RS6 Wheel Refurb.

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:09 pm

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:23 pm

Superb result sir!! Very Happy

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:11 pm

There's so many projects on the go these days I had to scroll right down to find my wheels!! Laughing

Today was lacquer day Cool

Three cans of the Audi lacquer spread evenly over the faces of the four wheels. It was a coolish day and quite breezy but pretty sunny, so I sprayed in my shed spray booth Cool

and oven baked in the conservatory with the windows shut! Works quite well all joking aside. I spirited wiped them down gave them about four or five good coats with 10 minutes drying time in between. After they became touch dry I put them in the conservatory and haven't really looked at them since Rolling Eyes

They look ok though, there are a couple of blemishes from what looks like dust, but I will examine them properly over the weekend.

I don't intend doing anymore work to them now, I think they are plenty good enough for wheels, which much as it pains me to think it will get chipped and wear in daily use Crying or Very sad

Early part of next week I will give them a good polish and then seal them with some Poorboys wheel sealant Cool

Then off to the tyreshop Shocked

(at both prices and possible damage) before fitting to the car ready for ADI on Saturday Very Happy

EDIT: Sorry no pics, will take some before polishing Wink

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:49 pm

Jase

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:25 pm

Be good to see them on the car next week mate Wink

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:15 pm

at Jas

You can't rush genius Wink

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:16 pm

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:51 pm

Had a good day today Very Happy

Below is a pic after the lacquer coats from the other day:

It is hard to see the exact finish, but I was generally 95% happy, there were a couple of minor blemishes, but nothing really.

My attention today was focused on two wheels. All received two good coast of AutoGlym SRP which helped to both shine them up and smooth the lacquer. They then had two coats of Extra Gloss Protection to give them that extra shine. They were then given three coats of Poorboys Wheel sealant:

This was obviously done on the front and rear of the wheels, if anything I was more thorough on the insides as these won't get the attention during cleaning that the fronts will so it's even more imperative they are well sealed against the elements and corrosive properties of brake dust.

I have never used Poorboys before, but was very impressed with it's ease of application and how protected it made the wheels 'feel'.

I then took these two wheels and my existing Continental tyres to the tyreshop to have them fitted. This was a nerve wracking moment Shocked

but in fairness to the tyreshop (I have used them for about 2 years since they started) they took exceptional care of them and no damage was caused. They even took care to hide the wheel weights behind the spokes Very Happy

I have ordered a pair of Michelins for the other two wheels which will be fitted in the next day or so. I have never had Michelins before but they came highly recommended so it will be an interesting experiment. I got them for a good price so I am happy.

So I came home and shone up the tyres with AutoGlym Instant Tyre Dressing and gave them a third coat of Poorboys. By this time it was dark so no pics Sad

(Sorry Jase Wink

) but I will take some tomorrow after I have cleaned up the Audi wheel centres. So it's safe to say I am thrilled with how they have come Very Happy

My wife is less thrilled that they still need to live in the conservatory Rolling Eyes

So the proceedure will be repeated tomorrow with the final two wheels Wink

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:43 am

great action shots there James! Wink

are you going to have them fitted for adi this weekend?

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:18 am

Cracking job James - looking forward to seeing them this weekend Wink

Alan

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:33 am

Well done sir!! Very Happy

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:45 am

Thanks Daryll Very Happy

Yes they will be on for ADI Cool

I will be the one parked 3 ft from the kerb Wink

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:15 pm

Looking really good mate Wink

Do you feel the effort you out in is equal to the finished job?

Bet you feel really proud now Wink

Being a bit anal here, I am surprised to see that your putting two different brands of tyre on your quattro Confused

I always thought it better to have four tyres the same Question

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:31 pm

Yes I do

Finish wise I am very happy, there are a couple of minor blemishes but it will probably only be me who ever spots them. And keeping it real, they are wheels on a daily driver and will never be in such good condition again Sad

My only concern is the toughness of the lacguer finish. Quality wise it is very good, but I do wonder if it is as tough as a pro refurb who would maybe oven bake them or something. But time will tell and I am sure it will be a long time before they look tatty again as I will look after them properly with regular cleaning and resealing.

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:44 pm

Some pics of the two finished wheels with tyres:

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:07 pm

Absolutely superb mate, look like brand new wheels. I've an idea of how much work you've put into them from watching you at Phil's. It shows!
headbang

Si.

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:40 pm

Cheers Si

Can't wait till Friday and get them on the car now!

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:32 pm

Wheels fitted today and car cleaned ready for ADI tomorrow Very Happy

Just a few pics as I'm sure I will take plenty tomorrow. Car appears to be sat really high on the suspension, but this is mainly just because I hadn't driven it since I jacked it up Wink

Just prior to fitting:

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:49 pm

Looking very nice James. Very Happy

See you tomorrow,
Alan Cool

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:05 pm

Have a good day tomorrow chaps! Very Happy

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:14 pm

Cheers Owen Very Happy

Hopefully we'll have lots of pics and stories to share - and a good article for 'Audience' written by a willing volunteer Wink

Apologies for the thread hijack James Rolling Eyes

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:25 pm

No worries Al Very Happy

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:39 pm

The wheels made their public debut at ADI at Castle Combe today Very Happy

So what did you all think .... ??

I am very pleased with both how they look on, and also the quality of my work dare I say it! My only concern being longevity of finish, and only time will tell here. I am glad that I chose to stick with the original Audi Avus colour in the end. I saw a couple of RS6 Plus's today with the darker wheels which I do like, but as my car is dark grey I think that would have been too much. In fact I saw a couple of dark cars with dark wheels and am glad I have sparkly silver Wink

So thats it! Job done Cool

Whatever will I do with myself now .....

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:30 pm

These wheels look like they are brand new in the flesh!!!!! Job well done there mate Wink

I agree with what your saying about the darker wheels Razz

might be a bit "too" much with the colour of car you have. Some black wheels do look good, but it really depends on the colour of the car they are on and looking at most that i saw yesterday, they didn't look right Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:37 pm

Yup, agree, they looked brand new. Nice job James thumbright

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:09 pm

they look the dogs nuts James, jobs a good un

Mick

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:13 pm

spot on work fella looks top job Very Happy

i wouldnt worry about the longativity of the work most lacquers will dry to a hard finish and it will also last longer with constant cleaning etc.
The main difference between a pro finish and an amateur is the products used. lacquers that need a catalyst and a reducer rather than dry by air will always be harder wearing,but a lot of ppl believe if an item has been baked it will make the lacquer harder, this is rubbish all baking does is speed up the drying process to improve production rates Smile

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:49 pm

Thanks, thats good to know Very Happy

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:14 pm

Well this is a bit of a thread resurrection!

Some of you will know that about a week after the wheels were fitted the engine was wrecked after the idler pulley on the cambelt broke, and long story short the car had to be recovered twice. During this time the three of the four wheels were badly damaged by the handle of the ratchet straps. Although I still kept them nice I kind of lost interest in them a bit as they were damaged.

Here's an example of the damage:

So I got a set of Nuvolari replica's in a deal for new tyres which are on now, I'm undecided which I'll keep, but both need some work on them:

I've been in today and had the old tyres off the RS6's and am going to do them a gunmetal grey colour, like the RS6 plus:

This won't be a very fast moving thread, as I probably won't get any paint on them until the new year, but we'll see Wink

Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:15 pm

Two years to the date I last posted! - Spooky!