Curb Rash - Can this be fixed?

I'm sick! I rubbed a curb tonight and scratched a wheel.

It's a BMW 356 Bi-color wheel. I'm worried it can't be fixed because the face of the wheel has a slightly brushed/mirrored finish and doesn't appear to be painted. What do you think?

1st time always hurts the most. I'm sure much / most of that can be polished + ground out, but unless you buy a new rim you'll never have the manufacturers finish

Originally Posted by Calgary Agent

1st time always hurts the most. I'm sure much / most of that can be polished + ground out, but unless you buy a new rim you'll never have the manufacturers finish

I disagree. I have sustained curb rash many times since October 2010. Each time, I have brought the vehicle to the dealer and it has been fixed and the rims look as good as new. And here is the rub, when I accepted delivery, I paid about $600.00 for an extra warranty, which includes the repair of curb rash. The warranty has already paid for itself. To the OP, do not be upset any longer. Bring your vehicle to the dealer without further delay. The dealer will sub out the repair and you will be very happy with the results. :thumb up:

Addendum: Painted rims can be fixed. Chrome or polished rims are a different story. I think you may be out of luck because of the type of rim. Call your dealer's service department and ask them if your type of tim can be fixed. Sorry if I gave you false hopes.

Originally Posted by CRMESQ

I disagree. I have sustained curb rash many times since October 2010. Each time, I have brought the vehicle to the dealer and it has been fixed and the rims look as good as new. And here is the rub, when I accepted delivery, I paid about $600.00 for an extra warranty, which includes the repair of curb rash. The warranty has already paid for itself. To the OP, do not be upset any longer. Bring your vehicle to the dealer without further delay. The dealer will sub out the repair and you will be very happy with the results.

On fairly new rims yes you are correct. The same won't be true a year or two down the line unless you meticulously keep all your rims clean. With the brake dust pitting the clearcoat or staining the rims, then if you curb it and that rim is refinished then you will have one newer looking rim compared to the other 3 older looking rims. This also depends where you live. If you live in sunny climates and your rims don't get the winter salt over it, then this also helps.

Thanks everyone. I guess it was bound to happen at some point. I will go to the dealer on Monday to see what they think. It would suck to have to buy a brand new one, just for it to possibly happen again.

Originally Posted by knecht

Thanks everyone. I guess it was bound to happen at some point. I will go to the dealer on Monday to see what they think. It would suck to have to buy a brand new one, just for it to possibly happen again.

I wouldn't have the dealer do it, all they will do is sub contract it out and charge you more on top of it. Find a good place though word of mouth. If you have a decent relationship with your SA, they will tell you where they send their cars, you much better off just going directly to them.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The full camera package with 360 degree view gives a detailed view of the curb when parking the car. Really, really helps you to never touch the curb with the wheels. Highly recommended and costs little more than the price of a wheel.

Originally Posted by richschneid

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The full camera package with 360 degree view gives a detailed view of the curb when parking the car. Really, really helps you to never touch the curb with the wheels. Highly recommended and costs little more than the price of a wheel.

too bad you have to buy a new car to get it.

Originally Posted by highyo

too bad you have to buy a new car to get it.

I think you have to get a 550i to get it now. I remember reading that they aren't giving 28 & 35 that option anymore.

Good wheel refinishers can do some amazing work. I've seen wheels that look almost beyond reasonable repair come back essentially as good as new.

Originally Posted by TJPark01

I think you have to get a 550i to get it now. I remember reading that they aren't giving 28 & 35 that option anymore.

The top and side cameras are included in the ZDA (driver's assistance) package, which is available only on the 550's. However, the top and side camera option is still available for $800 on the 528 and 535, so long as you also get the rear camera and PDC.

Polish/Machined wheels can be fixed. As far as it being 100%....not gonna happen but the following method of repair is acceptable for lease return inspections. If you want the wheel to be "perfect"...pull it off and send it out to a wheel repair company and have them resurface the face on a lathe.


Find a small DA sander

1. 320 grit
2. 400 grit

3. Wetsand with 1000 grit

4. Polish with Meguiars Aluminum polish

5. Clearcoat it.

Originally Posted by knecht

Thanks everyone. I guess it was bound to happen at some point. I will go to the dealer on Monday to see what they think. It would suck to have to buy a brand new one, just for it to possibly happen again.

Hi

I have the same thing, but far worse than your damage. I have used the Dremel tool and grind it down. Getting rid of the rough scuffed up surface. But the face is now dull. I am going to try experimenting with different polishing tip to see if I can bring it back to the shining surface. I know it will not be 100% or even 98%. But at least it will look better than how it is now.

We've had our share of curb rash...... (due to wife's driver-thru/parking garage antics).... shhhh don't tell her I said that
I've made simple home repairs with the dremel/touch up paint route on her little c230 with silver painted wheels.

I'm surprised no-one has come up with a tough clear wheel lip bra..... like 3m clear bra for the front of your car. If the material was thick enough it might work? This product would sell very I bet if it worked.

Originally Posted by betrezra

We've had our share of curb rash...... (due to wife's driver-thru/parking garage antics).... shhhh don't tell her I said that
I've made simple home repairs with the dremel/touch up paint route on her little c230 with silver painted wheels.

I'm surprised no-one has come up with a tough clear wheel lip bra..... like 3m clear bra for the front of your car. If the material was thick enough it might work? This product would sell very I bet if it worked.

It gets too hot down there. Also, the brake dust and chemicals used to clean wheels is pretty corrosive and could potentially damage anything used to protect them. Lastly a clear bra needs flat, even surfaces to adhere too, the wheel has too many uneven surfaces to apply anything to it. The solution continues to be top view mounted cameras and self parking feature, or carefulness.

The clear bra would just go on the outer lip. There are high temp mat'l out there. The outer rim should not see disk brake temps. I'll do a little research.
Appreciate your ideas though.

There are no amount of cameras to protect wheels from the wife. She's more point/shoot type driver

Originally Posted by betrezra

The clear bra would just go on the outer lip. There are high temp mat'l out there. The outer rim should not see disk brake temps. I'll do a little research.
Appreciate your ideas though.

There are no amount of cameras to protect wheels from the wife. She's more point/shoot type driver

I think curb rash or anything type of wheel scrapping is way too hard/tough for the clear bra to handle. I think it will just rip right through it or rip it away since there is not much surface to it to attach to.
it is inevitable that we scratch the wheels. I will try to be as careful as possible and fix it myself the best way I can.

125 a wheel here in NYC. worth the money, the wheels look brand new. im sure if they can do it here they can do it there. my guy is qwicksilver in bklyn. highly recommended

if you have like $800 wheel, yes. But if a brand new wheel only cost about $300, I am not sure if fixing is worth the money.