Technical Panda Wheeltrims

[bennyinkwell]

I've got plastic wheeltrims on my 2007 Panda Dynamic - I want to refurbish them but I'm not sure how to remove them. Are they held by the wheel nuts or do they just lever off?

 

[Eklipze3k]

Held by the nuts I think, they certainly were on my ex's Panda.

 

[Wee Smurf]

They're held on by the wheel nuts. Not a lot you can really do by way of refurb other than a bit of a clean.

 

[Eklipze3k]

They're held on by the wheel nuts. Not a lot you can really do by way of refurb other than a bit of a clean.

Sand 'em down and spray 'em A bit of plastic model filler for the chip and dents

 

[Wee Smurf]

Sand 'em down and spray 'em A bit of plastic model filler for the chip and dents

Mine don't really have any chips or dents. And I'd need to sand down the whole of my car and spray it. It really looks its age (13 now) and has started bubbles and rusting on both rear wheel arches. The white flag is starting to be waved by me.

 

[koalar]

A new set of none originals are about £25

And a set from a later fiat from a scrap yard £10


Plastic is flexible. By the time you prepped it, filled it, primed it, and bought the paint you will not be far off £10

 

[bennyinkwell]

Thanks everyone.

 

[Rich T I983]

Hey first post on these forums

I'm currently doing the exact same thing, refurbing my original trims from my 2009 Panda.

I originally bought a set of aftermarket trims Michelin branded to replace the originals and they just did not fit. I'm not sure if all aftermarket trims would be the same but these pinched the valve stem on the tyre and as a result just would not go on fully.

Next step was to find some second hand ones and they are not cheap! Every scrappy seems to want £20 per trim so that was a no go.

So that left the only option being a refurb. So far I've spent a few hours scrubbing brake dust out of all the crevices. It's a dirty job and your fingers will be black by the end of it.

I'm planning to spend the Easter weekend doing the next steps of sanding, primer, silver coat and top coat.

The center badges are held on with a bit of double sided sticky foam and will come of easier after a few seconds soaking in warm water.

It would have been so much easier if the aftermarket trims fitted!

 

[Rich T I983]

Just to add, the total cost of paint so far assuming I can make one large can of primer/ 1 large silver can/ 1 large can top coat stretch over four trims is £18

Im using Autotek paints from Amazon.

 

[jrkitching]

Just to add, the total cost of paint so far assuming I can make one large can of primer/ 1 large silver can/ 1 large can top coat stretch over four trims is £18

Im using Autotek paints from Amazon.

This is stating the obvious but you need to use materials that are specifically formulated for use on plastics. You're effectively painting an airfix kit, not a car body panel.

 

[Rich T I983]

This is stating the obvious but you need to use materials that are specifically formulated for use on plastics. You're effectively painting an airfix kit, not a car body panel.

Yes of course

Plastics primer, Wheel trim paint and the matching clear coat, all from the same brand to ensure compatibility.

I will also be giving a thorough clean with isopropyl to clean any remaining muck off prior to the first coat of primer.

 

[s and b]

to take factory trims off you need to remove every bolt but the one nearest the valve,this one can stay in
ideally wheel needs to be free of the ground so it doesnt move on the flange if only one bolt on
style
Top Tech Speed 13 Inch Wheel Trims Silver (Set of 4)
Part no: 925770351
from eurocarparts fit and look good ive fitted a few sets

 

[Sweetsixteen]

I bought a used set of Fiat 500 trims, filled in the '500' logo in the centre, rubbed the whole lot down, sprayed them silver with the centre circle black. That was over three years ago and they still look good.

No flexing with these, so you don't need to go for any special paint - just the normal rattle can.

 

[jrkitching]

I bought a used set of Fiat 500 trims, filled in the '500' logo in the centre, rubbed the whole lot down, sprayed them silver with the centre circle black. That was over three years ago and they still look good.

No flexing with these, so you don't need to go for any special paint - just the normal rattle can.

The main problem I can foresee is that the 500 trims are 14" and most steel wheel Pandas are 13" . Also the 500 trims are (annoyingly) held on by clips, rather than by the wheel bolts as with most other steel wheel Fiats.

Of course, if you fit 14" 500 steel wheels to your Panda (they fit with no issues), then the matching 500 trims are a good way to go.

 

[Sweetsixteen]

As JR says. I forgot to say that my Panda has 14" wheels - two sets, one with winters. The trims I've used from a 500 have never given any trouble, as I presume they don't when fitted to the 500.

Don't recall ever seeing a 500 with a missing wheel trim, so I guess they're designed to stay on better than these after market cheapo trims.

 

[jrkitching]

Don't recall ever seeing a 500 with a missing wheel trim, so I guess they're designed to stay on better than these after market cheapo trims.

Despite appearances, the OEM trims stay on just fine; I've not lost one (yet!). This may change as the plastic ages, clips break, and the steel retaining ring corrodes, but all is still good on mine after 8 yrs.

I still prefer the Panda design where the wheel bolts retain the trim (the traditional Fiat way). I always do a final check after torquing up the Panda wheels; if you've done it right, you should just be able to wobble the trims slightly as the bolts are designed to tighten to the wheels, not the trims, and the bolt holes in the trims are oversize.