Alloy Wheel Repair

L

laurahen

Member
Hi,

I was hoping someone could help give a little advice on something.

We took our Z4 with split rims in to a local place for wheel refurbishment a few days ago. They have been doing the wheels and came across a dent two days ago which we agreed they should repair. This morning when the car is supposed to be picked up they have rang saying one of the rims has a crack and needs repairing but it has to be sent off elsewhere for welding over the weekend. Whilst I don't disbelieve them you can never be sure. What would you do in this situation? Is it likely during the last stages of refurbishment they'd come across something like this?

They also said they wouldn't be able to let the car back on the road because it's dangerous.

TIA,
 
Well such welding is very specialist......but their comment about 'not letting the car back on the road' sounds either motherly or a bit arrogant. Guess you need to make a judgement in the light of what you know.

What wheel is it - can't you just buy a s/h replacement instead?
 
Yeah, the whole can't let it back on the road did strike me as being a bit of a scare tactic. s/h replacement, does that mean just replacing the outer part of the rim?

I've read that if an alloy has a crack it will always get worse over time and repairing it seems to be something not many people bother with but can be done. I guess I just hate being in the dark and not knowing if I'm being taken for a ride. I may ask if they could take a photo of the crack and send it for our records, everyone has a camera phone these days.
 
If i was a motor trader and I came across a wheel that had a crack in it I wouldn't let it be driven away. Either a new alloy or repair.

Its a common fault with alloy wheels, runflat tyres and stiff suspension.
 
If i was you ill get a second hand wheel that may need a refurb too and give it to them to refurb , welding alloy is a art should be pre heated to get full penetration which has a annealing effect and can soften it.It all depends on how competent the welder is.I wouldnt take the risc.
 
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