[Dautres]

Call me paranoid but having been knocked £55 for slight kerb damage to one of my alloys when I sold my Focus today, I am now a little concerned about damaging the diamond cut alloys on my forthcoming 3008 GT.
Firstly the rims are a little bit nearer the kerb with the 19” wheels and secondly my wife will be driving the car a little bit more often so I can envisage a few arguments if the wheels do get damaged.
I’ve been noticing alloy wheels quite a lot recently and the diamond cut ones look particularly bad when they are damaged. I wondered about some sort of rim protection and the ones I have seen on the internet look a bit naff. Then there’s alloy wheel insurance but I haven’t really looked into the cost of this and its overall value for money. Alternatively I can drive around in fear of damaging my wheels , parking a good distance from the kerb to be on the safe side and have the chance of the car being clipped by a passing vehicle.
Maybe I should have gone for automated parking assistance but having never used it on my Focus I felt it not worth the money. Thinking about it the £450 saved might pay for the insurance or a new wheel!
Anyone have any views apart from being such a perfect driver they would never scuff their wheels anyway?

 

[pauljos1]

I'd just drive the car and enjoy it mate and worry about alloy wheel scuffs when you come to sell it. Companies out there repair diamond cut alloy wheels and I myself have to get the wheels on my current Kia repaired before it goes back otherwise they'll charge me their prices for the repairs or even a new rim.

It's like that thing where people buy a car and then cover their sexy new seats with aftermarket seat covers to protect them. I just don't get it! Why would you keep the seats protected for the next owner?

 

[Fontie]

I think its par for the course when driving your going to rub up against a kerb sooner or later how ever careful you are I know sooner or later mine will get scuffed I'll deal with it when it happens probably swear not going to worry or get paranoid though. No idea about insuring against it its probably full of clauses like one claim per year or something.

 

[Michaelss]

Alloy insurance

I looked into this on my last car, be careful and check the small print, lots of company's exclude diamond cut alloys
Not sure why unless they are more difficult / expensive to repair

 

[spjgriw]

It's called life and more specifically wear and tear. Embrace it, you can't do anything about it, what will be will be, etc etc

 

[lee789]

Diamond cuts are a pain, and usually require the wheel to be sent away for a few days. If mine get scuffed I'm going to have them treated and painted, which will make future repairs much cheaper, and less of a headache. PDR guy told me to be more worried about the chrome strip that runs above the sill, because that can't be repaired, and if it gets damaged, needs to be replaced. Not cheap either apparently!!

 

[yorky52]

There's a product called Alloygator that you can fit but its not cheap. I priced a set locally and including fitting it came to £130. You can fit them yourself but it's a lot of hassle as you have to deflate the tyre to fit them.

 

[pinkaardvark]

I just had the diamond cut alloys on my ds5 refurbed. This involves sandblasting, then powder coating, cutting the surface back on a lathe before finally lacquering them. This cost 100quid per wheel and they look brand new.

Problem with diamond cut wheels is that you can end up needing them refurbed after a few years even if you don't curb them, as stonechips will penetrate the lacquer, and then even a pin headed size hole is enough to let water in which kicks off the surface corrosion that will spread across the wheel.

I swore I'd never have them again after the last two cars, but theres no real choice on the 3008. On the upside, my ds5 had 19 x 40 tyres so alloy edge was much more vulnerable. The 3008 has 50 profile tyres so a lot more sidewall. I went for the grip control purely to get smaller alloys and hence a more comfortable ride and less risk of damage. With a low profile you can damage the alloy edges easily in potholes as the tyre moves away from the alloy when pinched exposing it to damage.

 

[lee789]

There have been some horror stories about those alloygators. As you say, they have to be fitted properly, because if they become detached at high speed, they can cause a lot of damage to paintwork and trim. They are quite expensive too, and once you've damaged one, you have to fork out for a whole new kit just to replace the damaged one. Probably cheaper in the long run to just accumulate scuffs, and get the whole lot done at once. That's if you can live with the damage for a while.

 

[colpoth]

Although not everyones cup of tea I have fitted black Alloygators to my 308 GTLine.Did it with the wheels off as they had to come off to fit the mudflaps.Not diamond cut alloys though.They are now available as singles if you damage one.

 

[pauljos1]

Yours is a 308 GT Line isn't it Colpoth, not a 3008?

 

[xlineiain]

Wheel scuffs irritate me.
I had the diamond cut 19s on my 508 refurbished at over £300.
My rcz is due one too, although they aren't diamond cut so hopefully I'll be looking at half that cost.

Sent from my Vodafone Smart ultra 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Bigcheese]

I have alloygators on my current car and have not had any problems with them, even with a puncture. Can't decide whether to go for them again for under £120 or go for insurance from totallossgap for £170 where you can have about three claims per year. Only proviso is that you claim as soon after the damage as possible. Chosen full alloy spare wheel for only £100. Car pick up pencilled in for next Wednesday, so decisions soon.

1.2 Allure manual, blue keyless

 

[Dautres]

I have alloygators on my current car and have not had any problems with them, even with a puncture. Can't decide whether to go for them again for under £120 or go for insurance from totallossgap for £170 where you can have about three claims per year. Only proviso is that you claim as soon after the damage as possible. Chosen full alloy spare wheel for only £100. Car pick up pencilled in for next Wednesday, so decisions soon.

1.2 Allure manual, blue keyless

I don’t think alloygators are suitable for the 3008 wheels, GT at least, because the tyres cover and protrude past the rim so it’s protected from kerb scuffs. It is the spokes you need to worry about and I’m not sure if there is a way of protecting them other than parking well away from the kerb or by taking out wheel insurance.

 

[colpoth]

Yours is a 308 GT Line isn't it Colpoth, not a 3008?

Oops in the wrong forum.

 

[Beau]

Oops in the wrong forum.

No worries colpoth.

We appreciate your input anyway, plus you don't have to own/buying a 3008 to post here if you have something to say that's relevant to a thread, especially as the damage by curbs on alloys affects us many motorists of all Marques and models.

 

[Bluehdi]

I looked into this and couldn't find any alloy wheel insurance companies that would cover repair of diamond cut alloys - only standard alloys. The small print of all the policies specifically stated 'excludes diamond cut'.

Having just removed four badly kerbed diamond cut alloys from my 64 plate Clio, I decided to replace them all at massive cost from Renault and sell the old ones! The car looks great now, although I clean them weekly, to hopefully avoid corrosion.

I tried to find out about refurbing the kerbed diamond cuts, and after inspecting the alloys, was advised it could be done, but at least £80 plus vat each wheel and no guarantee could be given as the lacquer is easily stone chipped and would then allow corrosion in and I'd be back to square one. Put me off really, so the old ones are for sale online

I found a company called Lepsons that would guarantee their repair.

I now just treat kerbs with a great deal of care!

 

[lee789]

Diamond cuts look nice, but they are a real pain if you do kerb them. The repair guy told me he recommends having them stripped and painted, as it's far cheaper to repair them if they get kerbed again, and a lot less inconvenient. He said if painted and finished professionally, they look just as good as the diamond cut finish.

 

[Bigcheese]

Totallossgap cover diamond cut alloys. Don't work for them and have not used them, yet. Just found them while researching.

1.2 Allure manual, blue keyless

 

[Bigcheese]

Policy Explanation

With a Total Loss Alloy Wheel Policy you can...


1. Make up to 4 claims per 12 month period.


2. It will Inc damage to painted, diamond or laser cut alloys.


3. £150 contribution to a replacement if the alloy is beyond repair.


4. Mobile repairer to you home or work.


5. If a factory refurb required then alloy sent by courier at no charge.

Please note that there is a £10.00 excess to pay per claim.



1.2 Allure manual, blue keyless