Gutter Rash on Detroits - advice please!

[Corey_R]

I'm not sure there was a time limit per se. But you're not allowed to exceed a max speed and they wear out a lot quicker than normal tyres.
Also, if at all possible, put it on the rear and not the front... the rear wheels in your GTI just stop you from dragging your exhaust around, but the front wheels are rather important!

[ConR]

Well, that was unsuccessful. Didn't even look at it for more than 2 seconds before saying that there was no way in hell that he could fix it.

So..is it possible to order just one rim? I'm thinking you would have to order the set?

[ConR]

nevermind...just found out...the hard way

$673.40 + tax.....for one rim!!!!

[Corey_R]

$673.40 + tax.....for one rim!!!!

You could get them delivered from the USA for US$473.28 (which is currently ~AUD$520) from ECS Tuning
About the only thing I'd be wanting to confirm if you did import from the USA, is that the "finish" of the wheel is the same as the "Detroits" we receive (i.e. the machined facial, clear coated, with the black interior etc).

[ConR]

thanks again coreying...I've fired them off an email to get confirmation...see what they say

I find it insane that one rim (without tyre) runs over $700, when the whole set (including the tyre) goes for what, $1800 factory fitted? Yikes!!!

[ConR]

Can anyone confirm that 1K0601025BAFZZ is the correct part number for the 18" Detroits on the Mk6 GTI?

Any help appreciated!!!

[ConR]

Sorry all...anyone else who has used these guys?

Alloy Wheel Repair, Mag Wheel Repair - Australia - The Wheel Man - We Come To You

[Super]

Any further luck on repairing your wheels ktrianta? Due to the machined finish, the Detroits do seem to be particularly difficult to repair.

One way seems to involve machining the affected parts and repainting some/all of the wheel (to be as close to new as possible), while the option to get an 'as-new' finish involves machining the whole face of the wheel which is quite a bit more work unfortunately.

[ConR]

Hey Super,

Yes, John from Mobile Wheel Repairs just came by, and I must admit...pretty awesome job. Took him all of 20 minutes. Has slightly changed the profile of the rim, but you can really not notice it unless you look super close.

Can't believe how simple it was for him. Here's are some pics. Really impressed with his work. Would recommend to anyone for sure. Other wheel repair shops didn't even want to attempt to fix it, and shoved me off right away. Magman was one of them.

Before:



After:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Corey_R]

Great news.
Can you please the contact details/address/website for "John"?
Cheers

[ConR]

Ya sure thing:

John Garlick
Alloy Wheel Repair, Mag Wheel Repair - Australia - The Wheel Man - We Come To You
0425 305 590

[STV4SYT]

How much did he sting you for that?

[guest12345]

Ya sure thing:

John Garlick
Alloy Wheel Repair, Mag Wheel Repair - Australia - The Wheel Man - We Come To You
0425 305 590

He worked on my pirellis a few months back, highly recommended. It took around an hour. Mine was $150, great thing is he comes to you!!

BUT i have to say, i have heard one bad review and it was on detroits, but they did a good job on yours.

[Corey_R]

I haven't heard the bad review, so I don't know the situation, but sometimes you can do a "great job" and still receive a "bad review" simply because it does not meet the customers "preconceived ideas" (i.e. expectations). ktrianta went to another highly recommended wheel shop first, who immediately declined to work on the Detroits. John The Wheel Man did agree to work on them, and whilst it wasn't "as good as new", ktrianta is very happy. Someone else who hadn't already been rejected elsewhere may expect the result to be "as good as new", and therefore not be happy with the exact same result...

[ConR]

ya, I agree with coreying...I wasn't expecting them to be perfect after he repaired them, so my expectations were set, and hence I wasn't disappointed. The damage was pretty deep. Even John looked at them and said it will be hard to make them perfect. It's by no means perfect, but any random person who looks at them will not notice where it was damaged. Even me, who suffers from severe paranoia when it comes to this car . Cost $180, literally took him 20 minutes, which is ALOT better than:

1. Magman who refused to even take a look at it, and who, if he had decided to fix it, would have probably kept it for a week, and
2. The $700 VW wanted for a new rim. coreying, that placed you mentioned to me, ECS Tuning....all of a sudden one day their shipping costs went from $86 US to $186 US, so it was no longer worth it

Options are really limited when it comes to fixing Detroits, so either stay out of the gutter, or do what you can to fix them up!!