Pristene wheels....not impressed.

philoldsmobile · October 27, 2007, 07:59:20 AM

Took he stang to pristene wheels in Woburn Sands for a quote on refurbing my odd wheel today, and was less than impressed with their attitude...

1) they cant match the colour, they bought out 1 sample of bright silver, i refuse to believe that a wheel refinishers only keep one silver

2) they wont book the car in, you have to bring them a wheel, for some reason its too difficult to jack a car up and undo 5 nuts

3) they seemed to insist there would be some damage to repair on the wheel, even though i assured them the wheel was totaly round and straight, they kept saying the price was "plus any damage that needs repairing" in other words, they are likely charge for damage regardless!

4) they wont fill the pony on the center cap in dark silver

5) they wont turn the center cap, in fact they wont do it at all, apparently its "too thin" to diamond turn... hmmm.. how did that diamond turn finish get on the others? and how much they planning on taking off... as a turner by profession i KNOW this is bulls*it!

for this 'service' they want £84!

on yer bike!

Rocky · October 27, 2007, 08:56:36 AM

Wow they sent me through some info to see if would use them but dont think i will bother now, I know of some other paces so i think i will stay with them.

55starchief · October 27, 2007, 10:08:45 AM

Thats real odd as i have always found them to be more than helpful and very professional in their approach. I have heard from some one else that the guy they spoke to was a complete asshole. I guess they have one person there who isnt doing them any favors

Roadkill · October 27, 2007, 11:42:26 AM

I've heard very mixed things about them . . . Didn't HRC have some issues with them . . . . ?

philoldsmobile · October 27, 2007, 11:55:23 AM

Quoting: 55starchief

Thats real odd as i have always found them to be more than helpful and very professional in their approach.

thats always been my past experience with them too, we used them a lot at palmer sport, and they were excellent..

not so this time though, not by a long shot.

philoldsmobile · October 27, 2007, 11:55:56 AM

Quoting: Roadkill

I've heard very mixed things about them . . . Didn't HRC have some issues with them . . . . ?

yeah, i think so, and Martyn was not completely happy either, even after taking them back to rectify problems..

ianjpage · October 27, 2007, 02:22:15 PM

Hmm as deano said, heard mixed things some peeps happy as larry with em, others (like martyn) had to go back again....shame really as now you gorra try and find somewhere else to get em done....

F Body · October 27, 2007, 03:48:59 PM

Quoting: philoldsmobile

nd Martyn was not completely happy either, even after taking them back to rectify problems..

Yep I'd only give then 7/10, attitude was fine but the finish wasn't perfect and the outside was nearly perfect before they went in, the inside of the wheels were crap, but they came out fine.
They also took some persuading to do the inside of the wheels in a different colour.

Mind you if you remember the repair of the GMC wheel

It was BADLY damaged and it came back two days later in better condition for £42

Would I use then again, probably but I think I'd look round to see who else could do a better job ???

art b · October 27, 2007, 07:17:23 PM

i went to a refinishers in npton,and they had some good some bad,also depends on the luck of the draw if their quality control is sloppy...

55starchief · October 28, 2007, 04:35:51 PM

Quoting: F Body

Would I use then again, probably but I think I'd look round to see who else could do a better job ???

thats the problem pristine are probably the most consistent in the area. If its a basic wheel you can get it sand blasted and take it to a body shop to be painted but it works out about the same as pristine who powdercoat

art b · October 28, 2007, 06:05:54 PM

a case of better the devil u know.......

Cunning Plan · October 29, 2007, 06:37:40 AM

I went there quite a few years ago to get a quote to recondition the chrome Weller wheels I had bought for my vdub.. I had it in the boot of the car and remember it took ages to try and get someone to come out and have a look instead of me carting it all the way inside to the counter (it still had the tyre on ). It was like they were doing me a favour 'having a look' - forgetting the fact that it was potentially giving them more business

He took one look and said "na" and started to walk off, i asked why and he said quickly "dont touch chrome". Well fine, but being a 'wheel refurbishment' company, you would of thought they would. TBH even if they did do chrome, I probablly wouldnt of used them. I hate that kind of attitiude..

55starchief · October 29, 2007, 06:40:36 AM

Quoting: Cunning Plan

He took one look and said "na" and started to walk off, i asked why and he said quickly "dont touch chrome". Well fine, but being a 'wheel refurbishment' company, you would of thought they would. TBH even if they did do chrome, I probablly wouldnt of used them. I hate that kind of attitiude..

Not many wheel refurb companies do chrome the main reason is the license required for the chemicals, you also have to have permision from the council. Most platers are dropping chrome also as the expense of disposing of the chemicals is cost prohibative

If you need chrome work you need to go to a specialist plating company and your gonna pay for it

art b · October 29, 2007, 01:13:58 PM

fair comment its a specialist job chroming,
i went to a platers once,ya wouldnt want to spend to long in there....

55starchief · October 29, 2007, 01:48:56 PM

When i was at college i used to drop stuff in to premier plating in northampton as it was on the way, the place always smelt of chemicals not a nice smell

philoldsmobile · October 29, 2007, 02:07:34 PM

Quoting: 55starchief

thats the problem pristine are probably the most consistent in the area. If its a basic wheel you can get it sand blasted and take it to a body shop to be painted but it works out about the same as pristine who powdercoat

to be fair, i can get basic alloy wheels blasted and powder coated for considerably less (nearly £100 less) than pristene for a set of 4

art b · October 29, 2007, 02:43:51 PM

i got my dart wheels done for 30 quid each,

the guy did tell me £40x4 was £120.....who was i to argue

55starchief · October 29, 2007, 02:48:25 PM

I have had wheels blasted before and unless they are a small number of spokes forget it. My saab wheels were a criss cross patern and the blasting didnt get into all the small areas. On another set of wheels i had done they were fine but it still cost £10 per wheel and then the painting was on top of that. Pristine did the SAAB wheels for £30 a corner but my dad did know the guy who owned it apparently it used to be fred the tread and the companies main business was retread and remould truck tyres

philoldsmobile · October 29, 2007, 02:52:42 PM

pristene want £232 for blasting and straight powder coating of my 17" wheels..(although they will re turn them for free if i want)

i can get wheels blasted for £10 each, and powder coated for £100 (using a proper wheel 2 coat powder, (a colour and a clear powder)

the only thing that i'd have to do myself is sort any kerbing, but thats easy enough

art b · October 29, 2007, 02:56:29 PM

mine b4 and after

philoldsmobile · October 29, 2007, 03:02:49 PM

big improvement there!

art b · October 29, 2007, 04:24:49 PM

not like new but suits me,
when they have tyres and are on the car they look sweeeeet