About a year ago I purchased my HRE 593Rs and mounted them on my 02 TT. You can see pics here: https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ad.php?t=68811

Since then the wheels have developed some "micro scratches" on the lips and there are also a few minor chips in the clear coat on the face. The micro scratches in particular are now a distraction to what otherwise is a great wheel.

I've taken the car to a couple of well respected detailers and they won't even consider tring to fix the problem. I also took it to a wheel shop and they said that in order to fix the micro scratches they would need to have the wheels disassembled, the clear coat stripped and then reapplied. My qustions are these:

1) Is there any way to refirbish the wheels short of what was suggested by the wheel shop?
2) I know brake dust is very abbrasive. I'm always extremely careful about how I clean my car (I do it myself). How do you clean wheels with clear coat without causing the micro scratches? If it can't be done then why would any one clear coat their wheels?
3) Given the application and environment, is the clear coat on these wheels simply not hard enough to withstand normal use and cleaning?
4) If I have the wheels refirbished how much would something like that cost and how long will it take? Can I have it redone without the clear coat?

Thanks in advance.

Alex

 

The best idea is to contact HRE or an HRE dealer and have the wheels sent in to be refinished. HRE wont warranty the wheels if someone else takes them apart.

 

Any HRE dealers on the site willing to comment/PM?

 

I just did

 

I would like to know the same because I would like to get my champion wheels redone also

 

Alex,

If the major issues you mention are on the rim portions you can have the wheels turned and polished. It's about $75.00/wheel.

That would remove the clearcoat from the rim portion and it looks killer. An occasional Mothers or Griots polish and they will look outstanding.

Clear coating has a limited life. Consider the elements to which the wheels are subjected-stress, heat, cold, road elements, potholes, etc. It's asking a lot of the wheels.

Those are excellent looking wheels and I think polished rims will really bring them out.

Consider this as an option.

 

I've seen the polished option and like it a lot-thanks for the reminder. The wheels look even worse than when I originally posted. The clear coat is definitely NOT the way to go. Even if you baby them they still get the micro scratches when you clean them. As Gcalo said, it's lot to expect from a clear coat, but I never expected the life to be soooo short.

Alex

 

The present wheels I have on my 360 were all clearcoated but I had the rims turned and polished. Stunning difference.

iForged is delivering new rims to me next week. Vincent yesterday sent me pictures, and they look great but he clearcoated the whole wheel. I will have the rims turned and polished when they arrive.

I'll post pictures them. They are the TE-14 series with brushed centers and polished rims but they are 100% clearcoated.

BTW nothing but high remarks and praise for Vincent at iForged. He has gone the country mile for me with these rims.

I highly recommend that anyone looking for new rims to contact Vincent at iForged to see how he can help you.