Buckled wheels

Jon 640 · 03-16-2023, 07:28 AM

I have another thread here about the vibrations i have been feeling at 60-75mph but thought I'd start a new thread for visibility.

After balancing , tracking, 4 new tyres (which were needed), seems I have two front buckled wheels.

This cant be seen but is visible on the balancing machine, one quite badly im told. The wheel techs opinion was that BMW wheels are made of chocolate and likely to deform. I had a E60 prior to the F06 and with 17 inch wheels i could go over craters with no ill effect. 20 inch wheels however, well you all know what its like.

Calling a local wheel straightener I was told two alarming things.

1) If they straighten the wheel (after much heating to soften it) the wheel could crack and then you need to source a new wheel)

2) The colour will be a little yellow after and not as new.

I have 373M 20 inch wheels. Has anyone had these buckled and straightened and what was your experience in regards to the above pitfalls please?

Opie55 · 03-16-2023, 09:04 AM

I would ask where the bend is and how much it is - measured in thousandths. Anything over 30/1,000ths needs to be straightened. That baseline will give you a refernce for how bad it is. Wheels are straightened all the time. Usually it's the inner part of the barrel has a flat spot. It's much less possible to fix if it's on the outer edge where the spokes are. I would hope the place that you would take it to can tell you if it's likely to be successful or not just by looking at it. If not, go somewhere else. Experience is everything in those kinds of skills. Bottom line is I would not hesitate myself to do it if it's a routine flat spot. The color is another matter. I did not know anybody heated wheels with a torch without refinishing the wheel. I thought that was standard practice. Maybe that's why they worry about cracking - they don't really heat it up enough. You should inquire about refinishing. Over here a place typically offers both services under one roof.

Qsilver7 · 03-16-2023, 09:18 AM

The 20" wheels require a tire with a shorter sidewall vs the 19" & 18" wheel/tire combos. So one has to be very careful to dodge potholes and other road hazards that can cause damage.

To use an analogy...wheels/tires are like your car's shoes...and 20"+ wheels are like putting on spiked 3" high-heels. They look good & sexy...but not really great for hiking on rough terrain...nor are they good for running or long walks in soft soil (so I’ve been told by the females in my life).

If you have runflat tires...then this can exasperate the problem since they have a stiffer sidewall...any impact carries those forces to the wheel. A regular non-runflat tire's softer sidewall absorbs some of the impact. But since the f chassis six series didn't come with spare tires...that leads to another discussion and/or decision to make. (I've personally dumped the runflats and carry road service and a mobility kit in the trunk)

There was even a warning in the brochures that low profile tires can cause damage on rough road surfaces and other road hazards:

Luftpost · 03-18-2023, 06:08 AM

I have bent two front rims (Style 373) on two separate occasions. Both times the center hub was no longer centered in the barrel. According to multiple rim shops, this is unrepairable, so I opted to purchase a rim off of eBay and the other brand new since there were no used rims available when I bent the second rim.

On a side note, here in the states, you can contact the local DOT and see if a claim may be made for potholes, etc. That is what I did. I got reimbursed. Even paid for new tie rods and powder coating.

L

Alpine650 · 03-18-2023, 01:43 PM

Try putting in Sport mode or pull the shift toward you and put inM/S mode. See if it goes away. If it does it has nothing to do with tyres or wheels.

Jon 640 · 03-24-2023, 08:35 AM

turns out two front buckled wheels - one worse than the other. Buckled in a wierd way though. On the tyre balancing machine the bead of the tyre tracked from left to right laterally, by some margin, like 5 mm or so. Really out of whack.

The owner of the place was insistent that it cant be repaired as the wheel was twisted. Whether or not this is the case i have already called around and its just not an easy job. Bought two refurbed wheels online. Hopefully when fitted all should be well.

Very annoying how soft these wheels are ! Potholes I have gone over have never been huge ones. Price to pay for 20inch looks i guess.

03-16-2023, 07:28 AM	#1
Jon 640 New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: BMW 640I Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Brentwood UK iTrader: (0)	Buckled wheels - opinions please I have another thread here about the vibrations i have been feeling at 60-75mph but thought I'd start a new thread for visibility. After balancing , tracking, 4 new tyres (which were needed), seems I have two front buckled wheels. This cant be seen but is visible on the balancing machine, one quite badly im told. The wheel techs opinion was that BMW wheels are made of chocolate and likely to deform. I had a E60 prior to the F06 and with 17 inch wheels i could go over craters with no ill effect. 20 inch wheels however, well you all know what its like. Calling a local wheel straightener I was told two alarming things. 1) If they straighten the wheel (after much heating to soften it) the wheel could crack and then you need to source a new wheel) 2) The colour will be a little yellow after and not as new. I have 373M 20 inch wheels. Has anyone had these buckled and straightened and what was your experience in regards to the above pitfalls please?
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03-16-2023, 09:04 AM	#2
Opie55 Colonel 1255 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	I would ask where the bend is and how much it is - measured in thousandths. Anything over 30/1,000ths needs to be straightened. That baseline will give you a refernce for how bad it is. Wheels are straightened all the time. Usually it's the inner part of the barrel has a flat spot. It's much less possible to fix if it's on the outer edge where the spokes are. I would hope the place that you would take it to can tell you if it's likely to be successful or not just by looking at it. If not, go somewhere else. Experience is everything in those kinds of skills. Bottom line is I would not hesitate myself to do it if it's a routine flat spot. The color is another matter. I did not know anybody heated wheels with a torch without refinishing the wheel. I thought that was standard practice. Maybe that's why they worry about cracking - they don't really heat it up enough. You should inquire about refinishing. Over here a place typically offers both services under one roof. Last edited by Opie55; 03-17-2023 at 01:42 AM..
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03-16-2023, 09:18 AM	#3
Qsilver7 Major General 5635 Rep 8,919 Posts Drives: F06 650ix GC / F15 X5 50i Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Indiana, USA iTrader: (0)	The 20" wheels require a tire with a shorter sidewall vs the 19" & 18" wheel/tire combos. So one has to be very careful to dodge potholes and other road hazards that can cause damage. To use an analogy...wheels/tires are like your car's shoes...and 20"+ wheels are like putting on spiked 3" high-heels. They look good & sexy...but not really great for hiking on rough terrain...nor are they good for running or long walks in soft soil (so I’ve been told by the females in my life). If you have runflat tires...then this can exasperate the problem since they have a stiffer sidewall...any impact carries those forces to the wheel. A regular non-runflat tire's softer sidewall absorbs some of the impact. But since the f chassis six series didn't come with spare tires...that leads to another discussion and/or decision to make. (I've personally dumped the runflats and carry road service and a mobility kit in the trunk) There was even a warning in the brochures that low profile tires can cause damage on rough road surfaces and other road hazards: Attached Images __________________ 2015 F06 650ix Gran Coupe`(Moonstone/Cohiba Brown)\| 2014 F15 X5 50i MSport (Space Gray/Mocha) Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral. Last edited by Qsilver7; 03-17-2023 at 08:00 AM..
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03-18-2023, 06:08 AM	#4
Luftpost Second Lieutenant 96 Rep 290 Posts Drives: 2016 650 GC, E39’s, X70, X1 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NE Florida iTrader: (0)	I have bent two front rims (Style 373) on two separate occasions. Both times the center hub was no longer centered in the barrel. According to multiple rim shops, this is unrepairable, so I opted to purchase a rim off of eBay and the other brand new since there were no used rims available when I bent the second rim. On a side note, here in the states, you can contact the local DOT and see if a claim may be made for potholes, etc. That is what I did. I got reimbursed. Even paid for new tie rods and powder coating. L
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03-18-2023, 01:43 PM	#5
Alpine650 Second Lieutenant 81 Rep 289 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW 650i xDrive Vert Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Try putting in Sport mode or pull the shift toward you and put inM/S mode. See if it goes away. If it does it has nothing to do with tyres or wheels.
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03-24-2023, 08:35 AM	#6
Jon 640 New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: BMW 640I Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Brentwood UK iTrader: (0)	turns out two front buckled wheels - one worse than the other. Buckled in a wierd way though. On the tyre balancing machine the bead of the tyre tracked from left to right laterally, by some margin, like 5 mm or so. Really out of whack. The owner of the place was insistent that it cant be repaired as the wheel was twisted. Whether or not this is the case i have already called around and its just not an easy job. Bought two refurbed wheels online. Hopefully when fitted all should be well. Very annoying how soft these wheels are ! Potholes I have gone over have never been huge ones. Price to pay for 20inch looks i guess.
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