[sensible]

So it had to happen some time. After 15 months and 14,000 miles of being really careful with my alloys, today I scraped the front nearside 442 along the kerb when parking whilst going to get a Chinese takeaway. (will be an expensive takeaway)

It is quite bad, about a fifth of the diameter and it had scape some of the alloy off.

What are my options please. Can I get it repaired. Do BMW do it? How much will it cost me.

[M40CCA]

Originally Posted by sensible

So it had to happen some time. After 15 months and 14,000 miles of being really careful with my alloys, today I scraped the front nearside 442 along the kerb when parking whilst going to get a Chinese takeaway. (will be an expensive takeaway)

It is quite bad, about a fifth of the diameter and it had scape some of the alloy off.

What are my options please. Can I get it repaired. Do BMW do it? How much will it cost me.

Will need to be diamond cut mate
Around £100

[Dagger70]

Ouch!!!
Not bad for 15 months though. I've hit a pothole at low speed with front n/s damage but will probably wait a while and mine is only 6 weeks old.
I think BMW charge £150 per wheel but there are plenty of company's out there that do it much cheaper. Just google

[sensible]

I would expect that with this type of repair their will be places that do a first class job and others that don't. Is there anywhere in the West Midlands that anyone can recommend and are there any benefits of getting it done through BMW.

[soulboy]

prevent further damage get a set of alloy gators fitted,about the cost of one repair

[Soul_Glo]

Feel your pain! BMW don't do it themselves and will send it off for repair. Depends where you are based.

North and North West London: First Aid Wheels
East London: Lepsons
Watford / Luton / Hertfordshire: BV Engineering
Reading / Woking/ Berkshire: three sixty alloys

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by soulboy

prevent further damage get a set of alloy gators fitted,about the cost of one repair

These have been known to come loose at motorway speeds and cause untold damage to the wheel well. The product itself has strong clips that damage the alloy overtime. Great idea but a far from perfect product.

[soulboy]

had them on 4 bmws over 8 years all been perfect done high speeds etc,many friends and family had them,no complaints,if well fitted should not move.

[sensible]

Originally Posted by soulboy

prevent further damage get a set of alloy gators fitted,about the cost of one repair

Not the look I am after thanks.

Had some mates recommend AP Alloys in Cannock. Anyone used them?

[badgerbrock72]

The wheel specialist in Birmingham, near spaghetti.

[S1NGH]

Some of the larger dealers do have the diamond cutting machine, like Sytner's in Leicester. Friend had all 4 done and were like New afterwards.

Think he paid £100 per wheel, otherwise take it to an independent place.

[daz216]

Originally Posted by sensible

I would expect that with this type of repair their will be places that do a first class job and others that don't. Is there anywhere in the West Midlands that anyone can recommend and are there any benefits of getting it done through BMW.

had mine done at benham bmw wolverhampton £150 with a courtesy car thrown in.

[sensible]

Originally Posted by badgerbrock72

The wheel specialist in Birmingham, near spaghetti.

I have been there before. Had a full set of alloys painted on an Alfa 156. They did do a really nice job. I drove the car in one day and drove out the next with it all done. Not heard from anyone who have had them do any diamond cutting though.

[sensible]

I will try my local BMW which is Sytner Oldbury as I don't have a spare wheel it would put the car off the road so a courtesy car would be a define incentive, plus my car is still in warranty so if they are the only people that have touched it then that could stop any future problems.

[sensible]

Today I visited my local BMW at Sytner Oldbury. They sent me to the body shop where they looked at my wheel and said they would only do a Smart repair for £85. He advised that if I want a proper job done to take it to somewhere that they do diamond cutting on a regular basis.

Got a quote back from AP Alloys in Cannock (who apparantly do a lot of work for Merc as I know someone who works at Merc in Stoke on Trent and they travel there for the service) and I have had three separate recommendations. They have quoted £97 Inc VAT providing no weld is necessary. I presume that is if they have to add material to the rim.

Will try them and post some before and after pics.

[BimmerMad]

Needs a full face refurb. Nothing else will fix it long term.

Some BMW dealerships do it. Harry Fairbairn in Giffnock did mine for £115 and it's excellent. You'd never know it has been refurbed.

[Marksw76]

I feel your pain!!!

Here's some of my work from earlier this morning...




I've had my car for six weeks!!

Thing is, I'm not driving around with it like this - it's not even a year old.

If I take it to some diamond cut specialist, i.e NOT BMW, will this invalidate my warranty?

I've found a local alloy specialist that allegedly does work on behalf of my local dealer but presumably I'll need to go through them to be on the safe side with the warranty?

Also do you think I'll need a full refurb looking like this, how long do they take?

Seriously, not been a good day!

[Steven1077]

I'd just buy a new wheel as I'd never be happy with a refurb, but them I'm very OCD

[BimmerMad]

Originally Posted by Marksw76

I feel your pain!!!

Here's some of my work from earlier this morning...




I've had my car for six weeks!!

Thing is, I'm not driving around with it like this - it's not even a year old.

If I take it to some diamond cut specialist, i.e NOT BMW, will this invalidate my warranty?

I've found a local alloy specialist that allegedly does work on behalf of my local dealer but presumably I'll need to go through them to be on the safe side with the warranty?

Also do you think I'll need a full refurb looking like this, how long do they take?

Seriously, not been a good day!

The warranty will be invalid even if a BMW dealership refurb it.

[Marksw76]

Originally Posted by RDowson

The warranty will be invalid even if a BMW dealership refurb it.

Seriously?!?!

Thats crazy, fair enough I could see it if I gave it to some local hooligan down the road to have a play around with his spray can, but invalid even through main dealer??

So a new wheel might have to be an option? That means I'm going to need a new tyre too, surely which means I'll probably need to swap the other tyre

Can of worms springs to mind

[BimmerMad]

Originally Posted by Marksw76

Seriously?!?!

Thats crazy, fair enough I could see it if I gave it to some local hooligan down the road to have a play around with his spray can, but invalid even through main dealer??

So a new wheel might have to be an option? That means I'm going to need a new tyre too, surely which means I'll probably need to swap the other tyre

Can of worms springs to mind

I would go for the refurb first. I was thinking that I would want a new wheel as I'm a perfectionist but I thought it's better to give the refurb a shot. Worst case, I would have a refurbed wheel that someone would pay a few hundred pounds for and I could put that to the cost of a new wheel (around £500).

The job they did was brilliant. You'll have no issues as long as they do a full face refurb and fully clear coat the entire wheel afterwards.

[Marksw76]

Originally Posted by RDowson

I would go for the refurb first. I was thinking that I would want a new wheel as I'm a perfectionist but I thought it's better to give the refurb a shot. Worst case, I would have a refurbed wheel that someone would pay a few hundred pounds for and I could put that to the cost of a new wheel (around £500).

The job they did was brilliant. You'll have no issues as long as they do a full face refurb and fully clear coat the entire wheel afterwards.

I'm with you mate, I'd prefer to bite the bullet and get a new wheel, at least I can keep this one as a spare. Might try the refurb first and see how it goes.

Presumably a refurb is a few days work?

Anyone know a decent diamond cut specialist in the Derby/Nottingham area?