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Styling Centre cap trims for steel wheels

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Styling Centre cap trims for steel wheels

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DaveMcT

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To save the alloys, I have just fitted a set of 6J x 15 steels to the 100HP. I need to bling up the centres and wheel nuts as it looks like a van.

The wheels fit the hub centre boss so there is no space for a trim cap. Dose anyone have any suggestions?


I dont want to fit ordinary wheel trims.
 
I was talking to @testacorsa about this recently, I know he uses MINI R50 centre caps, as shown (fitted to his blue 1.2) here

He sent a link to them: https://www.outmotoring.com/winter-tire-hub-cap.html

I was thinking of getting some and occasionally check for used ones, but I understand they need a bit of minor modification / gentle persuasion to fit.

There was an Abarth 500 winter kit with 16" steels and centre caps. Quite fetching I thought:
fiat white wheels 02b.JPGfiat white wheels 04.jpg
I also found these on my travels, but no idea where they got them and a bit bling for my tastes:
fiat white wheels 05.jpg
 
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My wheels are that style. :)

They fit the hub centre boss. Maybe I goofed and should have got wheels with 2 mm clearance to make room for the caps.

Maybe something like this with the correct logo.

VW-MK2-Golf-G60-steel-wheel-centre-trim.jpg
 
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rmjbn1 DaveMcT

True, they can be persuaded to fit. They are made for 4x100, but will almost fit 4x98.
Long story short: I bought mine used in Germany on the way to Nürburgring. I also bought new tires to fit the 6x15 steelies I painted. I didn't bring any tools, but I couldn't wait to fit the hubcaps to complete the look I had planned for so long, so I just put them on and kept tightening the wheel bolts until they were very snug. That resulted in a slight squaring of the hub cap, but only the lower part. It isn't visible at all when mounted. Should I do it again, I would use a dremel to remove just a smidge from four opposite points on the hubcap.

To me they look the bizzz :slayer:

Btw, I used a permanent market to cover the MINI logo :D
 

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Ive ordered a set of these. More than I wanted to spend but needs must.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-VW-Steel-Wheel-Rim-Centre-Plastic-Cap-Cover-Black-Nos-871601171/302343663266?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3D91105584e4244e19b110208c553f9c97%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D302343663266%26itm%3D302343663266%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2334524&_trksid=p2334524.c100667.m2042

and these -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Sticker-Fiat-Wheel-Centre-Cap-Stickers-56mm-Set-Of-4-3D-Logo-Blue-Silver/312917044055?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Then some bling covers for the wheel bolt heads.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-x-Chrome-Wheel-Bolt-Nut-Covers-17mm-Fits-Fiat-500-includes-Abarth-2008-2019/254136074486?epid=21029610171&hash=item3b2bb0c0f6:g:7TAAAOSw~5ZcUhY3

They wont work on the locking nuts but are they really needed?


Has anyone got a spare ordinary wheel bolt? Ive only got three in the locking bolts box
 
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The black VW trims arrived. The logo is easily ground off with a flap wheel and I have Fiat logo stickers to cover the front face.

The caps are intended to clip into the wheel centre as expected. I think the solution is to trim off the clips and screw the flanges to the wheel using the two brake disc retaining threads (M8). Stainless socket flange heads will do the job nicely. Black screws are available if I decide to leave the plastic as is.

The wheels will be painted silver. I have not yet decided if the caps should be left black or painted silver.

Note - The M8 pegs used to retain the brake discs are there for convenience only. The discs are actually held in place by the wheel bolts.
 

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I've primed and painted the wheels using Halford's "Stainless steel" wheel paint. It's verging on samey with the body colour but its growing on me.

The centre trim tops were cleaned off with a well worn angle grinder disc to remove the VW logo. The plastic is tough so It took a while but the result is flat. They were "Plastigrip" primed and painted with bright silver.

The trims in full silver just didn't look right so the flanges were over-painted with satin black. The Fiat roundels are an ideal fit so it looks OEM.

The image shows stainless retaining screws but the black trims are now retained with black finish M8 bolts into the disc alignment pin holes. This will be inconvenient for wheel changing, so plan to thread the pin ends and use dome nuts.

The wheel bolts look horrible so I have some trim caps on order. Worth a try at £5 for 20 .

Incidentally, the disc retaining pins are on the same 98mm PCD as the wheel lug bolts.

Final pix with blinged lug bolts and black trim retainers to follow.
 

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DaveMcT said:
I've primed and painted the wheels using Halford's "Stainless steel" wheel paint. It's verging on samey with the body colour but its growing on me.

The centre trim tops were cleaned off with a well worn angle grinder disc to remove the VW logo. The plastic is tough so It took a while but the result is flat. They were "Plastigrip" primed and painted with bright silver.

The trims in full silver just didn't look right so the flanges were over-painted with satin black. The Fiat roundels are an ideal fit so it looks OEM.

The image shows stainless retaining screws but the black trims are now retained with black finish M8 bolts into the disc alignment pin holes. This will be inconvenient for wheel changing, so plan to thread the pin ends and use dome nuts.

The wheel bolts look horrible so I have some trim caps on order. Worth a try at £5 for 20 .

Incidentally, the disc retaining pins are on the same 98mm PCD as the wheel lug bolts.

Final pix with blinged lug bolts and black trim retainers to follow.
Click to expand...



They look awesome(y)
 
It's not specified but looks like a Torx fastener. These willl take far more abuse than a hex key but MUST have the correct key. I will be getting a 1/2" drive Torx key to use with the extending wheel wrench I keep in the car. If its a special, the key will go into a little storage box as I used to do with the security bolt key.

Torx fasteners get damaged because the size one-under will often feel like it fits. The trick is always to try the next size up before applying any load. One time out of three, the larger key fits and you've dodged a bullet.
 
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