Cracked rims!

ryushe

ryushe

Member
 Rotterdam
Hi guys,

I've had my 2003 Z4 3.0i for 2 months now and have been really protective. Haven't hit a pothole or bump yet. Now yesterday I managed to get a screw stuck in my rear wheel passenger side tire (Bridgestone Potenza run flats) so naturally I go by the tire shop here which is kind enough to fix this kind of thing for free. After the fix all looked good, so drove the car home and didn't think more of it.
This morning after about 3/4 miles of driving, my tire pressure light came on. I measured the pressure in the tire (same one which got repaired) which turned out to be 27 PSI. So having a branch of the same tire shop nearby, I headed over for them to have a look at it. After getting the wheel off, they spotted 2 cracks on the inside of the rim pointing outwards. This is already bad enough, but the even worse thing is, the other rear wheel tire ALSO has two cracks.
By the looks of it, as the cracks where already quite dirty, they've been there for some time and are most definitely not new.

A crude drawing is attached as I don't have pictures.
crackedrims.png


Now here are my questions:
  1. Has anyone else ever observed this?
  2. My car is out of warranty, but this really does look like a manufacturing defect. Any chance of talking to BMW about this? There is a webpage I found that says that BMW is very aware of this problem! http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/10/bmw_alloy_wheels.html
  3. Why would one tire with the same type of cracks leak and the other one won't?
Anyone have any recommended course of action before I buy 2 brand new 18x8.5 107s back from BMW for 420 USD a piece?

This has me pretty bummed to be honest. I wasn't expecting to have to replace to complete rims within the first 30.000 miles of the car's life. That's why I bought a low mileage one in the first place!!

Thanks!
 
This is a known problem, espically in the UK and has made the press although more for 19" rims, but I know people with 18" rims that have also suffered.

Last I heard BMW would not entertain any warranty claims (in the UK) but that might not be the same in the USA.
 
I had a crack in one of my rear rims. My mechanic was amazed that it didn't leak.

Anyway, he sent me to a wheel shop he deals with.

They welded it shut. Even trued the rim. $100.
 
Happened to me just last week. http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19265

They will probably try to keep the rim for a core charge or something. You own that rim, don't let them just take it, no matter how you look at it, its metal you can bring to the scrap yard.
 
i have an 03 3.0i with 107's and i have also owned mine for 2 months - same problem, my rear passenger wheel has a crack in it :evil: . however it is not leaking, but not an issue i ever expected. i only went to get nitrogen put in my tyres and they tell me my rims are cracked!!

i really think Trajan has the best idea if it can be done to yours / mine for similar cost. only issue is, Z4 dont have a spare wheel, so you gotta catch the bus while rim is gettin fixed :P
 
Took about a half hour or so to do mine. (the tire was already off.)

The crack was on the inside. It was found when the tire was being replaced.
 
I have had two cracked rims on a ford focus( uk car ) I had them tig welded at a local enginer, they ballenced up no problem the crack's where on the inside of the rim, apparently it is stronger now than before !
 
Now looking for second hand rims in the States. So, if you have a set of either 2 x 18x18.5 rear wheel 107 ellipsoid rims or a full set of 4 (2 x 18x8 - 2 x 18x8.5), I'll take 'em off your hands for the right price :)
Let me know, you can reach me via PM here or at [email protected].
Thanks!
 
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