Cracked alloys...advice please

[Hard-Drive]

Hi

Don't tend to hang around the BMW section much so forgive me if this has been done already.

I now have a cracked alloy on my E91...gutted. It's just happened and quite by chance the car is booked in for a service tomorrow. However, it looks like there is some stuff out there is web land thanks to BBC watchdog about specifically 19" rears failing and in many cases, BMW coughing up.

Mine is an 18", in the style below (taken on the day I bought the car approved used from the dealer). In fairness there is a sign of an impact caused by a pothole rather than it just being a plain fatigue crack.

Do I have any likelihood of BMW paying for it at all? The car is still under warranty if that makes any difference and the service is being carried out by the dealer I bought it from. Or is it categorically 19" wheels only?

Thanks in advance!

[roofer]

Hard-Drive said:

Hi



In fairness there is a sign of an impact caused by a pothole rather than it just being a plain fatigue crack.

No chance. Get it welded.

[8Tech]

I would replace it. I would never trust a welded wheel when you life depends on it.

[Hard-Drive]

Agreed, I will replace it.

However, the question is, is BMW likely to cough up anything or is the "problem" on 19" only? Part of the reason I ask is because if BMW won't pay I will be seeking compensation from the council, but I also want to be prepared if they say "nope, it's a BMW, we won't pay as there's a known fault".

[rb5er]

8Tech said:

I would replace it. I would never trust a welded wheel when you life depends on it.

Really? You wouldnt trust a wheel thats had a hairline crack welded up? I'm yet to EVER hear of an alloy wheel falling apart with or without a repair.

[VinceFox]

Fwiw i bough a set of ds2s for my m3 a few years back, one has ben weld repaired on the inside rear. There are no signs of cracking and it balances up fine. I guess it's down to how well it's done.

[dingg]

its a wonder all those ships thats welded up don't just sink eh???

[griffter]

dingg said:

its a wonder all those ships thats welded up don't just sink eh???

But they're not welded castings, not welded alloy and not revolving at several hundred rpm. Op get on to the council. Ask for their latest inspection report and their insurers details. If their report details the pothole you hit, send them photos and a report of what happened, precisely where, and when. Ideally you need to send them a bill for the repair / replacement as well. Be prepared for a fight but you should be able to win. If the report does not describe the pothole then you might consider arguing that the council have failed to carry out their duty to inspect and repair.

[Hard-Drive]

Guys it's got a dent and a visible crack in it. And then there's probably the crack that can't be seen. Sorry but there's no way I would want it knocked straight then welded...if welding is so bulletproof why do cut and shut cars fall apart in a crash and why do welds fail on alloy mountain bikes? I can understand why some people may wish to risk it, but I won't. Ships are built from thick steel plate and are subject to very, very different loads to an alloy wheel. And FWIW welds do fail on ships and they do sink. The bow visor on the Estonia wasn't superglued on!

Anyway, BMW will have a look at it and might make some kind of goodwill payment...I hope so as it's going back to the dealer I bought the car from. Just in case they don't cover all of it, I have primed the council and they seem pretty OK about it. Pics don't lie at the end of the day!

Thanks again for the pointers...even the welding ones, but I want my P&J as it should be.

[rb5er]

Hard-Drive said:

Guys it's got a dent and a visible crack in it. And then there's probably the crack that can't be seen. Sorry but there's no way I would want it knocked straight then welded...if welding is so bulletproof why do cut and shut cars fall apart in a crash and why do welds fail on alloy mountain bikes? I can understand why some people may wish to risk it, but I won't. Ships are built from thick steel plate and are subject to very, very different loads to an alloy wheel. And FWIW welds do fail on ships and they do sink. The bow visor on the Estonia wasn't superglued on!

Anyway, BMW will have a look at it and might make some kind of goodwill payment...I hope so as it's going back to the dealer I bought the car from. Just in case they don't cover all of it, I have primed the council and they seem pretty OK about it. Pics don't lie at the end of the day!

Thanks again for the pointers...even the welding ones, but I want my P&J as it should be.

Just pointing out that good welds and alloy repairs are perfectly fine. Obviously if the council are paying then you want a brand new replacement, but there are even insurance approved alloy welders around, and they would not be insurance approved if there was a possibility it was unsafe.

Has anyone EVER heard of a repaired alloy falling apart???

Alloys can be repaired as can all types of metal with enough work.

Edited by rb5er on Monday 19th December 20:00

[4rephill]

Hard-Drive said:

Anyway, BMW will have a look at it and might make some kind of goodwill payment...I hope so as it's going back to the dealer I bought the car from. Just in case they don't cover all of it, I have primed the council and they seem pretty OK about it. Pics don't lie at the end of the day!

Thanks again for the pointers...even the welding ones, but I want my P&J as it should be.

BMW will check if the wheel is running true, check to see if the fault appears to be a manufacturing issue and they will assess whether the crack is in the same region as the indentation.

If the crack and the indentation appear to be related and there's no sign of a manufacturing fault then I'd be very surprised if BMW pay anything towards a replacement wheel TBH.



Don't forget to keep us all posted about the outcome.

[isleofthorns]

Currently I have both rears (19's) off my 530d GT with my local dealer being assessed for cracks. The car is less than two years old and there is no discernible damage to either the alloys or tyres through impact damage.
Will see how I get on with BMW.......

[Bezerk]

Just to complete the thread for any future reference, the wheel style shown above is 216.

There's no pattern of failure for this style wheel, so it seems it was cracked by the impact and not a manufacturing fault.

As far as I'm aware, the problematic wheels which did crack due to poor quality (225 etc.) are no longer available.

[4rephill]

Bezerk said:

Just to complete the thread for any future reference, the wheel style shown above is 216.

There's no pattern of failure for this style wheel, so it seems it was cracked by the impact and not a manufacturing fault.

As far as I'm aware, the problematic wheels which did crack due to poor quality (225 etc.) are no longer available.

To be fair, the only person who can really complete this thread is the OP when/if they let us know what the outcome was.



(How many threads have you read where you get an initial post and never find out what the outcome was?, too many I'd say which is a shame because people posting/viewing have a genuine interest in the outcome).