Failed Searches for Quality Wheel Repair Shops in Houston

[bdaddylo]

Finding a good wheel repair shop in Houston is quite a challenge. Below are two shops that I will never use in Houston.

1.) Houston Wheel Repair
7070 SW Freeway

This is the infamous place that rips people off by selling old used tires to mothers. I went to check them out because their website was impressive. They quoted $225 - $250 a wheel to refinish a 19" ZCP. No thanks.

2.) Warehouse Tire and Auto
6760 Rampart

The sales person was trying to sell me his experience in wheel repair and how they service a lot of dealers including Lamborghini of Houston blah blah blah. His reputation quickly went south when he told me my stock ZCPs had a powder coat finish. I questioned him several times and he didn't back down on his statement and always referred back to his years of wheel repair experience. ZCPs for the record are painted and clear coated. He actually quoted me a fair price of $150 per wheel for powder coating, but I only had one wheel that needed to be refinished and I knew it wasn't going to match the other 3 so I walked out.

Any one who has found a good shop please post in this thread.

[Patrón]

I've tried stripping three different models of bmw wheels and all are powdercoated. it is very difficult to get the finish off a bmw wheel unless you sand blast. how certain are you that the zcp are painted?

[bdaddylo]

It has a powder base coat, painted color coat, and then a clear coat. The clear coat is extremely durable. What type of solvent are you using to strip it with? Most wheel manufacturers don't recommend powder coating because heat degrades the strength of steel/metal.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

Most wheel manufacturers don't recommend powder coating because heat degrades the strength of steel/metal.

Mmmmm....don't painted wheels get baked, as well?

[VMcV3y]

Unfortunately I've had to get curb-rash fixed twice...

But I had it done at IMC Automotive, 5616 Schumacher Ln, Houston, TX 77057. +1 (713) 266-7239

They charged $100 each time, and I swear that the original damage was imperceptible. (and I am positive my OEM wheels came back because I marked them.)

They even gave me loaner wheels for the day while they did the repairs.

Not exactly what you're requesting, but they might do more services than what I've had to utilize.

- V

.

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by VMcV3y

Unfortunately I've had to get curb-rash fixed twice...

But I had it done at IMC Automotive, 5616 Schumacher Ln, Houston, TX 77057. +1 (713) 266-7239

They charged $100 each time, and I swear that the original damage was imperceptible. (and I am positive my OEM wheels came back because I marked them.)

They even gave me loaner wheels for the day while they did the repairs.

Not exactly what you're requesting, but they might do more services than what I've had to utilize.

- V

.

That was my go to place and unfortunately they closed up shop last year.

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

Mmmmm....don't painted wheels get baked, as well?

I would assume so. I believe powder coating requires more heat and for a longer period of time.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

I would assume so. I believe powder coating requires more heat and for a longer period of time.

More heat, yes, but for longer periods of time, I don't think that's correct.
http://www.diamond-wheels.net/powder-coat-process.php

Those guys do paint and powder, and the powder portion is 200 degrees @ 20 minutes, whereas the paint portion is 40 mins, temp unknown.

I know when I had things powdercoated, each bag of powder (I brought my own to the shop that I had do the work) comes w/a cure schedule. For example:
https://www.powderbuythepound.com/SO..._CHROME_TRANS/ = 400 degrees @ 10 minutes.
https://www.powderbuythepound.com/SU...EAR_STARLIGHT/ = 400 degrees @ 10 minutes, as well.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

It has a powder base coat, painted color coat, and then a clear coat. The clear coat is extremely durable. What type of solvent are you using to strip it with? Most wheel manufacturers don't recommend powder coating because heat degrades the strength of steel/metal.

aircraft stripper.

i've only been able to remove the clear layers. non of the color is stripped because it's powder coated on. the only way it comes off is with acid dips for a period of time and the risk there is the timing.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by Patrón

aircraft stripper.

i've only been able to remove the clear layers. non of the color is stripped because it's powder coated on. the only way it comes off is with acid dips for a period of time and the risk there is the timing.

Easiest way to remove powder coat is by Permatex Gasket Remover. I learned about it from reading this a long time ago and tried it out. Works like a champ. Spray it on and let it sit and it'll peel right off. In my experience, I had to wait 40 mins or so for it to activate, and there were a couple times I had to respray some parts, but in the end, it worked like a champ. I have some pics somewhere, I have to dig them up.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

Easiest way to remove powder coat is by Permatex Gasket Remover. I learned about it from reading this a long time ago and tried it out. Works like a champ. Spray it on and let it sit and it'll peel right off. In my experience, I had to wait 40 mins or so for it to activate, and there were a couple times I had to respray some parts, but in the end, it worked like a champ. I have some pics somewhere, I have to dig them up.

good info. thank you. hopefully i don't have to mess with wheel colors for a long time.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by Patrón

good info. thank you. hopefully i don't have to mess with wheel colors for a long time.

No problem. Pics are here.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

Any one who has found a good shop please post in this thread.

I'll have to recommend http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Wheels-...an-Antonio.php They have a place in Houston and a place in Dallas. I contacted both locales, but since a lot of my family is in SA, I went w/them. I dropped them off w/my dad, and he dropped them off @ the shop and picked them up when they were finished 2 days later.

I picked up my wheels used and a couple of them were curbed something horrible. Wheels America fixed the curbing (and slight indention on one of the wheels) in 2011 and I haven't had any trouble at all. They say they powder all of their wheels, but I had them strip all 4 of them and return them to me raw, as I had already lined up a powder coater. I highly recommend them, at least the SA shop. The price was VERY reasonable.

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

More heat, yes, but for longer periods of time, I don't think that's correct.
http://www.diamond-wheels.net/powder-coat-process.php

Those guys do paint and powder, and the powder portion is 200 degrees @ 20 minutes, whereas the paint portion is 40 mins, temp unknown.

I know when I had things powdercoated, each bag of powder (I brought my own to the shop that I had do the work) comes w/a cure schedule. For example:
https://www.powderbuythepound.com/SO..._CHROME_TRANS/ = 400 degrees @ 10 minutes.
https://www.powderbuythepound.com/SU...EAR_STARLIGHT/ = 400 degrees @ 10 minutes, as well.

Not sure how accurate the wording is on the website as it seems to mix powder with painting. Most powder requires a temperature range from 160 to 210 degrees celsius, the 200 degrees they are stating may be in celsius as I doubt 200 degrees fahrenheit is high enough for the powder to melt.

If the information is completely accurate, then they are doing a powder prime coat, then a wet color coat, and finally a powder clear coat which to me makes no sense. If you do powder coating, you go all the way and not include any wet coating.

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

I'll have to recommend http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Wheels-...an-Antonio.php They have a place in Houston and a place in Dallas. I contacted both locales, but since a lot of my family is in SA, I went w/them. I dropped them off w/my dad, and he dropped them off @ the shop and picked them up when they were finished 2 days later.

I picked up my wheels used and a couple of them were curbed something horrible. Wheels America fixed the curbing (and slight indention on one of the wheels) in 2011 and I haven't had any trouble at all. They say they powder all of their wheels, but I had them strip all 4 of them and return them to me raw, as I had already lined up a powder coater. I highly recommend them, at least the SA shop. The price was VERY reasonable.

The body shop I use in Houston is now using Wheels America. I know you said you did all 4 wheels, but have you compared them to someone else's OEM wheels to see how closely they match?

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by Patrón

I've tried stripping three different models of bmw wheels and all are powdercoated. it is very difficult to get the finish off a bmw wheel unless you sand blast. how certain are you that the zcp are painted?

This is what BBS USA told me. After doing further research on the BBS website I found the below page which states they do both paint and powder coating.

http://bbs.com/en/technology/quality.php

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

The body shop I use in Houston is now using Wheels America. I know you said you did all 4 wheels, but have you compared them to someone else's OEM wheels to see how closely they match?

are you doing one or two wheels only? wheels america actually does great work and the paint should match almost perfectly.

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by Patrón

are you doing one or two wheels only? wheels america actually does great work and the paint should match almost perfectly.

Unfortunately, I'm only doing one wheel which is why I've been so picky.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by bdaddylo

The body shop I use in Houston is now using Wheels America. I know you said you did all 4 wheels, but have you compared them to someone else's OEM wheels to see how closely they match?

I didn't have OEM wheels done. I picked up some TE37 Time Attacks and refinished them, so I don't have a comparison. I can understand why you'd be picky. My boy recently had one of his wheels repaired (didn't have it done @ Wheels America) and it came back just a hair off the color of the rest of the wheels. Barely noticeable, but when it's your car, you notice.

[surlynkid]

Anybody try Auto Masters in Spring?

[bdaddylo]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

Anybody try Auto Masters in Spring?

I think they went out of business.

[surlynkid]

Caliber Collision just used them on a wheel for me.