Teutonic_Tamer Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 I popped into a local VW dealer yesterday and a set of Zolder wheels caught my eye, £799 including locking bolts etc....On more careful scutineering there was a note on the bottom of the sales card in smaller writing "not genuine VW wheel" Eight around the showroom they were selling replicas of all the popular VW / Audi wheels. I know they are franchises but suprised it was so blatant. Yes, but they are probably selling them as "aftermarket accessories", in the same way that many sell things like RoadAngels. I very strongly doubt that these would ever be used for any warranty replacements, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teutonic_Tamer Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 hi guys,further update, spent yesterday cleaning and polishing the car and while at it give the new wheels a couple coats of wax, im now convinced they are refurbs, on really close inspection of one of the wheels i found a few blemishes in the laquer, almost like a dimple with pin point dent in the middle and on the same wheel a few very minor blemishes under the laquer. I dabbed clear paint laquer over the dimple to make sure its sealed. I tend not to agree that you have refurbs. It is fairly common knowledge that the surface finish on the BBS Monza IIs is not really perfect. Blemishes under the lacquer, pin holes in the lacquer, paint missing from the bolt holes, and a "white boundary" where the grey paint meets the diamond cut face are all well known issues with them. Sadly, this seems to have been deemed acceptable from the quality control department of BBS! I would personally stick my neck out and state they are not refurbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teutonic_Tamer Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 You don't know the history of those refurbed wheels - could have been hit hard previously and re starightened. If I was a betting man I would be backing that refurbs will not be up to the quality / durability of the OEM finish. Whilst you may not actually know the history of the wheels, when these wheels are officially refurbed through the correct VW channels, then rigorous quality control checks will be carried out before any are refurbed. Any which don't make the grade (or are unable to be machined to remove any damage) will end up in the skip. I have heard that VW officially use Pristine for their refurbs, and these do have a very good reputation - so I personally would not loose any sleep over these official refurbs. Now if some "back street garage" had refurbed them, or even a VW bodyshop, well that is something else . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted October 12, 2008 Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 The other question you should maybe also asking if they are refurbs is how do you know they were not done at the BBS factory before been sent to VW? They may have had a batch they needed to redo due to a manufacturing problem. Theres so many variable and possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul130TDI Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Cheers Guys for all the replies Maybe they are new, flip i've no idea now, all i can do is keep an eye on them over the winter. I spoke to the service manager about a week or so ago and he assured me the part number fitted did in fact indicate they were new. To be honest, the only concern i had over them possibly being refurbs is the durability factors compaired to new. Anyway, they have had about 3 coats of wax to try and protect them, all i can do is wait and see how they hold out. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teutonic_Tamer Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Snoopy, if the refurbs were done by BBS because of manufacturing errors, then firstly, VW wouldn't actually need to know (because they shouldn't have left their factory gates in the first place). Secondly, there should be absolutely no need for concern, because a BBS "remanufacture" would/should be to the same identical standard as when they were originally manufactured. I really think that the bottom line for those concernd about the "refurb" issue has two simple points: a/ franchised VW stealers can NOT fit refurbs during the normal warranty process during the first two years. Only in the third year of warranty are they able to do so. For a stealer to fit "incorrect" parts on an official warranty claim would probably be more than their franchise is worth. b/ any refurbed wheels supplied through the official stealer network will/should have the same quality control standards as new OEM products, and so should not be any cause for concern. However, don't forget that "refurbing" is just another "engineering process", and can be subject to very occasional sub-standard quality items which slip through the quality control "net" - and just like you may get the occasional new item not up to scratch, the same could be said for any refurbs too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teutonic_Tamer Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Paul, what polishes and waxes or sealants are you using on them? I have had some poor results with a supposed specialist alloy wheel sealer which i have been using! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I use Autoglym Super Resin Polish topped with 3 coats of Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection on mine. I top this up with an extra coat every now and again....so far no worms! (fingers crossed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul130TDI Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 hi So far I have used. Autoglym super resin to clean the grime off them followed with about 3 coats of maguires stage 3 carnauba wax about 24hrs between to give it time to harden. I was intending getting some chemical guys wheel guard for longer lasting I've the winter but have no experience of it. What did you try? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now