Bmw split rim refurb issue
Discussion
Had 4 of my split rims refurbed about 10 months ago, since then have always washed the wheels with non acid cleaner, car shampoo and used Williams spray on wax to maintain..
All 4 wheels inner edge has started to blister (initially I thought it was the calipers paint that accidentally got on the rim during painting) but over the months spread along the rim, the front has even start blistering ...
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A bit of a nightmare with this, would love some advice on the best constructive way to deal with this ... I sent my car to get it looked at after some delay their side and wrote them the following note :
Hi Xxxxx:
Here’s some notes regarding the split rim alloy refurb. If your wheel guys can sort them out I would be most grateful !
1) Wheels were refurbed April 2017
2) I started noticing flaking on the inner edge of all alloys Nov 2017
3) At present all 4 wheels are flaking and bubbling (with one of the front paint getting loose and detaching.
4) I haven’t driven the car that much and mostly in dry weather …Screenshot of my April 2017 MOT to April 2018 MOT as you can see car only done just under 2500 miles.
5) I haven’t kerbed my wheels and wash and seal them regularly (as you can see the paint on the outer edge has held up well and great condition. Screenshot of the products I use attached,
6) Keys enclosed, also locking wheelnut key and the plastic wheel bolt cover removal tool in toolkit I left on passenger footwell.
To which here’s the reply :
Hi Wil
Bad news I am afraid.
After the wheel refurb company saw the alloys they have declined doing them under warranty as the area of which they have corroded is prone on bmw wheels, basically its the lip where the barrel meets the face part and I didn't realise they don't warrant split rims unless its a real obvious issue.
I have tried mate but don't know what to do now.
Kind Regards
I have written back asking for his wheel refurb company contact so I can take this up myself, advising I will get a second opinion and will dispute this direct.
Feeling pretty stressed to be honest (I’ve had fair share of half arsed jobs done to my car recently and have had one fight too many ) it’s a bit unreasonable to claim and blame this on Bmw split rims?
Thanks
All 4 wheels inner edge has started to blister (initially I thought it was the calipers paint that accidentally got on the rim during painting) but over the months spread along the rim, the front has even start blistering ...
]A bit of a nightmare with this, would love some advice on the best constructive way to deal with this ... I sent my car to get it looked at after some delay their side and wrote them the following note :
Hi Xxxxx:
Here’s some notes regarding the split rim alloy refurb. If your wheel guys can sort them out I would be most grateful !
1) Wheels were refurbed April 2017
2) I started noticing flaking on the inner edge of all alloys Nov 2017
3) At present all 4 wheels are flaking and bubbling (with one of the front paint getting loose and detaching.
4) I haven’t driven the car that much and mostly in dry weather …Screenshot of my April 2017 MOT to April 2018 MOT as you can see car only done just under 2500 miles.
5) I haven’t kerbed my wheels and wash and seal them regularly (as you can see the paint on the outer edge has held up well and great condition. Screenshot of the products I use attached,
6) Keys enclosed, also locking wheelnut key and the plastic wheel bolt cover removal tool in toolkit I left on passenger footwell.
To which here’s the reply :
Hi Wil
Bad news I am afraid.
After the wheel refurb company saw the alloys they have declined doing them under warranty as the area of which they have corroded is prone on bmw wheels, basically its the lip where the barrel meets the face part and I didn't realise they don't warrant split rims unless its a real obvious issue.
I have tried mate but don't know what to do now.
Kind Regards
I have written back asking for his wheel refurb company contact so I can take this up myself, advising I will get a second opinion and will dispute this direct.
Feeling pretty stressed to be honest (I’ve had fair share of half arsed jobs done to my car recently and have had one fight too many ) it’s a bit unreasonable to claim and blame this on Bmw split rims?
Thanks
Always seems to be where they go after a refurb.
My 108s were cheaply refurbed before I got the car, just the outer rim was refurbished as the centres were fine.
10 years on the outer rim had started to bubble etc for the 2nd time. At the time of the 2nd refurb I decided to have the wheel centre spokes done too despite them being pretty much corrision free after over 10 years I went for a change in colour.
3 years on and the outer rims are fine and its the inner which is bubbling again just like yours.
My 108s were cheaply refurbed before I got the car, just the outer rim was refurbished as the centres were fine.
10 years on the outer rim had started to bubble etc for the 2nd time. At the time of the 2nd refurb I decided to have the wheel centre spokes done too despite them being pretty much corrision free after over 10 years I went for a change in colour.
3 years on and the outer rims are fine and its the inner which is bubbling again just like yours.
Who is the reply from? Some sort of middle man? A dealer? Who is your contract with and what were the T&C ? If the firm your contract is with offered 12 months warranty to you it's their tough luck if their supplier won't honour it. Depends how far you want to push it.
"have tried mate but don't know what to do now" sounds like a mate of yours?
"have tried mate but don't know what to do now" sounds like a mate of yours?
The guy is my detailer which I known for years, he always looked after my cars with detailing, refurb etc.
He’s always been great and he has wheel refurb people, upholsterers on his books that he calls upon, I suppose he is the middle man for it.
I’ve asked him to give me the name of the refurb people he uses and I will deal with them direct, see how he reacts to that and whether I have been fobbed off...
He’s always been great and he has wheel refurb people, upholsterers on his books that he calls upon, I suppose he is the middle man for it.
I’ve asked him to give me the name of the refurb people he uses and I will deal with them direct, see how he reacts to that and whether I have been fobbed off...
nxh66 said:
Always seems to be where they go after a refurb.
My 108s were cheaply refurbed before I got the car, just the outer rim was refurbished as the centres were fine.
10 years on the outer rim had started to bubble etc for the 2nd time. At the time of the 2nd refurb I decided to have the wheel centre spokes done too despite them being pretty much corrision free after over 10 years I went for a change in colour.
3 years on and the outer rims are fine and its the inner which is bubbling again just like yours.
I might look into putting the money onto replacing them with non split rims, Shame since I love the look of the Z4 split rims ...My 108s were cheaply refurbed before I got the car, just the outer rim was refurbished as the centres were fine.
10 years on the outer rim had started to bubble etc for the 2nd time. At the time of the 2nd refurb I decided to have the wheel centre spokes done too despite them being pretty much corrision free after over 10 years I went for a change in colour.
3 years on and the outer rims are fine and its the inner which is bubbling again just like yours.
Lepsons or bust.
Half these powder coating places are just useless with any post-job support.
I’d get 107 Ellipsoids, or CSL reps from CM Wheels.
I’ve still got my 108s half stripped in a shed.
Too much effort to keep nice... stupid design, stupid finish, stupid wheels.
Why they can’t just make solid single piece wheels that look nice without diamond cutting them
Half these powder coating places are just useless with any post-job support.
I’d get 107 Ellipsoids, or CSL reps from CM Wheels.
I’ve still got my 108s half stripped in a shed.
Too much effort to keep nice... stupid design, stupid finish, stupid wheels.
Why they can’t just make solid single piece wheels that look nice without diamond cutting them
Just looking at your picture. It looks to me as when the wheels have been re-coated/painted the sharp edge of where the blistering has started hasn’t been properly coated with the new finish. Basically mist coat on the rear then front face done but no attention to the sharp edges where the paint/coating will be thin, which explains why the original finish lasts longer than the refurb.
Only way round it, is for the centres to be stripped back to metal again then you need to remove those sharp edges with some 80 grit emery to produce a small rad so the new coating can stick properly. Bit of a pain yes but it’s the prep work that’s needed. Also mention to the wheel restorer to make sure those edges are properly coated and sealed when the wheels go for powder or paint again. If you go for paint an etch primer is needed before top coat as regular paint won’t stick to aluminium.
As a customer be picky as you are asking for a thorough job rather than a quick makeover
Only way round it, is for the centres to be stripped back to metal again then you need to remove those sharp edges with some 80 grit emery to produce a small rad so the new coating can stick properly. Bit of a pain yes but it’s the prep work that’s needed. Also mention to the wheel restorer to make sure those edges are properly coated and sealed when the wheels go for powder or paint again. If you go for paint an etch primer is needed before top coat as regular paint won’t stick to aluminium.
As a customer be picky as you are asking for a thorough job rather than a quick makeover
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