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Whelp.... it finally happened after 20 years of driving. I clipped a curb after a long day at the office, and it left me with some (frustrating) curb rash.
This is my first experience dealing with such an issue... and I don't even know where to start. I've read some horror stories of people having aluminum wheels retouched.
Anyone have some suggestions?
(Also, for what its worth, im in Northern Los Angeles County CA if anyone has a shop to recommend)
Finally, some pictures of the damage... So I can be mocked viciously
Looks pretty easy to fix. I don't live in LA, but I usually call my Mercedes department and ask who they send their wheel work to and then go directly to those guys. Good luck!
Looks pretty easy to fix. I don't live in LA, but I usually call my Mercedes department and ask who they send their wheel work to and then go directly to those guys. Good luck!
Yep you can do this or you can go to a local wheel repair shop that is reputable. I've done it several times as I have chosen to punish myself by buying my wife a car with 19" wheels. It's difficult to keep up with her crusade to destroy all four of them.
Yep you can do this or you can go to a local wheel repair shop that is reputable. I've done it several times as I have chosen to punish myself by buying my wife a car with 19" wheels. It's difficult to keep up with her crusade to destroy all four of them.
That’s not too bad. If you arent looking for perfection, you can sand that down since it’s machine faced. Use a small sanding block. The kind that’s the size of a small eraser.
OT:
Gave dear wife my brand new prized 1999 Chevy Tahoe 2dr 4WD Sport to haul first born Daughter...a fully loaded Z71 and last year of the 2-door after she really couldn't drive 1996 Geo Prizm 5-stick. Then she started hitting other parked and moving Trucks. After 4-years and 3 wrecks downgraded it to a more compact 2004 Pontiac Vibe. By the time she relocated to Georgia for Federal Job after her Master's & PhD 8-years later she ended her Crusade. Last August the last born dear Son totalled Pontiac Vibe training wheels by ramming a tree at Mall parking lot. Zero injuries to family after 23-years...glad I had GM Employee Discount for disposable appliances last used on 2019 Buick Encore now gifted to Daughter in Maryland. Wife now drives 2020 Honda CRV Hybrid AWD and Son just got 2021 Kia Soul after Drivers Education in Athens area. Bought 2021 AMG E63s for all my troubles and good fortune. Family never embraced my manual transmission passion...lol
Yes, not bad at all. I had the same wheel that was a little worse and it looks really good. In fact, I still have that wheel sitting around if you ever need another wheel But your is an easy repair! If they are good you would be the only one to even notice and that would be looking inches away...
I, too, have had too many wheels refinished. Guess that's yet another way getting old(er) stinks.
I just drop it off at my dealer's service department and the refinisher comes to them. It is about $150-200/wheel (forgot the price, but well worth it). I can't stand to drive a car with any visible damage. . .
That is a minor curb rash most wheel repair shops can fix. In LA, dealer charges about $190/wheel and that is the route I would go as the dealer will be liable if the repair is not up to standards.
I don't know that specific wheel, but I've had issues trying to get wheels fixed. The damage itself is only half the story. Most of these wheels have a clear coat on the machined part, which most shops can't really match because the clear coat is not available in the US, so matching the color is the problem. Depends on how picky you are, but I saw it right away. Tried several reputable shops. One claimed they mixed the clear coat themselves, but it wasn't even close, others were upfront and said all they could do is sand it, but they wouldn't be able to match the clear coat. I got a minor curb rash on one of my wheels during my ED trip in Germany. It was fixed at the VPC and I can't even tell where the damage was, so not sure if they replaced the entire wheel and sent the damaged one back to Italy, or basically have the right clear coat at hand. Possibly the latter, since they are part of the factory effectively and have to restore cars to factory condition if they sustained damage during shipping.
Last edited by superswiss; May 13, 2022 at 07:11 PM.
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But your is an easy repair! If they are good you would be the only one to even notice and that would be looking inches away...
