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For those of you who may have followed my post where I was chasing after a single NB8A rim, the saga continues below:

I picked up the wheels after balancing yesterday - they appear to have even more "lead additive" than when I took them in...
I was hoping that this was going to rectify the vibration problems at between 80-100 kph...but we all know that this just wasn't going to happen, don't we?
Fitted them to the car with the newer tyres on the front and headed off for a test drive up the Bruce Highway in order to be able to legally do the required speed.
All went well at the suburban speeds (60-70), and I thought that it was going to be money well spent - sadly, not so and the vibration came in at around the same speed that it had before the re-balancing

My thoughts are that it has to be the rims as the car has no issues when fitted with any of the other three sets of wheels (16" and 17" - don't ask!) that keep one another company in what was intended to be a garden shed - but now no room for any more wheels...except for some which arrived over the weekend (see below)

My drawing board is worn out with all of the re-visits to try to make the car acceptable to "she who must be obeyed". I'm reluctant to outlay any more for new rubber if the rims are the problem.

Now, time for a laugh at the expense of "the old guy"

My search for a single NB8A rim resulted in a run to Nambour and back on Saturday morning and my Gumtree bargain turned into more space consumption for the bulging "garden" shed, as when I placed the wheels alongside one another there was a small discrepancy (about one inch as it happens) as the size turned out to be 14" = NA teardrop wheels.

I can feel a "Four X" coming on - that should read "For Sale"

Aargh!

give us a link to the thread where all this developed. So I know what you've done & what you haven't, before I start suggesting do this or that.

Not 100% clear on this.

So it turned out you had 3x 15 inch wheels, and one single 14inch wheel?

I can understand that, as the same design of wheel was available as standard on the NB8A in both 14 and 15inch versions.
It's not common to see the 14inch ones in Aust though, since our cars never had them available, the Aussie delivered cars all came with the 15s.

I think he went to buy a spare 15 inch wheel but was a 14 inch upon closer inspection.

Black_Penguin wrote:I think he went to buy a spare 15 inch wheel but was a 14 inch upon closer inspection.

You are correct!
(and my forehead is badly bruised from beating it against the wall for my stupidity )

Confirmed by Automotive Plus - one buckled rim

Unfortunately that's the price that one pays when buying secondhand stuff on eBay - no guarantees and very much a case of "buyer beware". Although the wheels look to be pristine with no gutter scrapes - and that was all that I was able to see when I bought them from an interstate seller - the truth came out the first time that I drove the car after fitting them.

That said, when I am lucky enough to be able to find a "true" NB8A rim, I won't be trying to on-sell the offending one to another unsuspecting MX5 owner.

Does anyone know how much scrap metal dealers pay for alloy rims? (I now have five of 'em including the NA 14's that are of no value to me)

charcoal wrote:Confirmed by Automotive Plus - one buckled rim

Unfortunately that's the price that one pays when buying secondhand stuff on eBay - no guarantees and very much a case of "buyer beware". Although the wheels look to be pristine with no gutter scrapes - and that was all that I was able to see when I bought them from an interstate seller - the truth came out the first time that I drove the car after fitting them.

That said, when I am lucky enough to be able to find a "true" NB8A rim, I won't be trying to on-sell the offending one to another unsuspecting MX5 owner.

Does anyone know how much scrap metal dealers pay for alloy rims? (I now have five of 'em including the NA 14's that are of no value to me)

Rims can be rerolled at about $70 each.
I have used Neway Wheel Repairs in Melbourne with excellent results.
Should be someone in your state who can do the job!

Thanks for the suggestion...

According to Automotive Plus, the Qld specialists are on the Gold Coast and are quite a bit more expensive than this.
I guess that's what happens when you have the market to yourself

In the meantime I am working on another solution to my problem so "stay tuned" for the next exciting instalment to this saga!

When I was wheel shopping a couple of years ago I enquired about re-rolling a couple of rims and received referrals from two separate franchises to Wheel Revolution in Slacks Creek. Haven't checked them out personally so I can't vouch for their work. Only mentioning it because it is a little closer than the Gold Coast for you.

Hey mate i might be picking up some wheels this weekend to replace my stock NB8A wheels. I know that 2 are slightly buckled but pretty sure 2 are straight from memory.

Am i correct in saying that you have a set of 4 but 1 is buckled? If so id be happy to exchange you your buckled one for one of my straight ones.

I work at a tyre store so can spin them all up for you and choose the best one.

pm sent

The final chapter...

With big thanks to Greeno whose very tidy white NB8A now wears a smart looking set of new rims, I now have four "round" 15 inch wheels/tyres for our NB8B
We're looking forward to the Sunshine Coast chapter run on Sunday and hopefully this time the drive won't spoil the day so all of the running around will be justified.
As part of the "win/win" associated with this, the 14" rims that I purchased will find a new home on Greeno's brother's 121.

This forum rocks!

Happy to help mate