Nothing drops the value or appearance of a car faster than damaged alloys. Fresh paintwork, perfect bodywork, gleaming windows – it all means nothing the second someone spots kerbed rims, deep scratches, flaking lacquer or corrosion bubbling under the surface.
The two services that fix this are Alloy Wheel Repair and Full Alloy Wheel Refurbishment. The question every single customer asks us is: “Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment – which one do I actually need?”
The answer is never the same twice. It depends entirely on the type of damage, how deep it goes, where it is on the wheel, the original finish (painted, powder-coated or diamond-cut), and what you’re planning to do with the car next – daily driver, weekend toy, private sale or dreaded End-of-Lease Return.
This is the most detailed, no-nonsense breakdown you will find anywhere on Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment – written by technicians with over 25 years hands-on experience fixing thousands of wheels every year, on the drive, at the office or at the dealership, UK-wide.
Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment – The Key Differences at a Glance
| Factor | Alloy Wheel Repair | Full Alloy Wheel Refurbishment |
| Best for | Light–medium kerb rash, scuffs, scratches, stone chips, minor lacquer peel | Deep/multiple kerbs, corrosion, cracks, buckled wheels, full colour change |
| Areas treated | Visible face + outer rim only | Every mm of the wheel – inside & out |
| Process time | 2–5 hours per wheel (often same-day) | 2–4 full days for a set of four |
| Cost per wheel (mobile) | £95 – £180 | £130 – £280 |
| Finish durability | 5–10+ years with care | 8–15+ years with care |
| Diamond-cut restoration | n/a | Yes – full re-cut after powder coat |
| End-of-lease approval rate | 95% accepted | 100% accepted |
| Guarantee | 1 year | 1 year |
When Alloy Wheel Repair Wins (95% of the wheels we see)
Alloy Wheel Repair is a precision, targeted restoration that only treats the damaged areas – exactly like a dentist filling a cavity rather than pulling the whole tooth.
Situations where repair is perfect and will look 100% factory fresh:
- Single or multiple light–medium kerb marks on the outer rim
- Surface scratches across the spokes
- Stone chips or light lacquer lift on the face
- Faded or dull diamond-cut finish that has lost its sparkle
- Minor corrosion spots (not pitting right through the metal)
- Wheels that are structurally perfect – no cracks, no buckling
Because we only strip and repaint the damaged zones, the rest of the original factory finish stays untouched and the colour match is invisible.
When You Have No Choice But Full Refurbishment
Alloy Wheel Refurbishment is the nuclear option – the entire wheel is stripped to bare aluminium and rebuilt from scratch.
You must choose refurbishment when:
- Kerb damage is deep and repeated in the same place (metal actually missing)
- Corrosion has eaten pits into the metal (common after years of winter salt)
- The wheel is cracked or has chunks broken out
- The wheel is buckled or out of round
- Lacquer has lifted across the entire face or inside the barrel
- Previous cheap repairs have gone patchy or are peeling
- You want a complete colour change (silver → gloss black, anthracite, bronze, candy red, etc.)
- The inner barrel is heavily corroded (lease inspectors love checking here!)
The Complete Alloy Wheel Repair Process – Every Single Step Explained
- Mobile Arrival & Vehicle Lift We arrive at your home or workplace with a fully equipped van and safely jack the car on axle stands.
- Wheel & Tyre Removal Wheels removed, tyres deflated and taken off using rim-protecting tyre machines.
- Detailed Damage Mapping Each wheel photographed from every angle and inspected under 5,000K LED lighting.
- Masking & Protection Tyre and inner barrel masked with high-temperature tape and foil.
- Targeted Chemical Strip Only the damaged sections are chemically stripped back to bare alloy.
- TIG Welding (if needed) Deep gouges or missing metal rebuilt with 4043-grade aluminium rod.
- CNC Profiling & Blending Repaired area sculpted back to the exact original contour.
- Progressive Sanding 120 → 320 → 600 → 1000 → 2000 grit wet sanding for invisible blend lines.
- Diamond-Cut Re-Cutting (for bi-tone wheels) Face re-cut on our in-house CNC lathe to restore razor-sharp bright lines.
- Etch Primer & Powder Primer Corrosion-blocking primers baked at 200 °C.
- Base Colour Application Multiple mist coats + wet coats of OEM-matched paint.
- Clear Lacquer 3–4 coats of the toughest 2K automotive lacquer, baked between coats.
- Final Polish & Inspection Hand polished and checked under magnification.
- Tyre Re-Fit & Balancing New valve, re-inflate, dynamic balance with stick-on weights on the inside.
- Re-Fit to Car Torqued to exact manufacturer settings.
Average time per wheel: 2–4 hours. Most customers have all four done in a single morning or afternoon.
The Complete Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Process – Every Single Step Explained
- Same initial removal and photography as repair.
- Full Chemical Strip Tank Wheels submerged in 80 °C caustic solution – every trace of paint and lacquer removed.
- Shot/Grit Blasting Blasted to SA 2.5 standard for perfect adhesion.
- Structural Repairs Cracks TIG welded, buckled rims heated and straightened on hydraulic press to <0.2 mm run-out.
- Full Powder Primer Electrostatic powder primer inside and out – baked 200 °C.
- Full Powder Colour Coat Your chosen colour applied and baked (extremely tough base).
- Wet-Paint Face or Diamond-Cut For painted finishes: wet sprayed. For diamond-cut: inner windows powder-coated, face CNC re-cut, then thin lacquer.
- 10 Multiple Lacquer Coats 4–5 coats of high-solid lacquer, baked and flattened between coats.
- 11–15 Identical final polish, tyre fit, balance and re-fit as the repair process.
Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment – Mobile Pricing (No VAT)
Alloy Wheel Repair (per wheel)
- Light–medium kerb rash & scratches: £95–£120
- Welding required or heavy rash: £130–£150
- Diamond-cut face restoration: £150–£180
Full Alloy Wheel Refurbishment (per wheel)
- Standard powder-coat colours: £130–£160
- Shadow chrome / hyper silver: £180–£200
- Full diamond-cut refurb: £200–£240
- Custom candy / matte / satin finishes: £220–£280
All prices include removal, refit, balancing and UK-wide mobile visit.
End-of-Lease Return Repairs – The Biggest Money Saver
Lease companies are ruthless. A single 8 cm light scuff = £180–£300 recharge per wheel. Four wheels = £700–£1,200 bill you don’t need.
Our Alloy Wheel Repair service is accepted by every major lease company because we re-cut diamond finishes and supply before/after photos plus a 1-year guarantee certificate. In 2024–2025 alone we saved customers over £1.4 million in unnecessary charges.
How Long Will It Last?
Both processes carry a full 1-year guarantee against peeling, flaking or corrosion reappearing. Real-world lifespan with normal road use and basic care:
- Repairs: 5–10 years
- Refurbishments: 10–15 years
Prevention – Never Pay for Alloy Wheel Repair or Refurbishment Again
- Park 30–50 cm away from kerbs
- Apply a ceramic wheel coating or wax every 3–6 months
- Wash wheels weekly with pH-neutral shampoo and soft brushes
- Rinse salt off immediately in winter
- Avoid automatic car washes with acid wheel cleaners
Why Thousands of Drivers Choose Us for Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment
- Over 25 years specialising purely in cosmetic vehicle repairs
- Fully mobile nationwide service – no need to leave your house
- Latest CNC diamond-cutting and powder-coating technology
- Every technician time-served and trained to OEM standards
- 1-year guarantee on every single wheel
- Thousands of genuine before & after photos and 5-star reviews at www.carcos.co.uk
- Same-day alloy wheel repair available in most areas
- Honest “repair vs refurbishment” advice – we never upsell
Ready to find out once and for all whether your wheels need Alloy Wheel Repair or Full Refurbishment?
📸 WhatsApp clear photos of all four wheels right now for an instant, accurate quote and expert advice – usually replied to in under 5 minutes, 7 days a week.
📱 07803 242 888 🌐 www.carcos.co.uk
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Don’t pay lease penalties. Don’t accept patchy mobile fixes that fade in months. Get it done properly, once, with a finish that lasts years.
Message us today – your alloys deserve the best.
Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main difference between Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment?
Alloy Wheel Repair is a targeted fix for visible scuffs, scratches, kerb rash and minor lacquer damage – usually completed same-day from £95 per wheel. Full Refurbishment strips the entire wheel to bare metal and rebuilds it completely – needed only for heavy corrosion, cracks or colour changes (from £130 per wheel).
2. How do I know if I need Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment?
Send us clear photos on WhatsApp (07803 242 888). In 95% of cases we can tell you instantly whether Alloy Wheel Repair is enough or if your wheels genuinely need Full Refurbishment. We never upsell zero – only recommend what’s required.
3. Is Alloy Wheel Repair cheaper than Refurbishment?
Yes – always. Alloy Wheel Repair starts at £95–£180 per wheel. Full Refurbishment starts at £130–£280. Most customers save £200–£600 on a set of four by choosing the correct service.
4. Can Alloy Wheel Repair restore diamond-cut wheels properly?
Yes. Our Alloy Wheel Repair process includes full CNC diamond-cut re-cutting, so the bright machined lines look factory-sharp again – exactly the same as you get with a more expensive refurbishment.
5. Will lease companies accept Alloy Wheel Repair or do they insist on Refurbishment?
Every major lease company (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW Group, Lexus, LeasePlan etc.) accepts our Alloy Wheel Repair as long as diamond-cut finishes are re-cut and we supply before/after photos + 1-year guarantee certificate. We’ve never had a single rejection.
6. How long does Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment take?
Alloy Wheel Repair: 2–5 hours per wheel – most sets of four finished same day at your home or work.
Full Refurbishment: 2–3 full days for a set (wheels are taken away and returned).
7. Do you offer a guarantee on Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment?
Yes – a full 1-year guarantee on both services against peeling, flaking or corrosion returning.
8. Can I change colour with Alloy Wheel Repair or only with Refurbishment?
Colour changes are only possible with Full Refurbishment because the entire wheel must be stripped. Alloy Wheel Repair keeps the original colour and restores it perfectly.
9. Is mobile Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment available nationwide?
Yes – we come to you anywhere in the UK with our fully equipped vans. No need to drive anywhere.
10. How do I get a quote for Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment?
Simply WhatsApp clear photos of all four wheels to 07803 242 888. You’ll receive an accurate quote and honest “repair vs refurbishment” advice in minutes, 7 days a week.
11. Why do some companies always push Refurbishment when Repair would do?
Because full refurbishment has a higher price tag. We’ve specialised in cosmetic repairs for over 25 years and pride ourselves on recommending the cheapest option that still looks perfect.
Still unsure about Alloy Wheel Repair vs Refurbishment for your car? Drop us photos right now – we’ll tell you exactly what you need (and what you don’t!). 📱 07803 242 888 🌐 www.carcos.co.uk