Wicked Wheels Adds Sprinter Fleet

An Essex-based alloy wheels repair business is a polished act when it comes to keeping up appearances and it has just returned to Mercedes-Benz for a new fleet of vans. Wicked Wheels UK, of Toppesfield Road, Great Yeldham, Halstead, started life as a one-man operation with a Mercedes Sprinter van five years ago. As the company has expanded, so its fleet has grown. Today, Wicked Wheels operates more than 40 vehicles across 24 UK locations and has a turnover of nearly £3 million.

The latest arrivals, via Newmarket dealer Orwell Truck & Van, are five high-roofed, long-wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter 311CDIs. They are being used as mobile workshops by Wicked Wheels’ service engineers, to refurbish and repair alloys that have been chipped, scraped or scuffed. The wheels are re-machined, re-primed, painted and lacquered then baked prior to being refitted.

The new Sprinters are fitted with bulkheads and rear steps, while Wicked Wheels has also equipped each with a tyre polisher, compressor, generator and a spray booth to enable the engineers to remove the wheels and carry out repairs in the vans.

The Mercedes Sprinter is said to offers a combination of reliability and economy, with industry-leading ‘whole-life’ costs. Smooth and comfortable to drive, it is also the safest van on the market, its standard specification including the ground-breaking ESP® stability program and ABS anti-lock braking.

“The Sprinter has been at the heart of the Wicked Wheels success story ever since I started out in 1999,” says business founder Steve Darbey. “It is the most cost-efficient, reliable and dependable van to run. Some of ours have completed 150,000 miles each before we finally stand them down. Our Mercedes vans also look the part,” he continues, “and that’s very important given the nature of our business, while the three-pointed star complements perfectly the professionalism and reputation of our company.”