[happysails2you]

Does anyone have experience with wheel repair shops in Maryland? (or DC or VA)



Looking for any past experience with the Wheel Doctor in Gaithersburg, Wheel Worx in Millersville, or Ye Ole Wheel Shop in Elkridge? Any other recommendations?



Thanks,

Kathy

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[Mark]

[quote name='happysails2you' post='31276' date='Feb 21 2007, 12:28 PM']Does anyone have experience with wheel repair shops in Maryland? (or DC or VA)



Looking for any past experience with the Wheel Doctor in Gaithersburg, Wheel Worx in Millersville, or Ye Ole Wheel Shop in Elkridge? Any other recommendations?



Thanks,

Kathy[/quote]





Ye Olde Wheel Shoppe has a great reputation but the wait time is really long. there is a mobile place somewhere out your way that a firend used. I'll see if he still ahs the contact info.



Maark

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[Mark]

Sorry it took me a little while to find this post again. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> My friend had good luck with

http://www.wheelrefinisher.com/

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[BigL2U]

[quote name='Mark' post='31338' date='Feb 22 2007, 04:15 PM']Sorry it took me a little while to find this post again. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> My friend had good luck with

http://www.wheelrefinisher.com/[/quote]



Thanks Mark... I was looking for a place to refinish the wheels on my E320.

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[happysails2you]

Hi guys, I'm back with results of my research. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> I also checked dorkiphus.com (a MD/VA/DC area board for Porschephiles) and PCA local sites, and got lots of feedback and saw lots of threads on this topic. I looked into four companies in the Maryland area:



Ye Ole Wheel Shop (Elkridge) -- They are very highly recommended by lots of people, mentioned more than other shops. I visited their shop and saw more high end wheels than any human should see at one time. They do a lot of PCA members' wheels. They wanted $115 to refinish and mount/balance tires, a great price. But: (1) they only do the outside of the wheel; I suspect they'd do the whole wheel if I asked and paid higher (2) they blast off the existing finish, do some sanding and fill in any curb rash with a Bondo type of material (3) they spray paint with normal primer, paint, then a few clear coat layers. I asked to see some random wheels they'd finished, and of the five, three had orange peel and two had bubbles that weren't sanded out....didn't make me feel ok in spite of good reviews by others. They say they'd do the job next week, and take three days, but I've heard that they are MUCH longer than stated.



Wheel Refinishers (Gilbralter St, Annapolis) -- I like their shop and they do a similar process as above, but they do the whole wheel, inside and out, front and back. The sample wheels I saw looked like a very nice finish. They'd sand down my curb rash, do some filler if needed. They do mobile work, will come to you. They wanted $140/wheel. The sample work in progress I saw looked fine (no orange peel or bubbles, nice finish). But I didn't have any personal references til Mark's comments here.



Wheel Worx (Millersville) -- Very nice guys, a PCA member, and they do a lot of Porsche and high end wheels. They're recommended on local forums. They do a similar process as above Wheel Refinishers. My mechanic had lukewarm feelings about their work from things he's sent them, as did another 968 owner who had his wheels done there...problems with paint flaking and chipping. But those could have been flukes, since I heard good things from numerous others about them. $150/wheel. I was about to use them, then I found....



Wheel Doctor (Gaithersburg) -- VERY highly recommended by local P-car owners. For $150/wheel, he'll pick up and deliver to Annapolis (about 45 minute drive), do an acid bath to remove all previous paint, do any sanding needed to remove curb rash or nicks, then will weld on metal to fill any deep gouges (no Bondo). Then he'll powder coat the entire wheel (inside and out), and bake on the finish. Takes 2-3 days. He also does multi-part wheels, some others won't. He does work for most of the MD/VA area high end car dealers including Porsche. So that's $600 for 4 wheels. (I've had powder coat estimates from others at $900+) Everyone said he does great work, but he's slow at calling back. Hey, he just called back and confirmed....he'll pick up my wheels next Tuesday, have them back by Friday.



I know most of you aren't in my area, but I thought the pricing and process info might be of interest. Plus you can ship wheels to them if you don't have a good refinisher near you.



Crossing my fingers, will let you know how they turn out.



Ciao,

Kathy

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[rhudeboye]

A top notch investigation Kathy.



I live in the MD area and have a set of wheels that could use this procedure. I came across a lot of recommendations for Ye Ole Wheel Shop but none of them had 1st hand experience. They appear to be the most well known but popularity doesn’t make satisfied customers.



A BIG Thank you for all the leg work.

David

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[huskydog]

Wheel Worx re-did the wheels on my car when I had the 928. They were , quick, reasonable, and did a terrific job.

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[happysails2you]

Update: Great news! I am thrilled with my refurb'd wheels! They look like they just came off a showroom floor -- or maybe even better.



Wheel Doctor in Gaithersburg, MD, did an outstanding job. His name is Dan Bush, phone number (301) 651-6186. He did an acid bath, then welded on metal and sanded to remove curb rash. Then powder coat, baked-on, and clearcoat finish. Inside/outside/front/back, all surfaces nice and new. The finish is spectacular, much better than a sprayed on paint finish. Very durable finish. Less than a week turnaround. PLUS his delivery guy picked up and delivered to Annapolis, a minimum of 45 minutes one way (in non-rush traffic). Dan does wheel refinishing work for lots of the luxury car dealers. He also did business the old fashioned way...just asked me to send him a check for $600 ($150/wheel) when he returned wheels.



I highly recommend him and he was great to work with.



I also looked at using Wheel Worx (he gets good reviews from lots on the local Porsche forums), but for the same price he'd do a sanding (no acid bath), not metal welding to repair curb rash, and he spraypaints on the color and clearcoast finish. He's well recommended and a lot of people use him, but I'm really happy with the poweder coat process.



And now she's all done and ready for spring! The new Pirelli Zero Nero's are mounted on the newly refurb'd wheels, back on the car with a front end alignment, 4 new rotors/shoes/sensors/etc., wheel bearings replaced, and other misc maintenance. Plus all her other presents (new sound system, new top, etc). Finally, the end of the winter extreme makeover, $8300 later. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> (As Dad said, if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.) <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> She can't wait to meet you (and her siblings) in Hershey.



Leave it to my mechanic to say as I was ready to leave today, "Don't worry, everything is safe. But about that other noise....time to dig into the suspension...." <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> [Kathy gulps and blinks] "....okay, it can wait til next winter's hiatus." <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Thanks, guys, for all your suggestions about tires, wheels, brakes, etc.!

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[Anchorman]

WOW - my scrubby cab is going to have to hide from your reborn beauty. Congrats and enjoy.

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[rhudeboye]

Did you take pics before sending off the tires?



Some before and after Pics would help us visualize and appreciate the workmanship.

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[happysails2you]

Even my mechanic was amazed at the new wheel finish. Not sure that photos will do them justice, but will take some new photos and post. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Duh, I totally didn't think about taking close up 'before' shots of the wheels, but I have some previous shots where I can zoom in on the wheels. Will also post photos of the old top and will take some with the new top this weekend (after today's snow <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> disappears).

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