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X5 Corroded Alloys???

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JimmyMcG22 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 8:48am
Any other X5 owners had problems with corroded alloys. Bought a brand new X5 in April 2013. Alloys replaced 18 months later free of charge due to corrosion. Same problem with second set replaced in July 2015 (see pictures) now BMW saying they will only pay for 70% of replacement this time as car is out of 3 year warranty and there are a few damage marks on alloys. The remaining 30% is still going to cost £926 plus vat. Complained to BMW customer service but getting nowhere. Surely new replaced alloys should last longer than 15 months. Any feedback or help much appreciated
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JimmyMcG22 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimmyMcG22 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 8:49am
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 10:18am
As the corrosion is around the centre bores of all the wheels, I bet the paint was damaged when the wheels were mounted on a tyre fitting machine, and then a balancing machine, before fitting to your car.  This is a regular problem, made worse by the salt-encrusted UK winter, and the lack of etch priming on the wheels before the top coat is applied.

The size of X5 wheels does not help either, as the out of balance forces must be vast, leading to movement of the wheeel on the balancing machine, and requiring the tapered adaptor on the outside of the wheel to be pulled up very tight - inevitably causing damage to the paint.  Perhaps at the factory they are bolted onto a balanced flange, which is rigidly attached to the balancing machine, in order to prevent this type of damage.

If the tyres were fitted and wheels balanced by a third-party company, your chances of compensation are nil.  In any case, compared to the cost of BMW's offer (which would probably not leave them out of pocket, and would leave you to pay labour costs) it would not cost any more to have the existing wheels properly prepared and painted by a specialist company, instead of bothering with BMW's evasive dealers and their badly-finished wheels, which are probably made in Italy by Chromadora, or in China by a peasants' collective!


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 21 Sep 2016 at 12:39pm
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JimmyMcG22 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimmyMcG22 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 3:08pm
Mike, thanks for the reply

The line they are using

" car is out of 3 year warranty and there is already damage to the alloy so the best they can offer is to pay 70% of the bill "  leaving me with 30% £926 + VAT

That seems to be BMW customer services final position on it

I know another X5 owner which was a 2012 plate from new that has had 5 sets of alloys changed after numerous fights and debates

I purchased a 3 year service plan with car  and BMW approved are the only ones to touch it 

Ive asked them what the warranty they give with alloys, as yet no reply 

Any help / thoughts greatly appreciated 


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JimmyMcG22 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimmyMcG22 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 3:10pm
PS - had the car from new and AM keeping for antoher 2 years, so if  i need to pay for new alloys i will , however it rallly stickin my throat and will try and fight it for a bit 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RParkinson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 4:06pm
You could try quoting the sale of goods act at them, saying that as all 4 have failed in the same way there must be an inherent defect with the design or manufacture which makes then not fit for purpose.  However, I think you'll be lucky to get any further as it's only a cosmetic defect (unless it gets much much worse).

I think it's just an inherent problem with the current trend for diamond cut style wheels, the centre caps can easily create a very small scratch in the lacquer which then starts the corrosion.  I've always added a bit of WaxOyl or copper grease around the centre caps to prevent them corroding (as they usually do within a few months, although yours seem OK) and to protect the wheels - it did however cause the front centres to pop off with some force on a track day!
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NeRo View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NeRo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 5:53pm
If you can't get satisfaction from BMW have you considered refurbishing them as a cheaper alternative?

Some of the guys in the Scottish Region can recommend some companies local to you 


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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 12:24pm
Even if BMW gave  you a new set of wheels at no cost whatever, after a salt-laden Scottish winter you would be back to the same position.  Forget about matters of principle, and talk to a decent powder-coating company who are able to immerse the wheels in an acidic priming bath, and produce a finished coating appropriate to  the conditions experienced in your area.

I would also take a fine half-round file to the edges of the centre bores, to produce a radiused edge which will not thin the paint coating in that area.  

Of course, you could always move to rural France, where the only road salt we see is that used on the autoroute about 25 miles away . . .
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhilBM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 2017 at 1:22pm
My X5 is fast approaching it's 10 birthday and the wheels are suffering a lot of corrosion. I bought it as an approved used BMW from a main dealer and had the wheels repaired before I picked it up, however it would appear that the smart repairs to them have papered over the cracks so to speak, because 3 and half years on they look a mess and detract from a well looked after car. The quandary I have now is whether to spend the money on properly having them refurbished or just live with them until I sell the car which is probably be another 2 years away at least away. Although any refresh isn't going to be cheap as they are 20 inch wheels! 
 
My mother's 2001 E39 530i also suffered, so it's no even a new thing, as the 3 piece BBS wheels which were an option at the time, she had 2 new sets fitted before my father threw in the towel because BMW couldn't guarantee they wouldn't corrode again and instead had some M parallels fitted.     
 
I feel your pain Jimmy as although my car wasn't new it still cost enough and when you do spend that sort of money you'd like a quality product like a BMW to last. I hope since you're last post you managed to resolve the situation although I fear you're not alone?
 
 
  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JohnW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 4:23pm
Exactly the same on M3 alloys. I've just had mine acid dipped and powder coated silver on black. Looks around 95% as good as the diamond cut finish and will outlast it probably by many years.

Powder coating isn't as expensive as some people imagine. With the wheels off the car (winters on at the moment) cost was £240 for the set M3 19" alloys, this was at the nearest place to me - AWR in Bury. I had the Alpina classic wheels factory silver on silver too for the same price. I'm sure costs are pretty much the same elsewhere.



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Norrie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Norrie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 5:05pm
Did the Alpina wheels include refub the centre caps?
n
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JohnW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 11:23pm
They certainly did Norrie.
I stripped them down ready, then when they cam back I rebuilt the locks with the new chrome tabs as they had rusted too. New Alpina badges from Pukar.

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