Wheel Enhancement Company

[cegerer]

I need to get my four 6x15 Fuchs refinished. I called Wheel Enhancement for some options.

Standard Finishing - $780
Polished Spokes - $820

What makes W.E. attractive to me is their wheel exchange program. i.e.: no DOWN TIME for my 911!

I have heard a few negative comments in past threads about W.E. How do these prices sound and can anyone suggest other options? Thanks! -- Curt

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[Joe Bob]

They do great work...just big bucks. Try these guys www.fixarim.com they do a lot of American Iron, but did a good job on some wheels for me.

[campbellcj]

I had W.E. do both sets of my wheels, plus all the mount and balance work etc (I am local to them.)

They do absolutely great work, but IMHO I wouldn't use them for a straight polish or paint kind of job. There are cheaper options that can do a great job too, such as Al Reed Wheel Refinishing in Anaheim, CA, or the shop MikeZ mentioned.

For full concours quality re-anodizing or anything really valuable or esoteric, I'd spring the bucks for W.E.

W.E. also has a massive inventory of Porsche O.E. wheels and high-quality aftermarket wheels; tires as well. If you are looking for Fikses or stuff like that, they are worth a check too. Every square foot of their place is literally filled up with wheels and tires, up to the ceiling.


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Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

[RLJ]

I sent some wheels to them and they were going to send me a set the next day that were already finished for an extra charge. Six weeks later I got My wheels back and no refund.

I ALSO wanted the wheels to match early style exactly and they came back done the cheap way. Not the original dual tone clear.

They don't touch the wheels all they do is get them in and then ship them to the guys who do the work, neat deal, to much money and I don't trust them. Screw me once shame on you screw me twice and same on me, I will never deal with them again.

Also, Woods pardner is IMHO a jerk on the phone!

Randy Jones
1971 911

[michaelnk@excite.com]

Be very careful. . .they will most of the time tell that your wheels are bent or bad to get more money from you.
So although the exchange program sounds great you might get ....ed.

[richenry]

IMHO $800.00 is a ridiculous amount of money to refinish a 15" or 16" wheel.

[ServerDude]

I actually had a positive experience with those guys. When I got my 91 C2, the PO had knock off 993 wheels that were offset for a 3.2 Carrera. the rears were hitting the fender lip on decent bumps. W.E. really were knowledgable in helping me figure out what was going on and getting me squared away. They had a wheel and tire combo priced just a tad more than TireRack, but dealing with people who KNEW Porsche wheels was worth the added price bump. They came very nicely mounted and balanced - and packaged.

Yes - they are a little rough around the edges on the phone, but I never got the feeling that they were just being jerks or trying to rip me off.

Never had any refinish work or know anything about prices - just thought I'd throw a good note for W.E. If I ever get new wheels again, I'd use them without hesitation.

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Brian Smith
'91 C2

[Greg-slant/cab]

The only experience I have had with W.E. is on the phone. I was not to impressed. I was looking to have my HRE wheels refinished and they did not want to do the job at all. I did talk to a local Wheel shop and was quoted a price, but the guy let it slip that they send the wheels out. After a little work I figured out who actually did the work. I was quoted $160 per wheel for polishing and powdercoating and HRE quoted me about the same. I think with the 3 piece wheels it might be a little more labor time. You might be able to find a better price but it sounds like your in the ball park.

[This message has been edited by Greg-slant/cab (edited 06-16-2001).]

[cegerer]

Thanks for input guys. One of my problems is that I live out here in the hinterlands - far from Southern Cal! It sure would be nice to be able to drive to a Porsche wheel refinishing shop down the road, but there isn't one Michigan!

If I do go with WE, I'm wondering if there is anything - other than detailed photos - I can do to document the condition of my wheels before I send them in for exchange in case they try to screw me?

Also, what is the 'dual-tone' clearcoat on the early wheels?

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[campbellcj]

Originally posted by cegerer:
If I do go with WE, I'm wondering if there is anything - other than detailed photos - I can do to document the condition of my wheels before I send them in for exchange in case they try to screw me?

Yes, you can have a local wheel/tire shop that seems to know what they're doing check over the wheels for straightness and serious road rash first! In fact, you probably need to get your tires dismounted anyway, right? So have the wheel shop ship the wheels to the refinisher for you, and then have them reshipped back to there to remount your tires.

The policy of W.E. in this regard is very understandable. On an exchange basis, would you buy somebody else's wheels that were in worse shape than yours, i.e. pitted or bent??? Nope. So if your wheels are not acceptable as exchanges, they will refinish yours for you as opposed to selling them to somebody else. I have no problem with this policy.

Also, what is the 'dual-tone' clearcoat on the early wheels?

I'm not sure what Randy means by dual-tone clearcoat, but there are several ways to skin a cat in terms of the early anodized wheels.

The early wheels have a multi-stage anodizing process. The silver/bright portion is actually a smooth and bright anodizing on the rim and the outer "petals" and a rougher anodizing on the sides of the "petals", then the black paint of course on the background. W.E. does this type of refinish but they charge a bit extra compared to doing all the silver in the same finish.

Most folks who aren't concours Judges would never even notice this. In fact, virtually every early car I've seen in our local concours doesn't even have the correct wheels and/or finish at all, let alone little nuances like this.


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Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

[This message has been edited by campbellcj (edited 06-16-2001).]

[cegerer]

Thanks for the info again Chris.

I'm trying to avoid dismounting my tires and the associated 'down time' for the car (although if I would just wait until winter, that wouldn't be a problem). With the exchange program, they will send me newly refinished wheels. I take them to my local tire store and have my tires swapped. Then I pack up my old wheels in the WE boxes and ship them back to WE and hope they give me my full deposit back.

[RLJ]

The clear anodizing is done over two different metal preps. polished or shinny and part bead blasted. I belive RSR wheels are all bead blasted before clear anodizing and the rest of the wheels have a dual color or mat and shinny clear anodizing. There was a man at Gary Emorys Camp Out last weekend who does wheels for a living and is a PCA judge for wheels. He will not work for the general public so I cant give out his name but lives in Norther CA. He is the one who does the expensive refinishes for WE.

Lets look at something here. If you are so worried about sending your wheels to WE and not getting what I got why not find someone else and eliminate the stress. Is it not easeier to find another wheel shop than take your wheels to one guy, then send them off to guy two, who could tell you the first guy was wrong, and then you still have a problem.

Randy Jones
1971 911

[cegerer]

Hey Randy, thanks for the info. What a great resource this BBS is. I'm open to suggestions on somebody other than WE doing the wheels. My problem is that W.E. seems to be the only ones who are actually setup to deal via mailorder. I suppose I can call some of these other Cal shops and see if they can offer something similar. -- Curt

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[bob tilton]

hmm...that's a bit HIGH! i've seen the work of a local guy here in the east bay area who does them for a $100-125 each. it was on a '70 911 w stock rims and they were beautiful. so much so that the rest of the car screamed for a fresh coat of paint to match the concourse rims. the only thing is the guy rarely answers his phone and his worker didn't know what a fusche was. however the owner does have a porsche and his rims are of couse flawless. i hesitate to refer him unless you live in the area and can check on the status of your rims in person.
bob
'68 911L

[Soterik]

I have a set of 4 rims done by W.E., and a set of rims redone by Al Reed, side by side.....and there is NO difference...except price....standard refinishing to original specs.

I believe current pricing at Al Reed is $95 to $105 per wheel.

Regarding Randy's comment about the Northern Cal guy....I believe the guy has now gone public, and has ran an ad in the most recent Excellence, page 166, Weidman's Wheels. Haven't seen his work, but assume it is very good. I spoke with him at length at Gary's and he has been around Porsche's forever. On an interesting sidenote, Al Reed's operation in southern Cal was sold to him by Weidman many many years ago, and Al was trained by Weidman at that time.

I am currently having a set of early deep 6's being done by Al with a rougher paddle finish, and a more smooth rim finish, and will post the results when I get the rims.

regards,
Eric

[cegerer]

Thanks Eric. I'll give Weidman and Reed a call on Monday and see what they can do for me.