wheels <€100 a corner.

My winter wheels were just over €800 with Conti tyres, fitted, balanced & delivered

The problem with aftermarket is the insurance companies can get grumpy. You need to tell them if anything is not OEM. Often it won't change the cost other than an admin fee. Worth bearing in mind with this stuff. It's why I aim for OEM from a different spec when going for wheels.

In Switzerland as long as they come with the homologation certificate to say they are approved for your vehicle there's no problem.

It's common to change the wheels in the winter & even the garages sell aftermarket wheels with the car from new.

I'd consider to buy OEM wheels at a small premium but they are almost 4x the price of the equivalent aftermarket wheel which is crazy.

They'd sell loads more if they reduced the price in half.

I have some of those wheels on eBay not mint. With tyres.

These wheels were one of the main reasons I bought the car. I love them, although I haven't thought about what happens when the lacquer starts to peel and the wife kerbs them..

has anyone had these sprayed a solid colour? any photos?

What are Propus alloys? Google says Volvo so I’m confused

2 hours ago, Danoid said:

What are Propus alloys? Google says Volvo so I’m confused

8Jx18 ET44 5/112 57.1 alloy rim PROPUS 3V0601025B FL8 (from Superb MK3)

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/SUP/851/6/601/601080

Edited 14 May, 20251 yr by Carlston

Having now had the car a few days, I'm in the camp of quite liking the wheels (I may not be saying that once they are kerbed and I can't repair them though!!)

Hi , On my previous car I ran through a few very small notifications issues that did not create any issues for my insurance company.

My Mercedes AMG diamond cut alloys looked terrible but structurally sound.

I told them I would like to powder coat them in silver to make the car look presentable.

You would think that I asked them if I could install a big V8 engine in a mini.

In the end they did agree but I suggest that prior to any change to original specification to the car inform the insurance company.

I'm not sure I'd bother telling the insurance about that sort of thing. Changing wheels, yes, but a simple refurb, probably not - with Admiral anyway, there's only the option for non-standard wheels.

I mean, would you tell them if you painted your calipers red?

9 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

I'm not sure I'd bother telling the insurance about that sort of thing. Changing wheels, yes, but a simple refurb, probably not - with Admiral anyway, there's only the option for non-standard wheels.

I mean, would you tell them if you painted your calipers red?

You probably should yes. If they can get out of paying out, they will

Hi ,

Agree

Well, whether I periodically maintain my calipers by cleaning and refreshing the paint, either using silverish Zn/Al paint, or red paint, or any other colour for that matter, I reckon that is simply maintenance of the original parts, and not a MODIFICATION which is what my insurance company would need informing of.

Hi , I hope not to offend re colour of brake caliper: Bright red calipers if available normally would be an extra charge.

However , boy racer springs to mind or a car owner who really cares for his car !

When I was younger I was both a boy racer an owner who looked after his wheels.

Ford Anglia 105E , Corsair 2000 gearbox , Kent 1.6 GT engine , lowered , 5.5 wheels and Dunlop SP68 tyres ,straight through exhaust.

Were the brakes upgraded , no just had to press harder on the middle peddle !!

On 09/06/2025 at 15:23, Shuggyboatsuperb said:

Well, whether I periodically maintain my calipers by cleaning and refreshing the paint, either using silverish Zn/Al paint, or red paint, or any other colour for that matter, I reckon that is simply maintenance of the original parts, and not a MODIFICATION which is what my insurance company would need informing of.

I mean, if you were swapping the wheels out then of course you would tell your insurance.

If you were powder coating originally grey wheels luminescent orange, I might be tempted to do some digging and maybe phone them up to ask the question.

If they were simply being refurbed from silver to grey, black, diamond cut, or any other OE colour, I wouldn't bother. I mean, where is the line drawn? Technically if you get them refurbed in the exact same colour, they are still non-standard. Would swapping out 18" Gemini for 19" Xtreme be non-standard?

That being said, for the £10 it cost me to do 'non-standard alloys' with Admiral, I'd probably just tick the box.

I recently had Hastings ask for 11 different photos of my car and my insurance was placed under "Investigation"

They immediately questioned the wheels as the car should have had Propus wheels but has Vega Aero option.

I had to provide the factory build sheet to prove the car left the factory with the Vega Aero alloys.

A quick google seems to suggest this is becoming more common. Car insurance companies seem to be more strict on checking in recent years.

Even if painting wheels I'd inform the insurance.

It's strange that the UK doesn't use the European system, I find that really convenient.

When you buy nonOEM wheels from online shops they come with a certificate to say they are homologated for use on the respective OEM applications.

They have the same spec, size, fitting etc

By default they will only sell wheels approved for your car (unless you agree you understand you are buying non approved wheels)

This certificate is mandatory for non OEM wheels to pass the MOT test.

If you have this certificate then there's nothing to do for insurance or MOT, just keep the document with your registration documents.

Nothing is strange in the UK about anything to do with Type Approval, Legislation, MOT,s and how lax they are.

As far as the insurance industry nothing strange there either. They will sell write offs and other than those write offs where parts can not be used they might well be rebuilt. repaired, well or poorly and be back on the roads.

Maybe using a stolen vehicle or it,s parts as a donor.

Anyone can run a garage, or tyre and exhaust centre and anyone can buy and repair or modify vehicles.

& still,

you can get a MOT around the UK without the car ever being at the testing station.

There needs to be CCTV at all testing bays as there was in a pilot scheme with motor cycles at some test stations.

VIN readers & stations and Registration Plates that can not just be changed to any car would be a starter.

& a Annual Sticker / QR / Bar code on the windscreen showing MOT,VED & Insurance would be 'Simply Clever'.

Actual Build Stickers the MOT / Police can check, and the cars revenue weight checked and plugging into the OBD would be simple, and was proposed. Came to nothing.

Hi , agree with 99% of what you say.

I cannot prove what I am writing about MOT stations but fairly sure the are graded A B or C but not advised.

Not idea which is best or even correct