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Car alloy wheel damaged: Need help with repair options in Bangalore

For me, the gashed diamond-cut alloy wheel is an eyesore. I'm worried about it getting corroded once the monsoon sets in.

BHPian Dead_Pedal recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello all, looking for some advice on how do I get this fixed to a reasonable extent. I'm unsure if the local tyre shop's equipment caused this or some stone/kerb hit on the highway. I casually asked the tyre shop owner on call if it could be caused by the equipment in use and he calmly denied it. I sadly noticed it much later after driving away. He told me "worst case, the equipment can only cause light scratches on the perimeter of the alloy". Also, the Honda body shop executive whom I know well had the same opinion.

At least to my eyes, it's an eyesore and moreover, I'm worried if there's any scope of corrosion once the monsoon sets in. Any leads in BLR would be highly appreciated and I don't know if I can go the insurance route and get this thing replaced. Please assist.

Here's what BHPian 2000rpm had to say about the matter:

Take a deep breath and chill. You will stop noticing it after a few days.

New cars evoke a lot of emotions. This is a small scratch, and you will get used to it in a few days.

Here's what BHPian greenhorn had to say about the matter:

I wouldn't recommend leaving it as it is. The lacquer will start coming loose and it may look real ugly soon.

Officially the way to repair a diamond cut alloy is to have it re-cut using a diamond - you can do this only once or twice before the wheel becomes too thin.

Another option is to sand the part lightly until the gash is not visible and then paint it with the correct clear coat (not the regular stuff- you'll need something used for alloy wheels).

The hard part is finding such a guy. When I was in the US, I was able to get this done, not sure about the options in India.

Here's what BHPian alpha1 had to say about the matter:

This is an alloy - it will not corrode. Definitely not a safety concern also. Eyesore - only because you know where to look.

My advice would be to overlook and ignore, and within one month you may not even remember.

The deepness of impact suggests a hit with the kerb, but then there should've been a corresponding mark on the tyres (and most likely a perforation in the tyre sidewall).

On the other hand, it is possible that someone dropped your wheel on the tyre removal machine - however, usually, the operator holds the outside face of the wheel UP (because it is easier to hold and manoeuvre that way) and places the backside down on which tyre removal takes place. So the marks, if they are made, should be on the inside face of the wheel.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say about the matter:

It has no implications for safety and handling. Consider it a battle scar and proudly wear it. Get it fixed if you can but if you keep trying to fix every little ding and dent, you will waste a lot of time. Except for you and a few of us on the forum, nobody would notice it or give much thought to it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

 
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