Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

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Scotdoc
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Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Scotdoc » Thu May 14, 2020 8:43 pm

I have a D3 2010 coupe.
The wheel centre logos are starting to break down.
I previously bought some replacements for a BMW 3 series which lasted about 3 months - so wary of going cheap. Note originals are £££s!

Any suggestions for a supplier of reasonably priced non OEM parts which will last for a while?

cheers

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jolls
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by jolls » Thu May 14, 2020 11:01 pm

A few people on the forum have used https://www.pukardesigns.com/product-pa ... eel-badges.
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Collectingbrass
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Collectingbrass » Wed May 20, 2020 11:23 am

I used https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/optio ... aps_alpina on recommendations from here. A single cap was £36 delivered including VAT, but delivery was a fixed fee if I remember correctly. I still need to fit the foam pads to stop the rattle.
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Norrie
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Norrie » Wed May 20, 2020 12:17 pm

I used Pukka, mine have been fine for 5 years.
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bobbly
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by bobbly » Thu May 21, 2020 9:36 am

Scotdoc wrote:
Thu May 14, 2020 8:43 pm
I have a D3 2010 coupe.
The wheel centre logos are starting to break down.
Which wheels do you have? Classics, or dynamics. That's a good starting point. :D

Alloy wheels direct do the Dynamic centres at £22 each alpina pn 3613128, and the Classic centres at £23 ea alpina pn 3613135. That doesn't seem too expensive for the right part to my eyes, and is cheaper than direct from the sole UK concessionaire.

Cheers
Bobbly

big blue
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by big blue » Wed May 27, 2020 2:35 pm

Just a note on the originals iof sourcing from Sytner, they are around £120 each (metal cap, lock, key & access disc) so a set of 4 would be near £500 for an F30 generation.

Also one thing to factor in is that they dont come with the sticky pads. These need to be ordered separately and then added before application.

You would think that they all come as a complete set with centre cap and pads together but they do not.

Also if you have rattly ones, they can be remedied by replacing the sticky pads which is an easy task and not too costly.
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Xiaorpowr
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Xiaorpowr » Mon Mar 22, 2021 5:55 pm

Norrie wrote:
Wed May 20, 2020 12:17 pm
I used Pukka, mine have been fine for 5 years.
Hi mate, sorry to revive an old thread - new owner here.

Did you just stick these directly over the top of old centre logo? or do these pop right out?
IMG_20210321_163302346.jpg
IMG_20210321_163302346.jpg (2.63 MiB) Viewed 2477 times
Cheers,
F31 D3 Biturbo No.013
BMW E46 M3 6MT

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Charles
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Charles » Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:41 pm

Xiaorpowr wrote:
Mon Mar 22, 2021 5:55 pm
Did you just stick these directly over the top of old centre logo? or do these pop right out?
1. Remove centre cap
2. Dismantle badge carrier from centre cap
3. Heat badge gently with heat gun until it can be peeled off (make note of where on the badge "carrier" the P of ALPINA is located)
4. Clean surface of badge carrier to remove all adhesive residue
5. Apply new badge (making sure the P of ALPINA is in the correct place)
6, Reassemble badge carrier onto centre cap
Charles
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by hap » Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:22 pm

:shock:

Xiaorpowr
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Xiaorpowr » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:29 pm

Charles wrote:
Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:41 pm
1. Remove centre cap
2. Dismantle badge carrier from centre cap
3. Heat badge gently with heat gun until it can be peeled off (make note of where on the badge "carrier" the P of ALPINA is located)
4. Clean surface of badge carrier to remove all adhesive residue
5. Apply new badge (making sure the P of ALPINA is in the correct place)
6, Reassemble badge carrier onto centre cap
Wow thanks for these detailed instructions... great pointer about the "P" location. I don't think I would have thought of that my self until it's too late.

If you don't mind, can I ask another question? I have one cap that looks like photo below and is very loose. I guess it was forced at some stage. I did a side by side comparison to another cap, can't see any visual differences. Have also tried this loose cap on other wheels and fitment remains the same (so definitely issue with this cap). Seen this before?
IMG_20210315_192418403.jpg
IMG_20210315_192418403.jpg (1.43 MiB) Viewed 2453 times
F31 D3 Biturbo No.013
BMW E46 M3 6MT

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Charles
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Charles » Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:50 am

Have you tried adjusting the L shaped lug on the back of the centre cap?

If you bend the tongue towards the back of the cap, this tightens the fit. It doesn't take much to pull it in
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

Xiaorpowr
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Xiaorpowr » Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:52 pm

Charles wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:50 am
Have you tried adjusting the L shaped lug on the back of the centre cap?

If you bend the tongue towards the back of the cap, this tightens the fit. It doesn't take much to pull it in
I did but was worried i'd damage it, but I'll give it a bit more force.

Thanks for your help Charles.
F31 D3 Biturbo No.013
BMW E46 M3 6MT

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Charles
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Charles » Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:53 pm

Xiaorpowr wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:52 pm
Charles wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:50 am
Have you tried adjusting the L shaped lug on the back of the centre cap?

If you bend the tongue towards the back of the cap, this tightens the fit. It doesn't take much to pull it in
I did but was worried i'd damage it, but I'll give it a bit more force.
They are designed to be adjusted - this is how ALPINA would achieve a good fit. The white pads are there just to stop paint on paint rubbing and not to adjust the fit, despite the numerous posts everywhere that discuss rattling centre caps and recommend extra padding.

My approach when tightening the fit was to lay the centre cap face down on a towel and apply a hammer gently on the end of the lug to move it closer to the rearside of the cap. Little and often, so keep checking the fit after each strike.

I now have individually fitted caps per wheel - with each cap identified for a particular wheel using a small piece of masking tape inside the cap and a permanent pen used to identify NSF, OSF, NSR & OSR

There is, however, a possibility that the cap in question has been forced and bent out of shape ...
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

Xiaorpowr
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Xiaorpowr » Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:43 pm

Charles wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:53 pm
I had a bit of time on Saturday and did some hammering... worked a treat :twisted:

Thanks Charles! Great instructions.
F31 D3 Biturbo No.013
BMW E46 M3 6MT

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Charles
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Re: Sourcing decent replacement wheel centres

Post by Charles » Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:52 am

Xiaorpowr wrote:
Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:43 pm
Thanks Charles! Great instructions.
My pleasure :D
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

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