[frazer-b]

Got my current 120d on a lease and it's going back in April (M235i on order).

I've lightly curbed all 4 alloys over the time I've owned it - not badly but some over the acceptable limits so potentially need to get them refurbed... That said, all 4 have also suffered corrosion around the centre caps - nowhere near any curbing / damage so purely a quality issue IMO. I would expect BMW to replace them under warranty - will the fact I've curbed the outer edges affect their willingness to replace under warranty due to the central corrosion?

 

[frazer-b]

The worst wheel for curb damage...

 

[marco_polo]

I would certainly pursue having them all replaced for corrosion around the centre caps, they're clearly faulty imo.

 

[Plantjuk]

Got my current 120d on a lease and it's going back in April (M235i on order).

I've lightly curbed all 4 alloys over the time I've owned it - not badly but some over the acceptable limits so potentially need to get them refurbed... That said, all 4 have also suffered corrosion around the centre caps - nowhere near any curbing / damage so purely a quality issue IMO. I would expect BMW to replace them under warranty - will the fact I've curbed the outer edges affect their willingness to replace under warranty due to the central corrosion?

What have you been using to clean them? I had diamond cut 313 alloys on my E88 and at nearly 3 years old the wheels were fine. I'm sure you will be able to get those sorted under warranty though.

 

[frazer-b]

What have you been using to clean them? I had diamond cut 313 alloys on my E88 and at nearly 3 years old the wheels were fine. I'm sure you will be able to get those sorted under warranty though.

It only ever gets washed at the local hand-wash place so just snow foam!

Thanks for the replies guys - I will definitely be trying the dealer for some replacements - if they do replace I will be grateful for the corrosion as it will have saved me £200+ in refurb costs for the kerbing! Leaves me with just a scratch on the rear bumper to sort before collection which is only a touch up job. More spare cash to spend on the 2er

 

[ogee]

What have you been using to clean them? I had diamond cut 313 alloys on my E88 and at nearly 3 years old the wheels were fine.

You have probably just been lucky. There's a lot of corroded diamond cut BMW wheels around. My 269P's are corroded even though they haven't seen any aggressive cleaners.

 

[Plantjuk]

What have you been using to clean them? I had diamond cut 313 alloys on my E88 and at nearly 3 years old the wheels were fine.

You have probably just been lucky. There's a lot of corroded diamond cut BMW wheels around. My 269P's are corroded even though they haven't seen any aggressive cleaners.

I made sure I only washed mine with meguiars nxt gen car shampoo, then occasionally with the meguiars wheel cleaner, plus sealed every few months.

 

[marco_polo]

It only ever gets washed at the local hand-wash place

Most hand car washes use acid as a cheap wheel cleaner. My local place use Wickes Brick Acid.

If asked, I might tell a little porky & suggest they've only been washed with BMW's own shampoo....

 

[frazer-b]

It only ever gets washed at the local hand-wash place

Most hand car washes use acid as a cheap wheel cleaner. My local place use Wickes Brick Acid.

If asked, I might tell a little porky & suggest they've only been washed with BMW's own shampoo....

Wowzers I did not know that!! Been going to the same place a long time and they don't use anything different on the wheels other than the tyre shine at the end - but having read that I won't be taking the new car anywhere else! (I occasionally use a random one if I'm passing and it's convenient)

 

[Plantjuk]

I think the fact that mine were like new is testament to the fact that harsh wheel cleaners are no good, especially on diamond cut wheels! I will never let anyone but me near my car when it comes to washing even when it goes to the dealers and I know a lot on here are the same. But as said tell a few fibs and you should be fine

 

[frazer-b]

I think the fact that mine were like new is testament to the fact that harsh wheel cleaners are no good, especially on diamond cut wheels! I will never let anyone but me near my car when it comes to washing even when it goes to the dealers and I know a lot on here are the same. But as said tell a few fibs and you should be fine

I used to take the same approach until I started my current job which sees me drive c. 100 miles a day - there's nothing more depressing than putting a full Sunday morning's work in, only to see it filthy again by Monday evening

 

[Plantjuk]

Yeah I know what you mean. I'm lucky as the wife uses our car for work and only works 3 days a week doing a 12 mile round trip so keeping it clean isn't too bad. It's more of a top up clean than an out & out detail as its not that dirty to start off with.
Let us know how you get on with the wheels though.

 

[Renegade_Shadow]

I successfully had BMW replace all 4 of my 379 style alloys on my last car, due to so-called 'white worm' and the beginnings of corrosion. Some of which also carried kerb damage. They should sort you out without much hassle

 

[Menace]

It only ever gets washed at the local hand-wash place

Most hand car washes use acid as a cheap wheel cleaner. My local place use Wickes Brick Acid.

If asked, I might tell a little porky & suggest they've only been washed with BMW's own shampoo....

+1 for what MP said.
They find out you regularly use a local hand wash and you'll have just provided them with a loop hole to moonwalk through.

 

[ILikeJam]

What have you been using to clean them? I had diamond cut 313 alloys on my E88 and at nearly 3 years old the wheels were fine.

You have probably just been lucky. There's a lot of corroded diamond cut BMW wheels around. My 269P's are corroded even though they haven't seen any aggressive cleaners.

I made sure I only washed mine with meguiars nxt gen car shampoo, then occasionally with the meguiars wheel cleaner, plus sealed every few months.

Are those diamond cut though? It only ever really seems to be diamond cut alloys that corrode like that. Used to have a Kia Sportage and they had a hug problem with corroding diamond cut alloys that must have cost the company a fortune.

 

[Plantjuk]

Yes they are definitely diamond cut.

 

[Motley2012]

WTF is going on with those valve caps

 

[frazer-b]

Only right to post an update on how I got on with this!

Unfortunately I had an incident a few days after posting this where a lump of metal flew off a lorry in front of me and went under the car, popping both driver-side tyres, doing some paintwork damage, buckling an alloy and knackering the front suspension! Really frustrating as I couldn't get the lorry's details - was too busy keeping control of the car in rush hour on the outside lane of the A1! Has therefore cost me my insurance excess and goes down as being my fault :x

Car went in for repair and whilst it was in, Sytner BMW changed all the wheels under warranty due to the corrosion saved me £200+ in refurb costs but unfortunately cost me much more.

£350 insurance excess and then to compound matters further, the mini I had on loan from them suffered a chipped windscreen which immediately developed into a crack! Another £175!

Add into the mix that my insurance quote for the new M235i has gone up £200 due to the accident / impact in no claims.... I'm feeling very sorry for myself!

 

[tweeky]

Look at the bigger picture its could have been a far worse outcome if the lump of metal had come through the screen !!!