Showing our Sportcross some love - Alloy wheels

[N5girl]

Thanks to the members on here suggesting that we are not crazy to keep going with our 2004 IS300 SC. We would like to show it some love so we stop getting our heads turned by shiny new cars...

Wheels - probably the worst bit on the car...

What type of repair do we need to get (from a professional - I think this might be beyond our skills) or should be just buy new ones? Given the age of the car we are not worried about replacing with original and we don't need really flashy ones because it is certainly not showroom condition.

If we are getting new ones, should be get the same size tyres? We are most interested in comfort of ride, safety We are not racing anyone at the lights.

Thanks everyone.

[rich1068]

A decent local wheel refurbishment company should be able to do these. Proper wheels off job plus shot blasted and powder coated. I pay £200 (cash) for a set but I'm oop north. 

[Shahpor]

A few years ago I had my wheels exchanged here:

https://www.fawheels.co.uk/shop/category/lexus-is-xe10-1998-2005-wheels-for-exchange-464

They did a very good job on the wheels and the exchange option meant just drive in and out with no fuss.

Hopefully they are still just as good.

[steve2006]

In the past I’ve managed to buy sets of wheels from eBay or gumtree locally at a good price always worth a look.

I think I paid around £140.00 for this set of 18” off an IS250C, dusty but cleaned up lovely.

[scudney]

Just make sure you have them done properly, that is acid dipped and powder coated as they last longer,rather than just sanded back and sprayed and avoid kerbs as best as you can 🙂

[N5girl]

Thank you everyone

We now have a drive so we are far less likely to encounter curbs now than before. I am also going to invest in a reversing camera too.

Stupid question no.1  - if I just buy the wheels, I assume if I pop down to my tyre man, they will take the old wheels off and put the new ones on?

Stupid question no.2 - A new set of 18inch, would require new tyres as well if the standard ones are 17'?

[scudney]

With regards to your tyre and wheel questions,yes they would,except you manage to get them with tyres on and then again  the wheels need to be the right stud pattern and fitment and the tyres also need to be the correct size 😉 

[Razor61]

I’ve used Lepsons for alloy refurbs in the past, link below, they do a very professional job and can fit new tyres if you want. I don’t think they are the cheapest but they are done properly. They will also advise about corrosion and tell you if they are worth doing because once corrosion sets in badly it will come back at some point. Looking at the picture they seem to be pretty corroded so maybe the best option is another set of wheels.

I recently purchased 6 x 17” IS200/300 alloys with very minor corrosion on the diamond cut bit of the wheel, rest of the wheel is perfect on 5 of them. One wheel has been on a car is worse but by no means bad. The wheels were originally the spare wheels that were replaced by Lexus under warranty. Plan is to get the diamond cut bits sanded back and then lacquer the whole wheel again. If that isn’t possible then the wheels are perfect for a refurb given that there is very little corrosion.

https://www.lepsons.com/

[rich1068]

17 hours ago, N5girl said:

Thank you everyone

We now have a drive so we are far less likely to encounter curbs now than before. I am also going to invest in a reversing camera too.

Stupid question no.1  - if I just buy the wheels, I assume if I pop down to my tyre man, they will take the old wheels off and put the new ones on?

Stupid question no.2 - A new set of 18inch, would require new tyres as well if the standard ones are 17'?

I really wouldn't buy new wheels and especially not 18s. But it's entirely your choice.

[Mossypossy]

Refurb.

After market wheels are at best, unnecessary. Been there got the t-shirt (20 inch staggered....ugh!)

[N5girl]

Thanks all. One company has advised that there is too much corrosion to make a decent job of it and we will have problems further down the line. So I think a nice, conservative set of alloys may be in order. The alloy equivalent of a 17" pair of slippers. Given that we will not be reselling the car, I am not too concerned about whether they have a Lexus badge on or not. 

 

[scudney]

Not sure that the company is worth its salt then 🤔,maybe they just sand it back and spray it.Find one that acid drips and powder coats,and they will be as good as new 

[N5girl]

Ok so I contacted a local company about acid dripping and it is suspended because of Covid. I assume it will come back post 19 July. No rush in getting them done. Thanks for all the advice everyone. It is very much appreciated. 

[rich1068]

14 hours ago, scudney said:

Not sure that the company is worth its salt then 🤔,maybe they just sand it back and spray it.Find one that acid drips and powder coats,and they will be as good as new 

Agreed. I've had some absolute shockers done. Particularly on the Saabs. If you look really closely there may be a little bit of pitting where the worse of the corrosion was and the powder coat hasn't been able to level but nothing that jumps out at you.

With this sort of cosmetic work it needs to be established from the start that the car is only worth £2k - £3k and you just want it to look better. Without actually saying it! A job to a good standard rather than something showroom. Am I making sense?

[DF-300 Sport]

Recently got the alloys fully refurbished...not perfect or cheap, but it has transformed the look of the car...very happy with the result👍

[N5girl]

7 hours ago, DF-300 Sport said:

Recently got the alloys fully refurbished...not perfect or cheap, but it has transformed the look of the car...very happy with the result👍

Did you get these wheels painted so that they are black and silver. They do look really cool. 

[DF-300 Sport]

Full powdercoat in gloss black and then diamond cut the outer profile and laquered.....i used a company called "The Wheel Specialist"....£500 (a lot) but it makes it look like a new car again. Well worth it😎👍

[N5girl]

3 hours ago, DF-300 Sport said:

Full powdercoat in gloss black and then diamond cut the outer profile and laquered.....i used a company called "The Wheel Specialist"....£500 (a lot) but it makes it look like a new car again. Well worth it😎👍

They do make the car look quite different. I had not thought about getting a different colour. I think they might even make me feel a little less middle-aged 🤣

Final question: how long did they take to do? 
 

thanks 

[DF-300 Sport]

Hi, This company has franchises across the UK and although the pitting hasn't been completely removed in a few areas, overall the quality is very good.....They advised that changing the colour to something contrasting would really improve the look and also get better effect of the machining from the stock finish....They can do same day drop-off and collection. Mine took a few days but didn't mind as i would rather they didn't rush.......worthwhile to call them and chat about colour etc options....good luck😎👍