Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Alloy wheels and tyre discussion
User avatar
Magicarcher
Member
Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:12 pm
Location: Warwickshire

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by Magicarcher » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:30 pm

I have 108s on my E85 that need refurbishing. I really like the style of 108's but so often they appear to go really shabby. My car hasn't had a particularly harsh life, it has done 40k. In the four years I have owned it, I have garaged it as soon as the gritters appear. The owner before had it for 9 years and only did 8k. The rest of the time it was garaged.

I don't mind paying to get them refurbished but would be gutted if within a few years they had deteriorated again. I fear that may be the case.

My question is why do they deteriorate so bad compared to other alloys and can anything be done to delay the onset of deterioration if I have them refurbished?
Z4 3.0L 2005. Titan Silver. Audio Upgrade Second Stereo Pioneer X8700DAB, Sony Xplode 4 x 70W Amp, 6.5" Reckhorn Subs in rear cubby, Focal AS165-3 in fronts.

MKZ4000
Member
Member
Posts: 832
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:12 am

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by MKZ4000 » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:39 pm

I think the general consensus is the bolts crack the paint when torqued up. They need to be removed for splitting prior to a refurb

As such water gets in this area and corrodes away.

You could try some sealant to prevent it before putting the bolts back in
BMW E85 Z4M
BMW E85 Z4 2.5
Gone Z4 E85 3.0

User avatar
srhutch
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 26959
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:22 pm
Location: East Sussex, UK
Contact:

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by srhutch » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:52 pm

Many variables, kerbing, washing/cleaning products, road salt, stone chips.

I had two sets replaced one under warranty and one under goodwill. My corrosion wasn’t visible unless you took the wheel off. It had just started where the barrel met the spokes. The last set I sealed this area with silicone, no idea.how long that last east though as I sold the car, although that was probably a year later. So two replacement sets of wheels from bmw in under 4 years.
Image

Floydroid
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:07 am

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by Floydroid » Tue Mar 09, 2021 3:45 pm

My 108's are starting to go around the bolt holes mainly on the rear wheels for some reason. They had been refurbished before I bough the car in 2017, in part due to a slow puncture, which turned out to be wheel corrosion. I bought the car in 2018 and while the wheels were pretty good, they weren't perfect.

4 years later and I have a slow 'puncture' on a rear tyre, which I've already tried to fix a few months ago... The rear wheels are now starting to look shabby but the fronts are fairing much better.

I'm thinking of getting them refurbished again and putting some 'caravan' sealant around the bolts to stop the water getting in - this sealant doesn't cure as such and remains somewhat 'wet' and pliable. Is there a special seal between the two parts of the wheel? Is there any Loctite on the bolts or are they just torqued up?
Z4 Roadster 3.0 manual grey Msport suspension 2004. Now including Cruise Control!
125D BMW manual 2013
Subaru Impreza track car owned for the last 21years...
123D manual remapped silver 2007 - Sold!
118i SE blue 2008 manual for sale! - Sold!

brillomaster
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1424
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:57 pm
Location: Leamington Spa

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by brillomaster » Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:22 pm

i do wonder if perhaps the 'wrong' way to refurb 108s might actually be the way to go? ie separate the face from rim, strip them down, but then rather than refurb them as separate pieces and then bolt them together afterwards, you might be better off bolting them together and torque-ing them up, and then refurb them over the top of the bolts?

domsz4
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 11:23 pm

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by domsz4 » Tue Mar 09, 2021 5:24 pm

in answer to your question:

108s are the work of the devil, its written in scripture..

Corinthians 11:3
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the wheel serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to pristine rims.
Proud Whip owner ;)

User avatar
groovy_hippy
Member
Member
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:37 pm
Location: Derby

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by groovy_hippy » Tue Mar 09, 2021 5:47 pm

domsz4 wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 5:24 pm in answer to your question:

108s are the work of the devil, its written in scripture..

Corinthians 11:3
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the wheel serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to pristine rims.

Ha! I’m sure the same is true for any split rim. Our old 996 had them, and exactly the same happened to them too!
Current ... 2007 Z4 Coupe 3.0si Sport | Manual | Alpine White | Black leather | Piano black dash
Intro to Zeds, now sold... 2007 Z4 2.5i SE Roadster | Manual | Stratus Grey | Red Leather | CDV delete | DLV backbox

craig3.2
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6384
Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:36 pm
Location: Ayrshire,Scotland

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by craig3.2 » Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:10 pm

As said,its a lot of split rims this happens to.
One of my mates used to have early Pirsche Boxsters, that were only around 2 yeaold at the time, by the time he sold them 2 or 3 years later,they were only 4 to 5 years old,and the split rims on those looked badly pitted.

Mine on my first z4 needed refurbished just once,in 5 years of ownership, and still looked good when I sold the car,at 7 years old.
Image
Interlagos Blue M RDSTR,2008. Logic7 dsp Hifi;satnav,stubby,htd seats,etc,etc.
Black 2005 3.0i NOW SOLD(and missed)

User avatar
GAZA62
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4173
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:31 pm
Location: KENT

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by GAZA62 » Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:50 pm

As above its a curse of any split rim but with a good quality refurb can look superb again i had mine done in 2015 and apart from some areas of the powdercoat starting to go on the inside of the rim and a few stone chips on the centre star they still look as good as the pics below the outer diamond cut lip is still spotless so if they only lasted another few years thats less than £100 a year to have the best looking rims on an E85 that money can buy.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gaza62/al ... 8883260773
T.SILVER 2004 3.0SE AUTO

IF IT WAS NOT FOR BAD LUCK I'D HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL

domsz4
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 11:23 pm

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by domsz4 » Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:57 pm

see told you work of the devil.

i'd love to know how to get powder coat off at home. tried some of the old wives tales of high dichloromethane paint stripper but it seemed to do naff all.
Proud Whip owner ;)

User avatar
Smartbear
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13685
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
Location: a barn in Somerset

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by Smartbear » Tue Mar 16, 2021 2:19 pm

brillomaster wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:22 pm i do wonder if perhaps the 'wrong' way to refurb 108s might actually be the way to go? ie separate the face from rim, strip them down, but then rather than refurb them as separate pieces and then bolt them together afterwards, you might be better off bolting them together and torque-ing them up, and then refurb them over the top of the bolts?
That wouldn’t work very well, the powder coating wouldn’t get into the furthest reaches of the assembled wheel & corrosion would start quickly :(
Rob
Image

e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

User avatar
Smartbear
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13685
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
Location: a barn in Somerset

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by Smartbear » Tue Mar 16, 2021 2:24 pm

domsz4 wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:57 pm see told you work of the devil.

i'd love to know how to get powder coat off at home. tried some of the old wives tales of high dichloromethane paint stripper but it seemed to do naff all.
I worked at several powder coating places in the late 80’s, we used to dip the jigs into liquid paint stripper to remove the powder coat. I can’t remember what it was but you definitely couldn’t buy it in a diy shop even back then, it used to make your eyes water and you choked if you breathed it in. I’ve had stronger cups of tea than paint stripper you can get these days! :roll:
Rob
Image

e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

domsz4
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 11:23 pm

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by domsz4 » Fri Mar 19, 2021 12:56 pm

Smartbear wrote: Tue Mar 16, 2021 2:24 pm
domsz4 wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:57 pm see told you work of the devil.

i'd love to know how to get powder coat off at home. tried some of the old wives tales of high dichloromethane paint stripper but it seemed to do naff all.
I worked at several powder coating places in the late 80’s, we used to dip the jigs into liquid paint stripper to remove the powder coat. I can’t remember what it was but you definitely couldn’t buy it in a diy shop even back then, it used to make your eyes water and you choked if you breathed it in. I’ve had stronger cups of tea than paint stripper you can get these days! :roll:
Rob
Ah the good old days of heady solvent based chemicals ...
Proud Whip owner ;)

Jamie2.5
Member
Member
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:45 pm
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by Jamie2.5 » Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:10 am

Just bought my E85 and they had never had the wheels refurbed they were a right mess as pictured I’m really happy with the new look and wheel just make sure to apply wheel sealant etc to see if it keeps them looking good
Attachments
2B6BF17E-45E3-46B2-998F-1F4054BA7642.jpeg
2B6BF17E-45E3-46B2-998F-1F4054BA7642.jpeg (200.14 KiB) Viewed 933 times
58EC37A9-0A61-47B0-A30D-C96004EBC0A1.jpeg
58EC37A9-0A61-47B0-A30D-C96004EBC0A1.jpeg (244.89 KiB) Viewed 933 times
D6B9E1C7-C95E-48F1-84EA-13433B9111C5.jpeg
D6B9E1C7-C95E-48F1-84EA-13433B9111C5.jpeg (199.45 KiB) Viewed 933 times
16F92BA3-5D67-46A9-A179-8C12A107819A.png
16F92BA3-5D67-46A9-A179-8C12A107819A.png (447.42 KiB) Viewed 933 times
E85 2.5 2003 SE & G16 840i 2021 MSport Pro

User avatar
dhobbs
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1621
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:33 pm

What makes 108s deteriorate so badly?

Post by dhobbs » Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:58 am

Jamie2.5 wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:10 am Just bought my E85 and they had never had the wheels refurbed they were a right mess as pictured I’m really happy with the new look and wheel just make sure to apply wheel sealant etc to see if it keeps them looking good
That's a great colour combo on those 108s :thumbsup:
3.0si roadster. Requisite stubby. Sound gen mod. LED numberplate lights. LED boot strip. Interior lights LED too. ZHP gearknob. Daily drive :driving:
Motor in boot. Bilstein B8 dampers. New radio, much better sounds :thumbsup:

Post Reply