Long-lasting 19" 326 wheels?

Busterboo · Post by **Busterboo** » Sun May 25, 2025 12:48 pm

I'm looking to buy a replacement for my early E89. Have found one, but it comes with MoT failures because of cracked 19" 326 wheels.

Are cracked and repaired wheels acceptable in an MoT test?

If so, how do you know they cracked?

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Sun May 25, 2025 1:11 pm

Yes, welded wheels are acceptable on an MOT. It also doesn't need to be mentioned on the test if they are.
The only way of knowing (apart from historical MOT notes) for sure is to take all the wheels off and look. They usually crack on the inside lip where they meet the tyre. Repairs/ welds should be visible.

Problem with repaired wheels is the structural integrity has been compromised, so they undoubtedly will crack again at some point.

Busterboo · Post by **Busterboo** » Sun May 25, 2025 6:20 pm

Thank you very much.

peter2704 · Post by **peter2704** » Wed May 28, 2025 10:11 am

you on run flats,as they dont help

Busterboo · Post by **Busterboo** » Wed May 28, 2025 12:07 pm

peter2704 wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 10:11 am you on run flats,as they dont help

Runflats? I was on them for 2 week nine and a half years ago. Never again.

My difficulty now is finding a car - a 35iS - that isn't on them. I don't want the expense of having to replace tyres and wheels.

Indeed, even 326s that may have been on runflats will have to be dumped.

Actually, any 326s will be dumped. I just wouldn't bother to put tyres on them - any tyres.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed May 28, 2025 1:31 pm

Busterboo wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 12:07 pm
peter2704 wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 10:11 am you on run flats,as they dont help
Runflats? I was on them for 2 week nine and a half years ago. Never again.

My difficulty now is finding a car - a 35iS - that isn't on them. I don't want the expense of having to replace tyres and wheels.

Indeed, even 326s that may have been on runflats will have to be dumped.

Actually, any 326s will be dumped. I just wouldn't bother to put tyres on them - any tyres.

The 326s are not as bad as their reputation (on here anyway). Not ALL 326s crack, have cracked or will crack.
I have had two E89s with 326s on, both with RFTs and never seen a crack in any of them.

If I were intending to buy another N54-engined car, I would be a LOT more concerned about potential expensive mechanical issues than cracks in wheels TBH. Admittedly all happening together wouldn't be great!

CliveN · Post by **CliveN** » Wed May 28, 2025 3:07 pm

Tempting fate here but my wheels spent their first 25000 miles on the terrible Bridgestone RFTs. No cracks. Now on Kumho normals (so much better to drive with) and still no cracks. But I do tend to avoid all potholes and don’t drive in the winter (when potholes hide away in puddles). So we shouldn’t automatically avoid 326s. They look great on the car.

sars · Post by **sars** » Wed May 28, 2025 4:54 pm

Busterboo, I have an ideal solution, just get an M40i and then you won't have to worry about cracked wheels

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed May 28, 2025 8:52 pm

sars wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 4:54 pm Busterboo, I have an ideal solution, just get an M40i and then you won't have to worry about cracked wheels

The B58 is a great engine (certainly compared to the N54), that I will grant you.
It's just that the Z4 it is thrown into is a bit......well....fugly and generic. The E89 is sooooooo much nicer to look at.

I still mistake G29s for the previous gen Merc SL. I have to look for the badge to differentiate them.

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com