Video The trouble with second hand wheels...

[smiffy]

the following video is of one of a set of wheels purchased through a contact on Zroadsters, Who'd just bought them from another on here and decided he didn't like them.

As I have access to a wheel balancer, it made sense to spin them up and balance them all before fitting. On spinning this one up it has a significant buckle, one I'd consider to be unroadworthy. Closer inspection shows a pothole ding that isn't recent, but not mentioned in the original advert.

It's a non BMW manufactured set of wheels so I'm unlikely to pick up one odd wheel, so it leaves me two options really.

1. scrap the lot
2. consider having it straightened, although I'm a bit hesitant to do that with an alloy. I'm not convinced bending cast stuff is really the right thing to do.

Thoughts chaps.

 

[BMBabe]

Oh dear maybe throw them on eBay and try get some money back

 

[Stevo7682]

If it was professionally repaired it should be no problem.
Its when they have cracked its more of an issue.
My zeds 18" rims (aftermarket) cracked one got it welded put it on the rear hadn't hit anything and it cracked up the centre of the weld after 3 months.

 

[smiffy]

Oh dear maybe throw them on eBay and try get some money back

If I thought the good ones would sell individually, I'd split them up and do just that, but whilst they are a good brand, they are not for example, a BMW MV2, fitted to hundreds of cars.

I Suppose I could sell as a set and declare the buckled one. I'd not just list them with the intention of passing them on!

If it was professionally repaired it should be no problem.
Its when they have cracked its more of an issue.
My zeds 18" rims (aftermarket) cracked one got it welded put it on the rear hadn't hit anything and it cracked up the centre of the weld after 3 months.

If it was visibly cracked, I'd not hesitate to scrap it. Not sure I'd risk that at erm, the National speed limit!
My Dad ran a welding/fabrication business for many years and he became a bit of a "go to" bloke for welding cast iron stuff and I know it is a bit of a skill. Ali more so as its expansion/contraction rates are higher than cast iron.

Just a bit miffed as the Zed is off the road with a pothole buckled Style 18 at the moment, which is why I needed a new set!

 

[Davyhoogy]

It's worth mentioning the seller may not have known about the buckle.
I sold a set of wheels recently that I drove with for 3 miles not exceeding 30mph. So if there was an issue with one id not have had a clue.
Different issue if they're advertised as good condition ..

 

[Nodzed]

If I thought the good ones would sell individually, I'd split them up and do just that, but whilst they are a good brand, they are not for example, a BMW MV2, fitted to hundreds of cars.

I Suppose I could sell as a set and declare the buckled one. I'd not just list them with the intention of passing them on!



If it was visibly cracked, I'd not hesitate to scrap it. Not sure I'd risk that at erm, the National speed limit!
My Dad ran a welding/fabrication business for many years and he became a bit of a "go to" bloke for welding cast iron stuff and I know it is a bit of a skill. Ali more so as its expansion/contraction rates are higher than cast iron.

Just a bit miffed as the Zed is off the road with a pothole buckled Style 18 at the moment, which is why I needed a new set!

Shame you're so far away I have a set of wheels with tyres off a 320 you could have borrowed that would have got you mobile until you were sorted.

 

[t-tony]

Just a word on having alloy wheel cracks welded. The crack needs to ground out to a vee before welding. The finished weld should hardky be "proud" of the wheels surface then ground back to flush. If a welded repair has cracked through the weld then it was not veed out enough to begin with not did the weld penetrate into the wheel enough. A poor weld in other words. We have many alloy wheels welded and never have any issues.

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

A lump hammer will sort it

 

[smiffy]

It's worth mentioning the seller may not have known about the buckle.

Possible I guess, but they were off his own car and you'd certainly feel a buckle like this.

Different issue if they're advertised as good condition ..

They were, but I didn't buy them off the original advertiser, anyway, this isn't a Witch hunt more of a warning. btw, its not you!

Worse case is I end up with 2 good part worn tyres and either weigh the rims in for scrap or sell them on declaring the buckle. Thankfully I didn't pay top dollar for them.

Tony, its just the thought of being on a repaired wheel at 110 on the A11 that just nags me a bit! If I didn't know it had been repaired, I'd probably not even think about it!

A lump hammer will sort it

 

[5harp3y]

just get it straightened by a reputable company. no big deal and shouldn't cost more than £20-30

 

[Shelly]

How naughty to sell a set of wheels with a buckle in them
Hope you can get them drivable

 

[the Nefyn cat]

110 on the A11? Do you use KMH over there, being so close to foreign lands?

 

[smiffy]

110 on the A11? Do you use KMH over there, being so close to foreign lands?

I was wondering how long it would take someone to spot 110km/h is legal in the UK, dissapointed nobody came in and screamed "nasty, illegal, speeder!"

 

[Dado]

Hi guys, I know this is a bit late for this thread but have only just joined the forum.
It is a relevant subject that I have been a victim of.
There is a company in High Wycombe called Alloy Weldcraft and after a pants staining adventure with some diesel on a roundabout and dual carrigeway I took my BMW original split rim to them with a very large chunk of rim broken almost off and large ding on the inner side and they repaired it to look like it had never been touched and that was before paint, now you would never know it has been done.
It wasnt cheap (could probably have bought a set of of non BMW for the price) but as a replacement wheel was as rare as hens teeth and really didnt want different wheels it was a result.

 

[DavidM]

Buy a new set - sell the three existing good alloys and scrap the buckled one - for your own peace of mind!

 

[smiffy]

hello chaps

thanks for commenting on this old thread, it kinda nudged me back into coming here. Had a bit of time off forums and stuff!

here's a video of the rim with the tyre off. I sent this to three wheel repairers and only one would tackle it, as it was buckled rather than just a rim dent. As only one would do it, they got the job! and it came back spot on!

I also decided that as the wheels were obviously off, I'd strip all the old weights off ready for re-balancing and give the wheels a good clean, however, corrosion under the power coating resulted in the powder coating lifting on all the rims!

So then the next decision, all tyres off and away for full refurb, scrap them, or cheap "rattle can refurb"?

Well, as they are a bit of an unknown still, they got a quick "rattle can refurb". Last thing I want to do is spend more cash on them at this stage only to find more problems further down the line! I must admit I did consider weighing them in for scrap!

Got them all painted just in time for the MOT to expire! She's currently SORNed awaiting space in the garage (that's another story) to sort out suspension bushes, boot welds and break pipes before a spring MOT.

I just need more time........ too many projects, I need to retire!....

 

[abh29]

Just a word on having alloy wheel cracks welded. The crack needs to ground out to a vee before welding. The finished weld should hardky be "proud" of the wheels surface then ground back to flush. If a welded repair has cracked through the weld then it was not veed out enough to begin with not did the weld penetrate into the wheel enough. A poor weld in other words. We have many alloy wheels welded and never have any issues.

Tony.

I have no experience of repairing wheels , but I would have thought that any reputable company doing the welding would have carried out NDT on the weld prior to spend time on final machining.
It has surprised me to see the weld repairs carried out on heavy Construction Plant