Cracked 296 Alloy

[Stretch]

So today I’ve had my car in to BMW for some outstanding recall work and they have completed a free health check and pointed out a crack in my rear alloy So I’d like to call on the forum collective experience and knowledge to find out if weld repair is the way to go? A replacement 296 alloy from BMW is £590. The alloys are in great condition apart from this, one was recently re cut and the run flats went before I purchased last September. So weld, replace with a genuine or look to replace all 4 with after market? Thanks all!

 

[mr wilks]

You aren't the first , you won't be the last & its not worth flapping over ,
Have a professional weld done then carry on as normal , not sure what tyre size you are running ( oe was 255 30 19 ) so you could up the comfort & rim protection to 255 35 19 , also worth paying attention to pressures , 36-38psi should be ample for the rear / 33-35psi front

 

[Busterboo]

So today I’ve had my car in to BMW for some outstanding recall work and they have completed a free health check and pointed out a crack in my rear alloy So I’d like to call on the forum collective experience and knowledge to find out if weld repair is the way to go? ...

There is an alternative to mr wilks' suggestion, because the anecdotal evidence on the Forum appears to be that (1) 296s crack, (2) welded cracked wheels often crack again and (3) changing tyre pressures by a few pounds will make no difference. So, buy yourself some wheels that don't crack.

 

[mr wilks]

So today I’ve had my car in to BMW for some outstanding recall work and they have completed a free health check and pointed out a crack in my rear alloy So I’d like to call on the forum collective experience and knowledge to find out if weld repair is the way to go? ...

There is an alternative to mr wilks' suggestion, because the anecdotal evidence on the Forum appears to be that (1) 296s crack, (2) welded cracked wheels often crack again and (3) changing tyre pressures by a few pounds will make no difference. So, buy yourself some wheels that don't crack.

I must have missed all those posts providing that evidence :? fling up some links when you get a min Buster

 

[Busterboo]

I must have missed all those posts providing that evidence :? fling up some links when you get a min Buster

Don't you remember Smartbear writing about it?

 

[mr wilks]

I must have missed all those posts providing that evidence :? fling up some links when you get a min Buster

Don't you remember Smartbear writing about it?

Nope :? you will have to relay what was said but if it was regarding his set of 326s i do remember buying those off him with a repaired rear rim , i then ran the set on a blue Si coupe for a winter with no issue & additionally iirc they had non runflat rears (Fulda) with runflat fronts yep really

 

[Busterboo]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/search.php?keywords=cracked+alloys&fid%5B0%5D=45

There are 161 matches here for Stretch to read and, hopefully, from which he'll be able to reach his own conclusions.

 

[mr wilks]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/search.php?keywords=cracked+alloys&fid%5B0%5D=45

There are 161 matches here for Stretch to read and, hopefully, from which he'll be able to reach his own conclusions.

Perhaps he would be more interested in hearing which wheels he should buy that don't crack :wink: i know i would

 

[PDJ]

East Coast Engineers have a coded welder that is very very good at alloy welding and will do a good a job as is possible,

Pete is the owner tel 07713 181763 based at the end of the A180 just in Grimsby

Mac is the welder you need to do the weld repair

Cj Powder coater will do a good job of powder coating based in Cleethorpes

That is an option for the weld repair route

 

[srhutch]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/search.php?keywords=cracked+alloys&fid%5B0%5D=45

There are 161 matches here for Stretch to read and, hopefully, from which he'll be able to reach his own conclusions.

Not 161 occasions of a cracked 296 or 326 wheel, and most of those point to a few threads.

First 3 pages only 5 threads.

 

[Stretch]

Thanks guys. S

 

[Busterboo]

East Coast Engineers have a coded welder that is very very good at alloy welding and will do a good a job as is possible,
Pete is the owner tel 07713 181763 based at the end of the A180 just in Grimsby
Mac is the welder you need to do the weld repair
Cj Powder coater will do a good job of powder coating based in Cleethorpes
That is an option for the weld repair route

Sadly, welded cracked wheels can crack again, usually around the weld.

 

[PDJ]

This can be true there are a lot of variables when welding alloy, spec of parent material, weld area preparation, type of filler rod, gas shield, pre heating, post heat treatment, skill of the welder.

Mac is a quality welder with several coded qualifications to back it up if I had a cracked wheel that was economical to repair he would be welding it.

 

[Busterboo]

This can be true there are a lot of variables when welding alloy, spec of parent material, weld area preparation, type of filler rod, gas shield, pre heating, post heat treatment, skill of the welder.

Mac is a quality welder with several coded qualifications to back it up if I had a cracked wheel that was economical to repair he would be welding it.

You're certainly right about the variables and I don't doubt that Mac is a first-rate welder. Unfortunately, it's the "spec of parent material", probably plus design, that render some BMW wheels unfit for use.

 

[pbr67_zed]

Sadly, welded cracked wheels can crack again, usually around the weld.

That was my experience - bought my car with 296's, one of which had been welded. Hit a pothole a couple of months later and it went again very close to the original weld.
I ditched the 296's in favour of some aftermarket wheels. Dropped from 19" to 18" and went for non-RFT's - transformed the ride

 

[Busterboo]

Sadly, welded cracked wheels can crack again, usually around the weld.

That was my experience - bought my car with 296's, one of which had been welded. Hit a pothole a couple of months later and it went again very close to the original weld.
I ditched the 296's in favour of some aftermarket wheels. Dropped from 19" to 18" and went for non-RFT's - transformed the ride