326 alloy wheel crack

[z4lincs]

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..




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

Thanks!

 

[B21]

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..

 

[raymond.harper]

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

 

[Stevo1987]

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

 

[Pondrew]

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.

 

[Stevo1987]

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! oke:

 

[john-e89]

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

 

[matsmith749]

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.

 

[z4lincs]

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

 

[z4lincs]

this is the smallest alloy crack I have seen TBH.

Good to know at least!

 

[z4lincs]

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

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

 

[Fady]

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.

 

[z4lincs]

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

 

[john-e89]

this is the smallest alloy crack I have seen TBH.

Good to know at least!

:lol: 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.

 

[z4lincs]

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

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

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

 

[john-e89]

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

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

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

It’s a shame as it’s no one’s fault but BMW and try to get any sense out of them if you can…. :roll:

Hope you find a solution that has longevity. :driving:

 

[matsmith749]

Is it really a BMW thing?

The trend for bigger & bigger wheel diameters, also being lighter & lighter with tiny thin tyres is common across all manufacturers TBH. All are seeing the same kind of issues with wheel damage, especially when used anywhere with less than perfect road conditions (ahem .... UK).

Runflat (ie hard sidewall) tyres just makes the problem more likely.

I doubt the alloy quality is worse for BMW branded wheels than any other similar marque.

Also, with regard to the efficacy of a weld on a wheel crack - I don't know the truth about this (does anyone?).

It feels like it makes sense that it could weaken the wheel long term - but is that just old wives bollox? Welding has been used in construction & repairs for many years, and thousands upon thousands of wheels.

Do they actually break easier afterwards? I'd love to know for real (not just gossip)

 

[Stevo1987]

Is it really a BMW thing?

The trend for bigger & bigger wheel diameters, also being lighter & lighter with tiny thin tyres is common across all manufacturers TBH. All are seeing the same kind of issues with wheel damage, especially when used anywhere with less than perfect road conditions (ahem .... UK).

Runflat (ie hard sidewall) tyres just makes the problem more likely.

I doubt the alloy quality is worse for BMW branded wheels than any other similar marque.

Also, with regard to the efficacy of a weld on a wheel crack - I don't know the truth about this (does anyone?).

It feels like it makes sense that it could weaken the wheel long term - but is that just old wives bollox? Welding has been used in construction & repairs for many years, and thousands upon thousands of wheels.

Do they actually break easier afterwards? I'd love to know for real (not just gossip)

I doubt anyone knows for sure. John would buy a new wheel but I think that is just his opinion and choice.

 

[Pondrew]

Is it really a BMW thing?

No it isn't. As you said, it is a 'big cheaply cast alloy wheel with low profile tyres' thing. VW and Ford also have the same issues (these are the only other forums I've visited).

BUT....because of BMWs insistence on RFTs and the Z platform (generally) having stupidly stiff springs, it just makes the problem worse.

My F31 has soft springs, 18" wheels and RFTs (bloody cheap ones too). Not a problem so far after 8 years.
My 440 with M-sport suspension with RFTs was not renowned for cracking wheels, as the suspension was much 'better' than the Z platform. It happened, just not everyday.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Welding is weaker than if it were not cracked.

That said, day to day driving on roads with speed limits and rules, a weld will surely hold up. I don’t suppose they would weld it if it wasn't ok.

The problem is, it’s down to the skill of the welder, and a wheel is a rather fundamental part of the car.

You could be fine for months then hit a motorway pothole and that could be it.

If you weld it, it’s best as a patch fix before you sort out an alternative.

326Ms are incredibly expensive, perhaps look to replace with an 18" or something else like a 437m.

I don’t envy the position, but why run the risk.