Could do with a little help / advice on this one. I happened to scuff the offside alloy slightly whilst in a hurry and am abs gutted as the car is only 3 months old!

The damage really isn't that bad and it is only a minor scuff i.e. not that deep but still noticeable. It is on the outside of the rim near to the tyre. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to repair it? Should I attempt it myself or get some bodyshop to sort it out for me? Thanks in advance!

I'd give the wheel a good clean and get any dirt out of the scuff first all. This alone often makes it look better. Then try polishing out as much of it as possible. You may then be able to rectify any remaining scuffing with some touch up paint.

I'm fairly pragmatic about this sort of thing now, especially as my wife uses the car on a daily basis. Wheels will inevitably get scuffed at some point and personally I wouldn't bother getting the whole wheel refurbed unless there was significant and unsightly damage. If, after doing the above it still looked bad I may consider it but from experience of wheel refurbs in the past they never look as good as when the wheel was new.

Some people on here have gone to the extreme of buying a new wheel which is possibly a bit extreme but nevertheless always an option!

Hmmm... I'm not so bothered that I'd go out and buy a whole new replacement wheel, that could be expensive!

I'll give it a good clean later and see what it looks like then. The touch up pen is an idea, that may just be enough to hide it. Failing that, I had read somewhere that you can sand it down then fill it in with putty or body filler and touch that up. I'm not really a dab hand at DIY though so I'd rather not attempt that myself.

Just one of those gutting things I suppose!

I suspect it is inevitable with the 40 & 45 profile rubber on 18" & 17" wheels. All the 18" wheels on my Mondeo Zetec-S where scraped to h*ll by the time it got to 80,000. Just can't be avoided without extreme care and the use of a banksman every single time you park. Gave up in the end. The 55 profile tyres/wheels do not seem to suffer this at all!

After the Mondy, I no longer care for big wide wheels and harsh suspension. Great for the track but altogether too many drawbacks for the road.

I suspect it is inevitable with the 40 & 45 profile rubber on 18" & 17" wheels.

You're right, I have the 18" wheels but the rubber is so close to the road that even low kerbs are a hazard!

I'm lucky in that I've never scraped any wheels on any of my cars until now. Might ask the bodyshop if they can do something when the car goes in for a service but otherwise I guess I'll just have to learn to live with it :(

You could try a refurb by Wicked Wheels

Mobile Alloy Wheel Refurbishment and Mobile Vehicle Repair - Welcome to Wicked Wheels

Not sure if there is one in your area. Have used them a couple of times and very pleased with the results. £45 per wheel for repair of the scuff and full repaint and laquer.

Just done my scuff [see my "Wheel Colour" thread].

Took wheel off so as it could be worked on horizontal. Thorough clean and degrease of scuffed area.

Filled scuff with thick silver touch-up paint [exact colour doesn't matter - you can use clear top coat just as well].

When set, sanded paint very smooth with 1200 wet and dry used wet. (This is the most important bit to get dead right)

Masked off tyre and undamaged areas of wheel. Just one spoke and its bit of rim left uncovered.

Sprayed filled/sanded scuff with Halford's VW Diamond Silver. (Don't spray up to the masking or you get a line] several thin coats till filled area vanished.

When dry, sprayed over that with Halford's Clear Lacquer. Three or four thin coats.

Result - exact match in both colour and texture

Cost flumpence [i had both paints here anyway].

Just done my scuff [see my "Wheel Colour" thread].

Took wheel off so as it could be worked on horizontal. Thorough clean and degrease of scuffed area.

Filled scuff with thick silver touch-up paint [exact colour doesn't matter - you can use clear top coat just as well].

When set, sanded paint very smooth with 1200 wet and dry used wet. (This is the most important bit to get dead right)

Masked off tyre and undamaged areas of wheel. Just one spoke and its bit of rim left uncovered.

Sprayed filled/sanded scuff with Halford's VW Diamond Silver. (Don't spray up to the masking or you get a line] several thin coats till filled area vanished.

When dry, sprayed over that with Halford's Clear Lacquer. Three or four thin coats.

Result - exact match in both colour and texture]

Cost flumpence [i had both here paints anyway].

Thanks very much. I may try that as it doesn't look too bad, even for someone of my capabilities (or lack of!) What would you call 'thick' touch up paint? Any particular brand or type? Is it better than using filler instead?

If I don't feel brave enough to tackle it on my own, I may call Wicked Wheels and see what they quote. As the damage isn't that bad though I may try this myself when the weather gets a little better and I have more time!

Thanks very much. I may try that as it doesn't look too bad, even for someone of my capabilities (or lack of!) What would you call 'thick' touch up paint? Any particular brand or type? Is it better than using filler instead?

If I don't feel brave enough to tackle it on my own, I may call Wicked Wheels and see what they quote. As the damage isn't that bad though I may try this myself when the weather gets a little better and I have more time!

The touch-up paint was Halfords stuff for my old [silver] Mk 1 vRS. Yes, filler would be quicker on a deep scuff - the touch-up paint can only work in layers applied over a period of time. A simple two component filler would be fine. Just let it set well (maybe till next day) and sand it really smooth. I found even when the colour match was fine, the "raised" area showed through if I hadn't got the filling medium really smoothed down to the surrounding area. On previous cars, with more extensive kerbing say, I have resprayed whole wheels . The biggest task then is masking off the tyre etc.

Also make sure the wheel area is really clean and wax free before you start.

if you dont want to get it repaired yet, at least put some clear lacquer over the damage to prevent corrosion.

If you go the touch up pen route then try a bit of filling spray primer under it to smooth it out.

Spray this into a jam jar lid etc and then brush it on in a few thinish layers to smooth out the jagged edges.

If you go the touch up pen route then try a bit of filling spray primer under it to smooth it out.

Spray this into a jam jar lid etc and then brush it on in a few thinish layers to smooth out the jagged edges.

There is also a Halford's spray called Leveller. I reckon it is just compressed thinners, but the idea is you spray it over aerosol finishes until it just looks "wet", then leave it. Gives a more professional finish but I found it only worked well when the surface is horizontal, hence another reason for removal of wheel.

I didn't need it for my wheel job though.

Fair enough i was thinking to fill the mark level before you painted it, but probably similar effect.

I used some useful people down here, they are part of a national franchise, carperfections.co.uk.

Unfortunately, I can't retrace the steps to find their franchise from their website.

They were brilliant, £40 for a new looking wheel and were able to help in a week.

to be honest, do you really want your pride and joy running round on wheels you have repaired yourself, no matter how good at it you are?

I personally park at least 12 inches from any kerb, saves any possibility of scratching the alloys!

Billy:)

12" from the kerb... I do hope you fold your wing mirrors in every time as you're more likely to get clipped by a van/bus etc

12" from the kerb... I do hope you fold your wing mirrors in every time as you're more likely to get clipped by a van/bus etc

Hey Cheeze, rather have the wing mirror go than the door panel!!!

Actually, I am neurotic about where I park. Any hotel I stay at has to provide me with 'special parking arrangements' or they don't get my business, and as for leaving my car on a busy public road... no thanks. I policed these streets for 6 1/2 years, most of em can't drive, don't even get me started on 4x4 drivers!!!

Billy:rofl:

Could do with a little help / advice on this one. I happened to scuff the offside alloy slightly whilst in a hurry and am abs gutted as the car is only 3 months old!

The damage really isn't that bad and it is only a minor scuff i.e. not that deep but still noticeable. It is on the outside of the rim near to the tyre. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to repair it? Should I attempt it myself or get some bodyshop to sort it out for me? Thanks in advance!

Hi Scott noticed youre in Huddersfield...I got some major wheel curbing sorted out by 'Impact Bodyshop Repair' in Brighouse (behind sainsburys), the owner drives an RS4 and there was a footballers type Bentley in for a front end repair when I took mine in, so I think they know what theyre doing. Was £60 cash as I remember (on the expensive side but the wheel was totally goosed - my missus!!, coming out of a carpark built for Austin A35's!), the finish is totally back to new and is still holding up a year later.

I would however be tempted to live with the scratch if it aint that bad, see how you feel about it in a few weeks time, as ultmately the repair probably involves repainting the whole wheel (I'm pretty sure it would have in my case) and I'm not sure how it will hold up when kwikfit etc get their hands on it next time a new tyre is required.

I'd stick the wheel on the front nearside and sleep safe in the knowledge £60 can fix any future mishaps!!