Alloy Wheel Cover

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cpettigrew

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Hi Guys,

I am considering getting Alloy Wheel Cover as part of a GAP insurance cover from ALA. They do however have a clause on the alloys as follows:

  • Cover restricted to the original manufacturer specification of alloy wheel for your car, excluding diamond (laser) cut rims, split rim construction, or with polished or chrome effect finishes
Do the A3 SportBack Sline 18" standard alloys fall under these restrictions or are they fairly standard rims?

Thanks

Chris
 
Yes, the standard S-line wheels are polished and diamond cut wheels. I would be wary about taking out this policy until you've confirmed if they would cover these.
 
Balls...if i were to nick an alloy then where would i get them repaired?
 
You'd need to find an alloy wheel repairer with the tools to do diamond-cut and polished wheels. A friend caught the kerb in his S-line last year scratching a large area of the wheel. He used AutoWerks in Slough, excellent job. The repair price seems to be about 50% more expensive than if it was a standard painted alloy.
 
Diamond Cut wheels repair / refurb:

N8 on the forum (Forum Sponsor Kowalski Details)
JP Alloys in Cannock

Both do 100% top jobs.
 
Has anyone managed to find an insurer that would cover diamond cut alloys (standard S line) ?

Thanks
 
Anarch said:
Has anyone managed to find an insurer that would cover diamond cut alloys (standard S line) ?

Thanks
Click to expand...
After a very fast look on Google http://www.ukgeneral.com/personal-lines/products/motor/tyres-alloy-wheels

Customer Benefits
Bespoke cover designed to individual broker requirements and can include:

  • A network of approved repairers
  • Cover for all tyre sizes including low profile and run flat tyres
  • Cover for standard/diamond cut alloys
  • Flexible claims limits tyres/value
  • New and used cars, light vans, motorcycles and motorhomes
  • No excess
  • The cost of replacement and rebalancing
  • Up to 3 year terms.
 
Right ALA definitely don't cover diamond, laser or milled rims. Nor does the Audi policy, as a long debate with my dealer and the Group servicing manager would seem to indicate.

I had a long chat with Jason at ALA 3 days ago after I transferred my policies from the Jag XF to the S3. I claimed under my old wheel insurance, so wouldn't have been able to transfer that anyway, but did take the residual + extra on Gap+, Scratch and Dent and Tyre. They are however, in discussions with underwriters about covering diamond, laser and milled rims as they recognize the evolution in wheel design and the fact they are becoming more common. If you have any other policies with ALA, they will e-mail you as and when the improved product comes to market.
 
My Audi dealer (part of JCT 600 group) is assuring me (twice now) that their alloy insurance DOES cover a diamond-cut repair and that my wheel may have to go away for up to 10 working days to be fixed.
 
DonnyDriver said:
My Audi dealer (part of JCT 600 group) is assuring me (twice now) that their alloy insurance DOES cover a diamond-cut repair and that my wheel may have to go away for up to 10 working days to be fixed.
Click to expand...
Would appear that each of the dealerships/groups all set up there own arrangements. shame mine didn't use one that provides cover :(
 
I really don't see the point in this, unless you use your wheels to see if you're hit the curb when you park. Proper wheel repairs cant be done and not that expensive.

If you go to The Wheel Specialist - they have branches all over the country - they do fully guaranteed premium wheel repairs including diamond cut. They told me a diamond cut finish can only be repaired a handful of times however so just be aware. This is where Lawton Brook and Bentley Leeds send all their vehicles for that factory repair. With my TTOC discount of 15% it also made is come out at £105 a wheel, that's 19" split rim, 2 different colours, refitted with supplied tyres.
 
The ALA policy definitely doesn't cover diamond cut.

I tried to claim last week and got a categoric no.
 
Thought i'd revive an old thread.

Thinking of taking out Audi's alloy wheel and tyre insurance as all other sites seem to exclude wheels like those on my S3. I've searched the forum and can't find anyone elses experience of this type of cover so thought i'd ask if anyone has anything to report.

Thanks in advance,

Si :)
 
audi upgrades
I'm also going to go with the Audi one I think as they told me they try to hold a stock of refurbed wheels which they will swap over there and then rather than losing your wheel for a week or so.

Sounded not too bad a deal with the tyre option also, especially given the problems with refurbing diamond cut wheels.

Paul
 
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I took the Audi insurance as they were the only ones who'd guarantee a fix on Diamond Cut alloys.
 
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Finance guy wasn't prepared to budge on price though :(

As with all insurance though it's better to have and not need than the other way round :)

Si.
 
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OH has tyre, wheel and minor damage insurance on her A1 Black Edition.

I poo-poo'd it all (in principle) when she bought the car, but the dealer threw in the minor damage for no extra cost.

In two years she's claimed two new tyres (punctured beyond repair) and had to be rescued by Audi Assist on both occasions (no spare on the A1) and loaned her a car whilst Audi have sourced the tyres (they're 'odd' sized 225/35/18, mainly used by Mercedes apparently!). She's has two supermarket trolley/door type dings fixed and another scratch about to be fixed, and I can't remember if it's one or two wheel repairs she's had done.

From her perspective it was a worthwhile purchase, and has certainly changed my view of such products. Mind you the 35 profile tyres do seem particularly susceptible to the state of the Gloucestershire roads :rolleyes:
 
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After doing a fair amount of research when I purchased my S3 and my A1 before it, I found out that Audi UK do not offer their own tyre / alloy / gap insurance but expect each individual dealer to source policies themselves. Therefore you get a mix of cover between dealer franchises all at different (negotiable) prices.

For example, I don't think I have yet seen any posts from someone who has alloy insurance that covers a full repair on a diamond cut alloy. Some have claimed to have it (like me) but when you come to claim (like me) you actually find its only a "cosmetic" repair which basically means sanding down the damage, painting the damage to colour match the diamond cut areas and then re-lacquering. From experience I can tell you that it's an OK repair but up close looks pretty poor. Ended up sinking £500 in to a new wheel.

So in my experience the alloy insurance is a waste of time UNLESS it's a standard alloy with no trick painted areas / diamond cut. Repairs in my experience always turn out good on those types of wheels. Also as others have said - the tyre insurance well worth the money as well - £200 a paid for it when I got my A1 and claimed twice at £200 a tyre. Couldn't fault the service either
 
Think if I'd still had Diamond Cut Alloys on my Car & either Kerb'd them or the White Worm had set in, I'd have just had all 4 Re-painted full Silver!
........saves on the hassle of trying to get them Matched & makes them more Hardy to the Weather!
 
So is the general consensus that the insurance is not worth it?

Does it cover wear and tear of tyres, or only punctures beyond repair?
 
Gazjs said:
So is the general consensus that the insurance is not worth it?

Does it cover wear and tear of tyres, or only punctures beyond repair?
Click to expand...

I got the alloy cover (no tyre) for free from my dealer. Even at £109 for 24months, it seems a great deal. Assured me it covers diamond cuts and it's £10 excess for 6 repairs a year. Covers up to £100 repair cost.

Don't think they offer it as separate cover anymore though...

Tyre cover seems less black and white. Will only cover punctures that can't be repaired (ironically I got a nail in the sidewalk at 600miles on the clock!) and won't cover below a certain tread depth I don't think?

When you say wear and tear, I assume you don't think they will pay for new ones when they are below the legal limit! Everyone would get it if it did
 
DrEskimo said:
I got the alloy cover (no tyre) for free from my dealer. Even at £109 for 24months, it seems a great deal. Assured me it covers diamond cuts and it's £10 excess for 6 repairs a year. Covers up to £100 repair cost.

Don't think they offer it as separate cover anymore though...

Tyre cover seems less black and white. Will only cover punctures that can't be repaired (ironically I got a nail in the sidewalk at 600miles on the clock!) and won't cover below a certain tread depth I don't think?

When you say wear and tear, I assume you don't think they will pay for new ones when they are below the legal limit! Everyone would get it if it did
Click to expand...

Yes I did haha! The dealer explained it as "5 new tyres over 3 years" ... I thought it would only be punctures though :(

With regards to alloy repairs, is it only superficial repairs? (No repair of a buckle or crack)

The more I think about it, the more I am thinking on removing this cover.
 
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