Hi , I have three genuine never fitted hub caps that are the painted type (VW commercial maybe ?) and though I would get a price to have them rechromed . I always knew it was pricey but they wanted a whopping £65 each so my question is does anyone know of countries in Europe that offer the service but a lot cheaper ?
It's the prep that costs,the finish before chroming has to be as shiny as the chrome itself. If you can prep yourself then give it to them and see if they quote cheaper. Sent from my SM-A135F using Tapatalk
A lot have gone due to the h&s of it and the environmental damage.. Don't a few new vehicles have "chromed" plastic...?
I have but they prefer to do it themselves .£260 for a set of trims is a bit steep.I wish the stainless steel ones are still available or someone has a set to sell.
It might help if the stainless steel repro people actually bothered to approach VW's trademark representatives, cough up the fee and then they would actually be legally able to keep on making them for more than five minutes. It never seems to cross their mind that licensing might make their part more expensive, but they might be able to keep on making them. To do chrome plating is also an intensive process if you want them to last more than a few weeks - and they have to be plated with exactly the right amount of micro cracking .. theres a fascinating section in one of the workshop manuals I have .
I actually don't think 65 quid is too bad. Raw OE hubcaps are now over 50quid and try finding genuine NOS chrome ones for 65 each. A quick check around the for sale stuff brings up some chancy eye wateringly expensive prices for tat! I guess it's horses for courses. I stuck one of the SS ones on the front spare of the bus. It's actually quite good but time will tell how 'stainless' it really is. Not badly priced either. The problem I have with it is that it's got the Wolfsburg crest on it and if course the T2 principally came out of Hannover. I've justified it by the understanding that the very early T2s came out of Wolfsburg so there is historical connection . Plus Ben Pon did get his inspiration from a visit to Wolfsburg. Oh, and I'm too tight to pay 65 quid to get one re chromed...
I've no doubt it's a lot of hard work prepping old bumpers and hub caps with dents and rust damage but these are new .I see them more at £30-£35 each !
£65 for prep and rechroming doesn't sound bad to me, given the prep. You can get stainless caps with the VW logo on for less. They're not bad.
What hasn't! For example 3rd / 4th gear synchroniser hubs from Weddle. Last year 60 quidish depending on xchange rate...my last order in June, 165 . And that's buying in large multiple quantities to qualify for price breaks, not allowing for landed cost! The strength of sterling against the dollar has also been a major factor in prices increases on goods imported into the UK! Pinion bearings aren't currently unavailable. It's a standard replacement part on a recon. Out of stock globally since Feb. They averaged 80 to 110 depending on where we bought them from. I hate to think what the retail will be on them when FAG finally produce another batch.
Another one to try: https://www.qualitychrome.co.uk/ they were reasonable when I had my handles rechromed but that was as 10 years ago now! Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk
Expensive , ? I took a thimble sized aerial trim to our local chromers, he wanted thirty pounds as a minimum charge , very rude and abrupt , i agreed to it saying i wanted to see his quality before i brought anything else in . He called me after around five weeks saying its ready for collection , he was totally different when i returned stating the cost was a fiver .what a strange way to treat customers . Ive never been back .
Agreed! Had a search this morning but could only find half moon ones ? Will definitely buy a set if i can find them. I will have these painted ones for sale if anyone is interested ? . They can be easily rechromed and I believe at a very reasonable price
