White worm

[SAM_MORSE]

Getting my new 71 plate this week with black kidney grills & bi-colour wheels which in not my ideal combo but all they had in lease stock. IMO totally black wheels look better with the totally black grills so thinking of painting the silver diamond cut bits with black paint on top of the lacquer that I could wipe off with petrol when I return car at end of lease.... but is it worth doing because everyone including BMW know its not IF but WHEN the dreaded white worm corrosion arrives? why oh why do they put lacquer on bare metal? Anyway regardless of my extra layer of paint protection against salt & stone chips if i still get white worm would this be classed as a paint defect covered under warranty requiring new wheels?

[buzyg]

If it's a paint defect, then I would imagine it's covered. However if the route cause is from a stone chip / kerb scrape, that got through the lacquer and paint then, not covered. Just my thoughts.

[sars]

I would say you have two realistic options, either get the wheels professionally refurbished in a colour you want, this is approximately £70 per wheel, though there is a risk that the lease company will notice, by and large they'll be looking for defects as you state not refurbished wheels. Or buy a new set of alloys, TPMS sensors and tyres and then store the original ones until you refit them when the vehicle is returned.

If you cover the machined and lacquered faces with paint, this may not match the existing paint you will also see where you've applied it, it may look gash.

[sars]

Double post oops

[SAM_MORSE]

BMW know that if you put 1 layer of lacquer onto bare metal as opposed to 3 coats, primer, top coat & lacquer it will cause this type of corrosion very quickly so why should the customer foot the bill to put right?

[sars]

BMW know that if you put 1 layer of lacquer onto bare metal as opposed to 3 coats, primer, top coat & lacquer it will cause this type of corrosion very quickly so why should the customer foot the bill to put right?

Because Aluminium self passivates, that white barrier is it's own protection. it just doesn't look good.

[SAM_MORSE]

Ok thanks for replies, i will just have to see if my extra layer gives more protection