just to condirm that bolts are defo plastic as i had a go at removing one from my chipped genuine santa monica alloy that was scrap,tried to take it off and it sheared ,it appears to have been pushfitted into the alloy like a dowel in wood.

Ben C:- what u gonna do about the bolts?

Yea plastic,  how bads that! So now we need to try and source some from somewhere. I know Speedline made the wheels so maybe we could get in touch with them or something? Although im happy with my wheels without them at the moment but still want to get them bolts fitted.

I got them refirbished by a local company to me - PM if  you would like contact details?

Cheers,

Ben.

Theres a company called pristine wheels which i think is a nation wide company, i ve sent 1 of my santa monica's to them as the laquer had peeled badly and had some kerbing as well, they do the diamond cutting - it seems fairly difficult to find a refurbisher who can do that!

i cant imagine its going to be that cheap to get done but IMO i think the wheels look so much better polished than just powder coated or whatever (no offence to anyone with powder coated santas)

 i ll post up a couple of pics when i get them back if anyone is still interested in this thread?

not got santa's myself, but interested in this thread.

The issue about the plastic bolts - you could get the holes tapped / threadded and fine a suitable allen headed bolt from the likes of screw-fix or B&Q to put in the hole? I am REALLY surprised that none of the refurb plases have suggested this option

liking the sparkle finish, but it is the loss of the grey bots that alters the look of the wheel. How about considering getting the wheels done grey / black inside and having a raw polished metal face and wax it? just need to go over it every few months with super fine wet and dry and re-wax!!

I'm also interested in this thread as should anyone who now owns a Mk5 with Charleston alloys - these are truly the santa monica of the Mk5 Golf. Great wheel but it's going to be a nightmare if they ever get scratched!

I really can't believe that VW are still persisting with the laquered finish!

I think that these would be fab in a smoked chrome coat when they need it.

just thought id do an update on my santa monica's: so i can confirm that on the original santa monica wheels those small insert/torx type bolts in the wheels are plastic because they melted when the refurbishers put the wheel in the oven! VW dont sell them as "they are part of the wheel" and also speedline aren't interested, i called them to see if they can supply them.

so no luck for me does anyone else have any ideas? 

enigma1992:

I'm also interested in this thread as should anyone who now owns a Mk5 with Charleston alloys - these are truly the santa monica of the Mk5 Golf. Great wheel but it's going to be a nightmare if they ever get scratched!

Guess what, i've had the dreaded call from the missus tonight to tell me that she's properly scratched the nsf alloy on the kerb.

I am devastated.

i got my santa monica back from the refurbishers and it looks fantastic, just like its come out of the speedline factory!! i seriously recommend those guys (pristine wheels) http://www.pristinealloywheels.co.uk/

the only thing is they cudnt keep the small studs as some idiot at speedline thought it would be a good idea to make them from plastic! but im getting some stainless steel ones made up

Mine are rep's and have the metal studs which i found near impossible to source!! But luckly i found a place called wheelrepair.co.uk...which are about 1 mile away from where i work!!!  these lads sorted me out with the real deal speedline titanium screws. aparently they are M7 thread size.. yea excatly a complete thread size of there own.. and are only found on BBS alloys so he told me.. These are £2 a pop at trade cost so he let me have one for £2! light as fook..

I do like my santa's but im seriously considering going to montreal 2's mainly just because im still on standard PD130 ride height and dont want to lower it.. Well i do,, more then anything but i dont want to due to the car costing me so much etc.. So its not worth it.  So im thinking the montys will look more OEM and thus more excepting rather then santa's which in my opinion to look right needs lowering.. Heres mine..

I did the refurb on these wheels as i didnt want them polished again for them to bubble.. So they got painted.. i like them alot and will always be my fav wheel  

 I had my santas referbed through pristine.  They did a great job except the local garage that the dealt through failed to mention they would come back studless.
I've since made up my own from 8mm tork cap head screws 10mm long.  I used my work mates lathe to take the shank down to  5.5mm and took a millimetre or two off the end where needed as not all the holes were the same depth.  Some "araldite rapid steel" was then used to hold them in place, it's an anthracite colour so even if you do get a little bit not in the hole you can't see it.  4 Months on they are all still in there and it didn't put the wheels off balance by too much apparently 25g was the most it took.  I'll get some pics taken tomorrow.