Z4-forum.com

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:53 pm**

Evening! When I bought the car I was warned on the forum about the 326's liability to a crack, and I've just had one highlighted by a dealer when they were working on the car.

Here's how it looks..

: IMG_9710.JPG (182.44 KiB) Viewed 657 times

: IMG_9709.JPG (210.75 KiB) Viewed 657 times

: IMG_9708.JPG (157.78 KiB) Viewed 657 times

So small its nothing to worry about? worth a weld? or beyond repair?

Thanks!

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:01 pm**

12 cracks in one alloy is the best I’ve seen..

In theory it’s possible to weld it but that requires a lot of skill and the weld area to be annealed..otherwise it will crack adjacent to the weld..

Your call…slightly higher profile non run flats and avoiding speed bumps are your options before finding some better quality alloys..

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:09 pm**

New ones are £680, second hand about £200 so a repair cost is around £90 may be the better option.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:11 pm**

Tyres plus have someone who welds wheels.
50 quid a go I think.

Tyres Plus Ltd
11a Rashs Green, Dereham, NR19 1JG
01362 693 017

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:12 pm**

z4lincs wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:53 pm So small its nothing to worry about? worth a weld? or beyond repair?

Don't think there is a cracked wheel that is nothing to worry about TBH.
If left it will get worse...and once past the bead on the tyre will lose air. It is structurally compromised, even with a small hairline crack.

It can be welded legally in the UK, but will weaken the area around it by the welding process.

I certainly couldn't live with a cracked wheel, it would worry the shite out of me and I would be taking the wheels off every 5 minutes to check it hadn't got worse. I would also never have a wheel welded. But each to their own, as the saying goes.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:27 pm**

Pondrew wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:12 pm
z4lincs wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:53 pm So small its nothing to worry about? worth a weld? or beyond repair?

Don't think there is a cracked wheel that is nothing to worry about TBH.
If left it will get worse...and once past the bead on the tyre will lose air. It is structurally compromised, even with a small hairline crack.

It can be welded legally in the UK, but will weaken the area around it by the welding process.

I certainly couldn't live with a cracked wheel, it would worry the shite out of me and I would be taking the wheels off every 5 minutes to check it hadn't got worse. I would also never have a wheel welded. But each to their own, as the saying goes.
Aah, you wuss!

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:29 pm**

It’s scrap….welding it is temporary and false economy …bin it.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:58 pm**

Rub a bit of silver paint in it & worry if it starts losing air - this is the smallest alloy crack I have seen TBH.

When mine went, the inside surface practically split across (not just a tiny rim crack).

Check out local wheel repairers before springing for a new wheel - if they properley grind it down / weld / refinish it's likey stronger than new.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:01 pm**

Thanks all! Guess will have to decide between risking a weld or sourcing a used one without a crack!

Whole new set of alloys is a bit out of the budget unfortunately

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:04 pm**

matsmith749 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:58 pm this is the smallest alloy crack I have seen TBH.

Good to know at least!

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:05 pm**

Stevo1987 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:11 pm Tyres plus have someone who welds wheels.
50 quid a go I think.

I’ll give them a call if I go that route!

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:15 pm**

It is likely an MOT failure if picked up. Also seems to be primarily an issue with rear rather than front wheels.

Lots of second hand front ones on ebay but virtually no rears bar those that have either been welded or being sold with cracks - not sure why anyone would buy the latter.

The car I have just bought failed its MOT on a cracked wheel last year and also the year before. The first time round the owner opted for a weld but the second time replaced them with aftermarket wheels. Another car I looked at also had a failure on a cracked wheel which was then welded though that was on 18's.

I had the OE 326 M's thrown in as part of the sale as they had only just been refurbished. Thought it would be relatively easy to source some secondhand undamaged rears to give myself the option of returning to stock, but is not proving to be the case.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:34 pm**

Fady wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:15 pm Thought it would be relatively easy to source some secondhand undamaged rears to give myself the option of returning to stock, but is not proving to be the case.

Great news

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:44 pm**

z4lincs wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:04 pm
matsmith749 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:58 pm this is the smallest alloy crack I have seen TBH.
Good to know at least!

How many has he seen, do you know…? Could be 2

Welding alloy wheels is temporary, you weaken the surrounding alloy giving that area an excuse to crack more than when it was new, and a small crack now is only going one way….they don’t heal themselves. Hey, up to you, if you want potentially and very likely more issues then weld them, you’re a victim of crap wheel manufacture as lots of E89 owners are but welding them isn’t the way to deal with it.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:56 pm**

john-e89 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:44 pm
How many has he seen, do you know…? Could be 2

Yeah I won’t be just leaving it, fear not!

john-e89 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:44 pm
Welding alloy wheels is temporary, you weaken the surrounding alloy giving that area an excuse to crack more than when it was new, and a small crack now is only going one way….they don’t heal themselves. Hey, up to you, if you want potentially and very likely more issues then weld them, you’re a victim of crap wheel manufacture as lots of E89 owners are but welding them isn’t the way to deal with it.

I think I’ll spend a bit of time seeing if I can source a good replacement, or yeah, maybe a full new set of something else may have to be on the cards. Def prefer the OEM look however

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