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Supplies for cleaning wheels and tyres

If you want to stop your wheels being damaged by brake dust – the corrosive substance that’s a natural by-product of stopping your car – then you’ll have to clean your tyres on a regular basis. Here we outline the equipment you’ll need to do this weekly job thoroughly.

1. You’ll need a wheel cleaner that’s right for your wheels. Make sure you pick one that’s suitable to the material of your wheels, aluminium alloy for example, and consider also looking at degreases that are safe on your wheel surfaces.

2. Invest in a good set of brushes. For the wheel, you’ll need one brush that won’t scratch your wheels, so soft bristles are essential. For the tyre, on the other hand, you’ll need something firm that contours to the side wall of the tyre. Make sure the two brushes are clearly labelled – mixing them up could cause damage.

3. You’ll need a deep bucket for mixing up water and car soap, as well as washing brushes. It’s important to acquire a new, clean bucket rather than use one you have lying around – you don’t want to expose your wheels to corrosive substances that might be present in an old bucket after previous DIY jobs.

4. Finally, you might want to consider supplementing your cleaning regime with auto detailing clay, which will remove that gritty feeling that sometimes lingers on your wheel after washing. The clay is designed to remove bonded contaminants, including brake dust, and will leave your wheels feeling as smooth as silk.

If you are looking to give your car a full make over, then why not opt for our Maintenance Wash service, which will give your car a thorough clean inside and out; or go the whole way with one of our many detailing services, Diamond Alloys Car Detailling Service.

Split rims CAN be repaired!

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Some alloy wheels are more ornate than others, and split rim wheels are a great example of how you can get creative and really add a personal aesthetic touch to your alloys. They also really make your car stand out from the crowd!

Of course, all alloys – regardless of style – are prone to the same problems. Kerb damage, brake dust, scuffs and scratches… the list goes on and on. The good news, however, is that even though split rim alloys are more complex than ‘regular’ alloys, they can still be refurbished and made to look as good as new – saving you a considerable amount of money in the process!

Diamond alloys can refurbish both cosmetic split rims and two piece split rims. Our ability to repair and refurbish these so well comes from our diamond cutting process, which provides the cleanest, most precise finish possible and ensures that your alloys can looks as good as new. When combined with a high quality paint finish you won’t be able to tell that your alloys were ever damaged.

Our process works by separating all components of the split rim and taking care of each piece individually before reassembling the alloy once the work is done. Our experts take just as much care over each single piece as they would a whole alloy, ensuring that you get a lasting refurbishment of which both you and we can be proud.

Due to the more complex nature of these alloys our repairs can take a little longer, but you can use this time to decide on a new colour scheme for your wheels – we can add different paint colours to create a really striking effect! Our split rim refurbishments start from just £85 + VAT, a considerable saving on the cost of buying a new wheel.

To discuss your specific alloy refurbishment needs, or to enquire about our multi-wheel discounts, please call us today.

Protect your alloys in style

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Usually, things that are designed to do you good are a bit on the boring side. (No offence, vegetables.) With alloy wheels, however, things are a bit different: rim bands can provide both added protection and style, all for a reasonable price.

Officially known as alloy wheel protectors, these clever devices are a stretchy band of tear-resistant, high-strength silicone rubber which fit snugly around the edge of alloy wheel rims. Their main function is to protect the surface of the wheel from damage caused by everyday driving mishaps such as hitting the kerb or driving over a pothole.

They’re an incredibly effective prevention tool because the fit is so snug: they have an extensive ‘tail’ section that folds into the barrel of the wheel and ensures that they can achieve the necessary amount of stretch. They’re further secured by five gripping ribs that ensure they constantly maintain an effective position.

The manufacturers have taken every care to ensure that the rim bands are as damage-proof as possible, and have even coated the bands in a special Flurobond sealant to protect them from brake dust. This ensures that they have the greatest possible lifespan, and provide incredible value to car owners who invest in these protective devices.

As you can see from these photographs, the rim bands also look great on your alloys. Here we have black gloss painted rim alloys, finished with contrasting red rim bands. It’s a subtle effect that gives the alloys a little aesthetic lift, providing a memorable feature without any effort on your part. The rim bands are available for 15”-22” wheels and come in nine colours: Black, Blue, Lime, Orange, Pink, Red, Silver, White and Yellow.

To discuss the options for your alloys, and to find out just how affordable these wheel-saving devices are, give us a call today on 0845 370 8881.

Diamond cuts are forever

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Ok, it’s a cheesy blog title, but we just love our diamond cut alloy finish. This premium service provides the crème de la crème of finishes, and is highly recommend for anyone who truly loves their wheels.

Our trade client M&A Coachworks certainly fall into this category, as they take meticulous care to ensure that all of their vehicles are maintained to the highest standard. In these photographs you can see wheels from one of their Mercedes A Class cars, which had sustained the kind of kerb damage associated with normal everyday driving. This can’t be helped, but should be repaired before the damage to the protective coating encourages corrosion to set in.

Diamond cutting is a great way to repair kerb damage because it is a precision cut which employs the incredible strength of the diamond cutting equipment to remove precisely what is required – and absolutely nothing more. This creates a much finer finish than any other method of alloy repair.

The cut is only applied after our experts have used our aqua jet wash to remove all traces of dirt, tar and grit from the wheel, both allowing the technicians to examine every inch of the alloy and ensuring that the alloy will be entirely protected from corrosion after the process. The clean alloy is then powder coated – the most corrosion resistant form of primer, and then precision cut.

You can see the results in this photograph, which shows the A Class wheels diamond cut and ready for their new coat of protective lacquer. Once this completely scratch proof lacquer is applied, the alloys take a trip into our oven, where the coat is set. From here there is a careful quality check, followed by the refitting of the tyres and adjustments to ensure that the pressure and balance are correct.

One of the other benefits of diamond cutting is that it gives you great aesthetic freedom to redesign your alloys. We can, for example, create a bespoke look using painted inserts of custom rim styles. Just give us a call on 0845 370 8881 to discuss your idea – our seasoned experts have seen pretty much every style of alloy, so they can advise you on how to get exactly what you want!

Time for some alloy TLC

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For our experts, there’s nothing sadder than the sight of formerly pristine alloy wheels that have since gone to seed. Many manufacturers have put literally millions of pounds into developing the perfect alloys for their models, and the cars consequently can only look their best when their wheels are in pristine condition.

Take the wheels on this Mercedes GL AMG, for example. Beautifully engraved with the AMG logo, they should radiate the elegance and refinement that is synonymous with the brand. When these wheels came to us, however, they had kerb damage around their sides as well as corrosion in the centre. This meant that they needed our urgent attention before the damage caused further corrosion that rendered the wheels irreparable.

The best cure for these worn alloys was powder coating, which restores the alloys in an aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly way. They are kinder to the environment because the powder coat contains no volatile organic compounds, which are damaging pollutants often found in liquid finishes for alloys.

Once we had aquablasted the damage away and applied this powder coating, which also helps the alloys last longer than the traditional paint coating, our expert technicians applied our standard paint finish. The colour had been carefully matched by our technicians, to ensure that they kept to the original aesthetic of the car. Following the paint, our experts take the alloys to quality control, where they are assessed for standard of finish and overall condition.

After this the tyres are refitted, inflated to the correct pressure and rebalanced, ensuring that you can get back on the road safely as well as in style. This is all part of our service and included in the price. Following this there’s just one last quality control check before we give you back your keys – helping us to ensure that nothing has escaped our exacting standards.

Buckle up – Why there’s no excuse for not repairing your alloys

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Sadly, thanks to our pothole-strewn roads, there’s every chance you’ll damage your alloys at some point in their life. It’s not necessarily a sign of bad driving – sometimes there’s simply no time to slow down before the pothole is upon you. IMG_0133-2

When a buckle happens you only have one of two choices: repair or replace. Driving on buckled alloys isn’t an option: you will not only ruin your tyres but the vibrations from the buckle can damage your suspension or even make you fail your MOT. Replacing your alloys can be terribly expensive, so why not use our simple straightening technique to have them as good as new for a fraction of the cost?

The process uses specialist hydraulic equipment to straighten the alloys and revert the wheel back to a true circle. This ensures that there is no air loss, no vibration and no chance of any new tyres being shredded! As with all our services, the process is finished by a full examination of the wheels and rebalancing the tyres.

If you’re concerned that you may have a buckle, remember that it’s not always possible to see the damage by inspecting your wheels. Other warning signs are:

Unusual vibration in the car
Steering wheel shake
Premature or uneven tyre wear
Unusual changes to your car suspension

Once you’ve detected a buckle, give our experts a call on 0845 370 8881 for a quote. Our specialist straightening service works on most wheel types and can be completed in just 24 hours, from as little as £60 + VAT.

Why You Shouldn’t Ever, Ever Buy Imitation Alloys

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If you’ve ever been tempted to cut costs by buying ‘cheap’ alloys from the internet, then you need to watch this video. Filmed in Australia by Mercedes Benz, the video depicts a pothole test between two sets of alloys. One is a genuine set provided by a reputable dealer, the other is a set purchased from a mysterious outlet on the internet. The results are terrifying.

At only 50 KM/H, the experiment’s high speed cameras capture a section of the fake wheel, fitted to a Mercedes Benz CLA shooting brake cracking and breaking away. Given that this speed is just over 30MPH, this is truly frightening – not only could fake wheels prove dangerous for those inside the car, but with fragments flying off they also pose a risk to those outside the car.

The video’s presenter sums it up nicely. “It’s a matter of public safety”, he says. Furthermore, it’s not always easy to tell which alloys are real, as the imitations can often be very convincing. In fact, “It’s only when you turn it around that you can see what’s the real deal”, says the commentator, demonstrating where the criminals have ground off the part numbers on the fake wheels.

This video really drives home the fact that saving a few pounds is not worth risking someone’s life. Please do watch and remember to always use recognised alloys from reputable dealers, or simply get your current alloys repaired, it’s a whole lot cheaper too!

Kerb Your Enthusiasm

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kerbed-alloy-wheel Kerb damage is pretty much what it says on the tin: damage to your alloys caused by banging them against a kerb. This most commonly happens during a parking manoeuvre and occurs a lot more than you might think: a recent survey found that one in 10 people had hit the kerb while parking, and one in nine had hit the kerb while driving. Interestingly, men and women are equally likely to do this, despite the driving stereotypes! You might think that a bit of a scuff from the pavement is nothing to worry about but, as well as destroying the polished look of your alloys, the damage also compromises the protective lacquer layer on your wheels. This means that water can now seep under this layer and cause corrosion to your alloy – taking it from slightly scuffed to completely useless before you can blink.

Fortunately, however, you don’t need to rush out and buy expensive new rims every time you hit the kerb. Diamond Alloys can repair your existing alloys, saving you hundreds of pounds in the process. Depending on your type of alloys and your needs, we can either perform a painted or a diamond cut finish – both of which will have your wheels looking as good as new.

In addition, once your wheels have been repaired, we re-inflate and re-balance your tyres, meaning that we can also spot any tyre damage that has occurred as a result of you hitting the kerb. This is typically sidewall damage and can be extremely hazardous, but we won’t let your car leave until we’ve made it absolutely safe for you to drive. All our work comes with a 12 month warranty, leaving you with peace of mind that your alloys will remain in perfect condition.

Diamond Alloys Features in Bodyshop Repair Magazine

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We are delighted to be featured in the Bodyshop Repair Magazine for a second time! Chris Mann, who came down to our London workshop at the end of last year, has given us a great review which you can read here (page 22-23).

If you haven’t been to our workshop yet then watch our new film and take a virtual tour of our premises and see all the services we offer including diamond cutting and powder coating on site.

We service wheels for trade and consumer and offer a great finish, service and price. Call us today on 0845 370 8881 for more entails or get your very own FREE quote on-line here.

19 Inch Matte Black Alloy Wheel Repair

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Any driver will know that kerb damage is common and in some cases unavoidable. Although it’s a normal part of car ownership, it can leave your alloys looking old and tired – something particularly undesirable if you’ve worked hard to make them an aesthetic feature of your car.

Fortunately, expert alloy repair is both quick and cost-effective, meaning that you can have your car back on the road and looking brand new just a few days after kerb damage. Take one recent client, for example, who came in with a BMW 4 Series whose matte black alloys had suffered kerb damage.

Rather than pay for a costly new set of alloys, the owner trusted us to have the rims looking brand new at a fraction of the cost. Our experts stripped back the wheels to their bare metal using an acid bath – definitely not something to try at home! – before blasting off any residual dirt with specialist equipment.

They then determined the best process for the damage in question, and applied a powder coat primer before coating the alloys in both matte black paint and a scratch-proof acrylic lacquer – ensuring the wheel is better protected against future dirt and weather. After another quality check the wheels were re-fitted to the tyres, which were re-inflated and rebalance, before we handed the car back to the delighted owner!

Although this owner decided to keep his matte black finish, we can also change the colour and finish of your alloys when you bring them in for repair, meaning that they look not only brand new but also like completely different rims!

To protect your alloys, and your piece of mind, all our work comes with a full 12 month wheel refurbishment warranty. Our experts will also give you tips on how to care for your wheels and we encourage you to ask them questions – we don’t think there’s anything about alloys they don’t know!

For more information on our standard alloy repair service, get a quote or call us today on 0845 370 8881.