Cracked and repaired alloys

[philsh]

Evening All, I've just been told that if you have an alloy wheel that has been repaired and you have to claim and the insurance company see its been cracked and repaired they wont pay out. Just wanted to know is this true or is he chatting bubbles? I'm tempted to get a set of snowflakes as love the wheels and if its true seen a set on ebay with 3 good ones might get another one on its own and get them all refurbed so same colour but been looking at the cost of doing that be just as cheap to buy spankers off the stealers but seems abit much to pay £975 for alloys plus tyres when only paid £2600 for the car. They would look class what to do!!! I must say I love the way my car looks at the min just looks like every other vectra but lowered ahhhh lol

[Ian-Highlander]

A lot of people swear by repaired alloys. Personally I'd never put one on my car ever. When I bought my VXR wheels, one of them had a small crack in it, I sold it and got another one, not putting a wheel that's already been stressed enough to crack on my car when my kids go in it regularly, not a chance in hell.

Your shout though fella, it's your car and your life

[Al 22 dti]

what if you buy a car with four repaired wheel on that you don't know about? how do you inform the insurance about it?

[alcutler]

I fully agree with Ian - alloy wheels are what they say - made of an alloy(mixture) of metals mainly aluminium - to repair cracks they weld the wheel - and who knows what is used to do the repairs probably pure aluminium rods/welding wire, which is unlikely to have the same characteristics as the original alloy mix and will probably leave a weakness at that point. If a wheel has cracked in one place whether through impact or wear and tear chances are that there will be other weaknesses in the wheel

[Al 22 dti]

id bank on the cracked wheel being a snowy !... nice looking but about as much use as jimmy savile's cigar lighter.

[alcutler]

what if you buy a car with four repaired wheel on that you don't know about? how do you inform the insurance about it?

I doubt the insurance company would ever pick up on a repaired wheel that has been welded and repainted - unless it has been a direct result of any claim/accident - but knowing how they operate if they could find any way out of making a claim they will.
If you have repaired wheels on your car the best thing to do is ask your insurance company what their policy is on repaired wheels - but prepare to be shafted.
My lad made a mistake when he renewed his insurance recently - when asked if there were any modifications to his 1.6 Astra he told them he had replaced the steel 15" wheels with 16" genuine VX alloys with brand new tyres. They charged him a further 50 squid?

[06sri]

everything related to insurance is in the policy book, that document is what binds the agreement.

cant comment on alloys and repairs as i know nothing about them.

[plasma]

nothing wrong with a welded alloy if doing using the proper stuff and by the correct person.

[bigmac]

people should go and vist a place that solely do alloy repairs before commenting, I searched net for ages and was put off by people's ignorance, I found a place locally who explained the process of repairing cracks and they cut out the crack and welded a section in making it stronger than before.

Bent alloys are different as stress has been put on alloy and even more has to be put back on it to straighten !

I had 2 sport star wheels mended 3 years ago and afaik there still going strong

[dannyjpuk]

I doubt the insurance company would ever pick up on a repaired wheel that has been welded and repainted - unless it has been a direct result of any claim/accident - but knowing how they operate if they could find any way out of making a claim they will.
If you have repaired wheels on your car the best thing to do is ask your insurance company what their policy is on repaired wheels - but prepare to be shafted.
My lad made a mistake when he renewed his insurance recently - when asked if there were any modifications to his 1.6 Astra he told them he had replaced the steel 15" wheels with 16" genuine VX alloys with brand new tyres. They charged him a further 50 squid?

I'd say that is the norm to add xx amount in your case £50 as he has stuck genuine vxr ones on it's hardly going to be cheaper if he's in a sense adding a more expensive (bit ov kit to his car ) I know years ago I fitted a xp kit and painted my brake disks I told them , I too had to pay an extra xx only right as I thought as I upgraded my car they where not fussed about my painted brakes (but I told them anyway )