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Mike Lempert Wheels?

Posted by SteveLandry

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Mike Lempert Wheels? #1
SteveLandry Steve Landry Phoenix, AZ, USA 1948 MG TC 1959 MG MGA 1500 1960 Morgan Plus 4 (+4)	Posted: April 08, 2012 11:17PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 420

Anybody else out there having problems with Mike Lempert Wheels? I'm having one heckuva time. Over ten months now and still waiting. Could sure use some encouragement.

Steve

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #2
Benny Ben E San Diego, CA, USA 1961 Austin Mini 1964 Ford Cortina 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1965 Ford Cortina 1965 MG MGB → more	Posted: April 09, 2012 12:31AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 3,462

He took a lot longer to do the wheel on my B than promised...about twice as long, if I remember correctly. There was also a nervous period where I didn't seem to be able to get hold of him. He explained that as him having two different computers, and not getting to my mail for a while...fair enough.

I have to say that the results were worth the wait. He takes pride in his work, and I'd always rather have something done well than done quickly. I believe he works almost entirely off word-of-mouth, so I don't think he'll do you wrong. I do think he should be a bit more realistic with his ETA's...if it's going to be 10 months, fine, but I'd rather know up front.

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #3
Donovan Christopher Wilson G'boro, NC, USA 1961 MG MGA MkII "Betsy"	Posted: April 09, 2012 03:03PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 277

I think I ordered mine a year ahead of time. At the time I know there was an issue with some necessary material and a number of wheels in front of me. I had no problem at all though and I am *very* happy with my wheel.

Christopher

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #4
Lane A Lane Anderson Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA 1957 Porsche 356A	Posted: April 09, 2012 03:26PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 65

Mike's is a one-man operation at the moment as his assistant was let go. I am a friend and neighbor of his and will let him know your concern.

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #5
AndrewOZ Andrew Williams 7250, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1960 MG MGA 1600 "The Green Car" 1962 MG MGA MkII "The White Car"	Posted: May 10, 2012 12:37AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 71

I ordered mine last August and still can't get any idea of a delivery date, I'm glad to hear all the reassuring/positive comments but we are a long way past the quoted 4 to 6 months waiting period and track work can be a challenge when all you have to hang onto is the steering wheel retaining nut!!

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #6
jim51 Jim Holody London, Ontario, Canada	Posted: July 26, 2012 05:34PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1

I ordered my MGA wheel April 8th 2011 and was promised 6 months for completion. Now 15 months later still nothing. He told me 9 months ago he had to put the money together to get the hubs made. Is there any hope of get the wheel or the deposit back? Jim Holody

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #7
wally Ian Cowen Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	Posted: July 26, 2012 06:28PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 86

Good Day Andrew, down in Tassie, from the Gold Coast
I note your message about "Wheels".
Would you be interested in a complete MG A steel wheel front suspension, since you go hot shoeing,
on Basker Field?
I swapped the Coupe` from steel wheels, to Wires.
Ian Cowen.

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #8
AndrewOZ Andrew Williams 7250, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1960 MG MGA 1600 "The Green Car" 1962 MG MGA MkII "The White Car"	Posted: July 26, 2012 06:42PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 71

Having not received any response to my three previous emails, I bit the bullet and phoned Mike a couple of days ago to find out how things were progressing.

It was my choice to pay for the wheel and shipping up front and I still feel comfortable with this decision as it suited my financial position at the time and Mike appears to enjoy the reputation of being honest, passionate about his product and a nice bloke.

He informed me that the company he had been using in the UK to carry out the "Broaching"(I assume that this relates to the cutting of splines)had closed down and that he had sent drawings to another company to arrange for manufacturing, I am uncertain as to how far he has progressed with this.

Apart from the unrealistic lead times, my frustration is born out of not knowing what is going on. My simplistic view is this: The vendor advertises his product, the customer accepts the offer to purchase and the goods are delivered within the specified time frame......if something goes wrong along the way, pro-active communication becomes a critical part of the process. Not knowing fuels speculation and disatisfaction!!

Andrew

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #9
AndrewOZ Andrew Williams 7250, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1960 MG MGA 1600 "The Green Car" 1962 MG MGA MkII "The White Car"	Posted: July 26, 2012 06:59PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 71

Hi Ian,
Thanks for the offer but I carried out the same conversion a few years ago and still have the steel wheel components in stock.
I am running 72 spoke wheels and they seem to cope well with my fairly sedate driving style!! ( I'm getting old and scared!!)
Cheers
Andrew

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #10
SteveLandry Steve Landry Phoenix, AZ, USA 1948 MG TC 1959 MG MGA 1500 1960 Morgan Plus 4 (+4)	Posted: July 27, 2012 09:22AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 420

Since the subject has come up again, for the record, it took me 11 months to get the wheel and when I did get it it was unfinished. The edges of the spokes and especially the holes were rough and the holes were black with polishing compound. The finish on the wood looked like it lacked two or three coats. I took one look at it and sold it. The MGA wheel on EBay UK (http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-in-woodrim-steering-wheel-boss-all-mga-mgb-up-to68-/330427261066?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4ceeffe08a&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1127) is superior in every respect.

Caveat emptor.

Steve

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #11
Donovan Christopher Wilson G'boro, NC, USA 1961 MG MGA MkII "Betsy"	Posted: July 27, 2012 09:39AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 277

Mine showed up like this roughly a year after I ordered it. Very well done and IMO superior to both the Les Leston I used to have and the OEM style I used for a while. Aside from the long wait, which as I mentioned before was due to a supply problem it was a very good experience.

It is interesting how folks have such different experiences with Mike. I was always able to reach him on the phone and made a point of following up every couple of months as my restoration progressed. It was nice that I had read some prior experiences, was expecting a long delivery time and did not need the wheel.

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #12
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, ,N.C., USA 1962 MG MGA MkII 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: July 27, 2012 04:50PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,211

Chris..
That was well worth the wait.. Beautiful

Gary

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Re: Mike Lempert Wheels? #13
AndrewOZ Andrew Williams 7250, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1960 MG MGA 1600 "The Green Car" 1962 MG MGA MkII "The White Car"	Posted: July 27, 2012 06:41PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 71

Chris,
Thanks for posting the photo of the wheel, it really is a work of art and by far better than any other that I have seen....probably even the factory original unit. A great reminder of what I have on order!!

It struck me that most of us have had to wait patiently for family to grow or for work situations to develop and improve before being able to realize or revisit the dream of MGA ownership, I know that in my case I have then had to chip away at the restoration process over a few years and it is now close to completion. This has all taken time and patience and I can still drive the car with a standard wheel and enjoy sorting out any bugs!

Employing a bit more patience in waiting for such a top quality piece of "Jewellery" is no real hardship
and gives me one last piece in the puzzle to look forward to.
Thanks should go to Mike for making his product an available option!!

Andrew

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