Slow Puncture Reveals a cracked alloy rim!!! Update
 

Today I got a shock, I called into my local tyre centre to have them check out a slow puncture on my passanger front wheel and to my shock they found a small crack (See photo). So I went straight to my dealership to show them the cracked rim they took the car from me to inspect the rim, after about 30 minutes they called me out and told me I must have hit a curb or pot hole.

I have to say I cant remember hitting any potholes that would have cracked a rim certainly not in the last month as I have been away for most of it! I pointed out to them that there was no damage to the tyre and they maintained that the new run flat tyres do not get damaged as easily as standard tyres and any impact gets passed on to the rim.

The new rim will cost me 400 euros. Has anyone else had a problem like this. I have to 20" Y spoke 214 Wheels

Thanks

Marc
:explode:
http://www.islandbawn.com/rim.jpg

that sucks man....i hope i do not have that problem! i live in india, where the roads are extremely shitty. you have cows, dogs, cyclists, busses, donkeys, elephants, camels and motorcyclists on the road.

if you can drive in india, you can drive anywhere else in the world.

the roads in india just suck plain and simple.

i hope i do not have to shell out 700 dollars for a new rim!

thanks

Hmm, interesting and the first I've heard of this. I wouldn't imagine you could hit anything hard enough with just the tire to crack a rim unless the rim already had a defect. While it is true the different type of sidewall and composite used in the RFT is 'harder' it would not crack a rim by passing on force. If it could you would see far more posts about this.

Depending on the age, I would almost consider saying that the wheel had a defect. Look around the site of the crack, look for curb rash or scuffing of the rim that would indicate you hit something with it. Also, if they pull the tire off the rime. Take a look at the inside of the rim, look for hairline cracks inside that the tire may have been hiding. I just don't buy the dealers excuse if you did in fact NOT hit something with the wheel.

The picture doesnt show it but there is a very slight flat spot on the rim where the crack is . I plan on have the rim checked once I have the new one fitted.

Sorry that you got a crack.
I havent had X5 yet, but on my e46 I have bent a few of my OEM 18" wheels with very low 35 profile tires. Driving as carefully as possible in NYC it still does not help.
I have also bent a few of Mille Miglia 17" wheels with winter tires.
This is one of the reasons I didnt even get a sport package on the X.

When you say 'bent' did you get a crack or could it be put back into shape?

Havent personally have had cracks.
Most shops dont like to deal with cracks as no matter what they do, the wheel will no longer be the way it was, its also becomes unsafe especially if by any chance you will put it in front.
I have had repair shops fix bends for me and for rear it usually worked out ok if the bend wasnt that bad. I did have a front wheel (running staggered setup on E46) fixed and no matter how I tried to rebalance it, i the ride was never the same. I had to get a new one and there was no way out.

Be very very carefull on what you put in front! If something happens to front wheel at high speed, you are likely to flip over so never risk the front, I dont necessarily reccomend repairing the crack for the rear ether, but its less of a risk/chance.

I have ordered a new rim but I might get the old repaired as a spare

If you know for a fact that it is not your fault, I would call your main BMW office (ours would be BMW of North of America, I do not know if it is the same for you there) and tell them your situation, they should be able to help you out, if not give you some kind of discount. Like Wagner said, it is hard to imagine that a tire could do that to your rim, I really doubt it could do that.

The dealer said it was your fault so it must be true! And I know there's a good craic/crack joke in here somewhere...