Bimmerpost
3
/
4 Series
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Technical Topics Wheels and Tires Curb damage, mobile repair or remachining

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-14-2020, 06:39 AM   #1
Lfk
Private
11
Rep
52
Posts

Drives: BMW 3 Series G20
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Melbourne, AU

iTrader: (0)

Curb damage, mobile repair or remachining

I just hit a curb and damaged my beautiful shiny front left wheel. I didn't know anything about wheels until a few minutes ago, but I believe these are machine cut wheels and are notoriously difficult to repair.

I did some googling and the general consensus is a non-CNC/remachined repair won't look quite like new. A proper repair on the other hand won't just cost more, but will take days.

I'm wondering what everyone else's experience has been and how good the repair will look if the wheel is not remachined.
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
      05-14-2020, 07:28 AM   #2
Tam the Bam
Grumpy Old Git
Tam the Bam's Avatar
United Kingdom
441
Rep
923
Posts

Drives: BMW G20 330i RWD M Sport
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Scotland, UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lfk View Post
I just hit a curb and damaged my beautiful shiny front left wheel. I didn't know anything about wheels until a few minutes ago, but I believe these are machine cut wheels and are notoriously difficult to repair.

I did some googling and the general consensus is a non-CNC/remachined repair won't look quite like new. A proper repair on the other hand won't just cost more, but will take days.

I'm wondering what everyone else's experience has been and how good the repair will look if the wheel is not remachined.

Did you see these threads.... re: DIY

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1675753

More discussion through this one...

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1692392
__________________
Retired:

F10 520D M Sport
E60 520D SE
Volvo S60 type R
Appreciate 1
Juny2145.00
      05-14-2020, 07:45 AM   #3
Burrcold
Brigadier General
5043
Rep
3,866
Posts

Drives: 2024 BMW M3 Comp xDrive
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Toronto, Canada

iTrader: (0)

It will look pretty good from a distance but won't be perfect. Depends how much you care. My dealer scratched the machined part of the face, they offered to repair but I knew it wouldn't look perfect so they ended up ordering me a new rim. If it had been an alloy rim or the painted part, I would have let them repair it as I've seen some near perfect repairs before.
__________________
Current: 2024 BMW M3 Competition xDrive | 2022 Audi Q7
Gone: 2022 Audi RS5 | 2020 BMW M340i | 2019 Audi RS5
Appreciate 0
      05-15-2020, 07:42 AM   #4
Lfk
Private
11
Rep
52
Posts

Drives: BMW 3 Series G20
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Melbourne, AU

iTrader: (0)

DIY is out of the question as I'm really crap at these things and will probably do more damage.

I got some quotes and a proper repair (remachined) will cost me around $400 (AUD) and take three days. Otherwise I can have it repaired for $50 through a membership I have for small repairs like this (or $150 with another mobile wheel repair company). They claim it'll look perfect except for the missing machine lines.

What I'm wondering is, if I go with the cheaper repair and I don't like it, I can still get it remachined, right?
Appreciate 0
      05-15-2020, 05:18 PM   #5
hottroc
Second Lieutenant
45
Rep
243
Posts

Drives: BMW 330e
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Same damage and same wheels here. I repaired DIY myself. Not too difficult and got it pretty good. Not totally 100% invisible but if you don't know it's there you wouldn't spot it, just take your time with the sanding.
Appreciate 0
      05-15-2020, 11:07 PM   #6
TheBingoBalls
Brigadier General
TheBingoBalls's Avatar
Canada
3805
Rep
4,655
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
The main issue with repairing diamond cut/machined wheels is the color. It's possible to resurface it, it's how they get the color/shiny effect to match the other wheels. The 437M wheels are one of, if not the hardest, wheel to repair - I saw one today and the shop did a very nice job with the only issue is that it's a bit more shiny than the other but you wouldn't notice it in passing.
Appreciate 0
      05-16-2020, 06:55 AM   #7
Lfk
Private
11
Rep
52
Posts

Drives: BMW 3 Series G20
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Melbourne, AU

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls View Post
The main issue with repairing diamond cut/machined wheels is the color. It's possible to resurface it, it's how they get the color/shiny effect to match the other wheels. The 437M wheels are one of, if not the hardest, wheel to repair - I saw one today and the shop did a very nice job with the only issue is that it's a bit more shiny than the other but you wouldn't notice it in passing.
These are 791M wheels by the way
Appreciate 0
      05-16-2020, 07:00 AM   #8
TheBingoBalls
Brigadier General
TheBingoBalls's Avatar
Canada
3805
Rep
4,655
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lfk View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls View Post
The main issue with repairing diamond cut/machined wheels is the color. It's possible to resurface it, it's how they get the color/shiny effect to match the other wheels. The 437M wheels are one of, if not the hardest, wheel to repair - I saw one today and the shop did a very nice job with the only issue is that it's a bit more shiny than the other but you wouldn't notice it in passing.
These are 791M wheels by the way
I know, I mentioned the 437M for comparison purposes - if any shop could repair damage to those wheels with the black/smoke effect, repair to your wheels which is essentially just metal should be possible without much issue.
Appreciate 0
      07-05-2020, 09:44 AM   #9
Lfk
Private
11
Rep
52
Posts

Drives: BMW 3 Series G20
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Melbourne, AU

iTrader: (0)

I had it repaired the not-so-ideal way (i.e. no machining) for $50 under some small repair membership I have. The result is acceptable. Color match is really good. Once you get really up close, it's clear that section has been painted whereas the rest has only a clear coat (those OCD-satisfying machine lines).

Other than that, there are some issues around the edges (where the metal joins the painted black inner area) and also what look like paint residue or damage on the black area. But this is probably just poor workmanship. I'm trying to see if I can get them to come and remediate these (they often do). Will post pictures of the final work.
Appreciate 0
      10-08-2020, 05:41 AM   #10
ClearSkies
New Member
3
Rep
20
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Sydney

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lfk View Post
I had it repaired the not-so-ideal way (i.e. no machining) for $50 under some small repair membership I have. The result is acceptable. Color match is really good. Once you get really up close, it's clear that section has been painted whereas the rest has only a clear coat (those OCD-satisfying machine lines).

Other than that, there are some issues around the edges (where the metal joins the painted black inner area) and also what look like paint residue or damage on the black area. But this is probably just poor workmanship. I'm trying to see if I can get them to come and remediate these (they often do). Will post pictures of the final work.
Hi, I’m in a similar situation now and was wondering how you went with the repairs? Which company did you end up using? Cheers
Appreciate 0
      10-08-2020, 12:44 PM   #11
TheDudeMan
First Lieutenant
TheDudeMan's Avatar
Ukraine
252
Rep
380
Posts

Drives: 20' 330i & RX 350
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: SF Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Any type of repair will never look OEM. I've had both, machining and filler/paint repair. In your case, the wheel will need to be machined since the surface damaged is machined.

What you will see if done correctly:
- Light machined edge. The portion machined will lose some material and upclose, you'll be able to see it.
- You will see a difference in texture/surface as the OE finish is hard to match.
- Long term you may see a slight color change depending on wheel cleaners etc.

My recommendation, since I'm personally anal, is to the find one OEM take off wheel on ebay and replace it. You can keep the removed wheel as a spare of sell it. Plus, the cost to properly repair vs buying a new wheel is almost the same.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:04 AM.




g20
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST