Weidman vs. Wheel enhancement

[911 Cab]

Who would you use to refinish Fuchs to factory specs (1989 Carrera)?

Wheel Enhancement

Harvey Weidman

TC

[JeremyD]

Harvey - you'll wait - but they will be "perfect"

[jeffrey2]

Try Al Reed - I'm sure they're all great, but Al's work is...well the best in my opinion.

[Carrman]

I've used all three! Weidman, Wheel Enhancement and Al Reed.

As far as wheel finish, Weidman is the best. You get your wheels back exactly as they were when they were new. This is "concours quality" work, and in fact he is the "go to" guy for most high level concours guys. He turned mine around in around 2 weeks.

Wheel Enhancement was ok. They can do good work, but I had my Fuchs refinished by them back to stock, and the anodized finish on each of the 4 wheels didn't match. Some were more "cloudy" than the others.

Al Reed is a nice guy and does good "driver quality" work. One thing he does that drives me nuts is paint the area where the lug nuts sit on the wheels. That is not how the wheels came, and it causes the paint to crack. His prices used to be a real bargain, but from what I've seen, he isn't that much lower cost than Weidman now.

For just polishing and painting a wheel, anyone can do that. A polish is a polish. But anodizing is a bit tricky, to get the anodized finish "just right."

[Palum6o]

I've had Al Reed refinish a set of 8's for me and they look fantastic (of course). During the tune up class with Bruce Anderson, I learned that Jerry Woods Enterprises uses Weidman.

[dtw]

Probably would have used Al Reed but for the painting of the lug recesses. Not only can cause the finish to crack/flake but potentially dangerous.

Used Weidman for refinish to original for my '72 6J15 Fuchs and they are stunning.

[Steve@Rennsport]

++1 for Harvey.

Do it right, do it once, and you'll never be sorry.

[jeffrey2]

I learned something today; didn' t know the recesses weren't to be painted; are they supposed to be bare?

[Carrman]

Like this:

[jwasbury]

No experience with the others, but my car had the wheels restored to stock by wheel enhancement by the PO. I can't complain, they look sweet. Others have complemented how nice my Fuchs look.

[boba]

I think it depends on the finish you are going for. A few can get the original finish correct or a polished finish.
If you are getting the RSR finish I think Weidman is the only way to go. I have and will use Harvey for all my wheels, he gets them correct.

Some before and after.

[regency]

Weidman's is my vote. Have used him twice and perfect both times. Plus he's a cool dude.

[carreraken]

Harvey gets my vote. Very happy with the work he did on mine.

[RRico]

wiedmans wheels, all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Palum6o]

What are the cost differences? I hope this thread doesn't suggest Reed's work to be inferior because, he does fantastic work and is very affordable. I couldn't believe my eyes when I got my wheels back - they look like brand new on both sides. The lug holes don't have paint in them either.

[porschenut]

I would not suggest Wheel Enhancement. I sent them my front 7" Fuchs to be refinished to stock, and not only did they take 8 weeks to do it, but they did not match the brand new 9's that I bought. The anodized rims were perfect, so all they had to do was paint the centers black. Furthermore, the paint starting chipping off after the very first drive, and it continues to chip to this day (3 years later).

You would think that since they sell brand new factory Fuchs, they would know how to match the respray. I won't use them again for anything.

[Joe Bob]

RSR frost....Weidmann.

I don't like Wheel Enhancement as they seem to be a "bend ya over w/o a reach around" type company. That may have changed when the ownership flipped but I have a long memory. They just give me a bad feeling...YMMV.

Al Reed is good on polish and probably the best pricing, I use him the most...I've seen his frosts and but it's not as good as Harvey Weidmann's....but you will be paying for it.

[MBAtarga]

TC,

I shipped my 7 & 9 x 16's (bought from Rattlesnak) all the way to Al Reed in CA. Got them polished with painted petals, and his wife hand painted the center cap crests. All for about $100 less than what Wheel Enhancement in Marietta quoted me (and they weren't painting the crests).

[RWebb]

search Early 911s bbs - there is a lengthy & detailed comparison between Al Reed and Harvey Weidmann. The latter wins. A summary might be AR = B or B+; HW = A or A+.

Prices and turn around are pretty close nowadays. Shipping might vary a bit, Ar is in LA, and HW is north of SFO. Both are very nice people.

My understanding is that Wheel Enhancement was THE place 20 years ago, but is not very good now, due to ownership changes. Not sure re that tho.

[RWebb]

PS - there is a link to the Early 911s bbs thread here on Pelican in an old thread