Cracked Alloy?

[Nick7602]

Hi Guys

Looks like a cracked alloy, this was picked up by BMW when the car was in for an alignment is it worth getting the alloy welded, what are peoples thoughts

 

[warmasice]

Bin it. Lots of info here. It'll just crack again.

 

[Nick7602]

Cheers Warm as ice,

Time to go hunting for new alloys

 

[mcbutler]

Yes it is worth repairing, the weld is stronger than the original casting, I paid a local engineering shop around £55 to weld mine when it cracked, we talked at length about the safety of the repair and those guys were highly experienced metal fabrication and repair specialists.
If you wanted to keep the wheels and get them fixed permanently you could have a reinforcing rim welded onto the inside edge on all wheels for a lot less than a new set, probably less than one wheel would cost you.

 

[Nick7602]

Hi Mark, blimey I never knew that……thats very interesting…….I wonder who would do such a repair here in the midlands?

Its really good to get peoples feed back, gems like this bit of info come up…..cheers Mark


Nick

 

[Busterboo]

Yes it is worth repairing, the weld is stronger than the original casting ...

I knew nothing about this problem when I bought my Z4. Very fortunately, it came on 18" 295s, which don't seem to crack. If it hadn't, I'd have been very, very, very pi$$ed off and you have my genuine sympathy, even more so because when/if weld-repaired wheels crack again, they do so where the wheel isn't welded, don't they?

 

[Smartbear]

Yes it is worth repairing, the weld is stronger than the original casting ...

I knew nothing about this problem when I bought my Z4. Very fortunately, it came on 18" 295s, which don't seem to crack. If it hadn't, I'd have been very, very, very pi$$ed off and you have my genuine sympathy, even more so because when/if weld-repaired wheels crack again, it's just where the wheel isn't welded, isn't it?

They usually crack again right next to the welded repair, the weld is strong but the localised heat makes the surrounding alloy brittle & more likely to crack again.
Rob

 

[Nick7602]

Yes I have to say it is quite annoying, in the long run then looks like a new alloy, or alloys, I have to say Im not leaning towards purchasing another BMW Alloy, given what I now know about these alloys.



Nick

 

[Chippie]

If your wheels are in a good condition I’d look at getting it welded and see how it last, if your wheels need refurbing then it may be worth while treating yourself to a new set, are you still on run flats? As they seem to be the main culprit for the cracking

 

[Nick7602]

Hi Chippie

The car was on run flats, and looking at the crack in the wheel it doesn't appear to be new, perhaps a repair could be the way to go, well at least for the time being :?

 

[Chippie]

Hi Chippie

The car was on run flats, and looking at the crack in the wheel it doesn't appear to be new, perhaps a repair could be the way to go, well at least for the time being :?

I think that’s what I would do

 

[jimbo1958]

When I bought my E89 the previous owner had numerous new 326m's replaced under warranty due to cracking. I switched out the runflats for Michelin PS3's and never had a cracked wheel in 5 years of ownership.

 

[Pickster]

Hi You don't actually say in your post or I may of missed it but out of curiosity is it a style 326M ? which is what we are all probably assuming.

 

[Nick7602]

Aaaah yes, I did forget to mention the style of Alloy, mine are M313s…..which if memory serves me right is not one of the ones prone to cracking, but then I could be wrong

The car now sits on a full set of bridgestones, so hopefully once the crack has been sorted I wont have anymore….which perhaps is wishful thinking

 

[mcbutler]

Hi Chippie

The car was on run flats, and looking at the crack in the wheel it doesn't appear to be new, perhaps a repair could be the way to go, well at least for the time being :?

I think that’s what I would do

Repair is always the best option, you might well never get another crack, dont mug yourself off for hundreds of pounds for a crack bud

 

[Nick7602]

Cheers Mark

Your right, I was thinking the same thing as you and Chippie…..it really annoys me, such a fabulous car, and what a stupid quality flaw what were BMW thinking :roll:

 

[warmasice]

Be prepared to keep welding. Honestly, just bin it.

(Not my pic....)

 

[Nick7602]

OMG

 

[Fox2000]

Mine had two cracks in 326m’s when I bought the car that bmw picked up. Cotswold cars in Coventry refused to replace the wheel. Bmw told me it’s an not failure and quoted me £950 for a new wheel. I got it welded n Northampton welding and whole set refurbed and new non run flat tyres. Let’s see how it goes. 1 month in and still ok. Will keep the forum posted.

 

[tiglon]

If a wheel cracks from normal use, then surely if you get it welded it will eventually just crack somewhere else?

In that photo above it's been welded 6 times - probably spent more repairing it than it would have cost to buy a wheel that won't crack unless it's subjected to forces out of the ordinary?

I agree the 326M's look absolutely beautiful, but so does Amber Heard and I wouldn't want to live with her either.