White worms - what next?

[gerrymoore]

Need some advice here (no, I'm not selling the car!!) My 'diamond cut' wheels are showing signs of corrosion under the lacquer finish. Car is 5 years old and each wheel seems to have some problems.

Is there a way I can just clean off the lacquer (how - thinners?) from the affected areas, polish up the alloy and re-lacquer rather than the whole of each wheel?? Wheels are BMW 704M and apparently this is quite common

 

[Bravheart]

No help really but wheeler dealers did exactly this on a z3m on the telly yesterday. From memory they were stripped of lacquer, rims tested for curb bashes on a lathe any dinks tig welded up then turned back on the lathe, baked then powder coated back to an original colour.

Covid meant I wasn't paying particular attention and they only did 4 for the programme don't know what spare they have and not sure if it can be found on catchup anywhere.

 

[mike os]

You can strip and refinish … but probably easier to let someone with an oven do it

 

[steveo3002]

it will keep doing it

if you use the car all year round would you consider having all silver /black? the clear isnt up to uk weather

 

[tom2207]

Driven hard and put away wet ,,, maybe think about leaving them as they are as a winter set and looking for a tidy replacement set , just a thought , once they get a rub on a kerb or two no lacquer or powder coat will hack the winter salt.

 

[Munkul]

I've had this with a few sets of wheels, the solution is to get a refurb. A good refurb, as detailed in post #2.
After refurbing, the lacquer they put on seems to last longer, or maybe i just don't keep a car for long enough, but I'd get 4-5 years before they start looking tatty again.

 

[atomant48]

My BMW bike was terrible for corrosion on the aluminium parts. They put it down to EU regulation restricting the types of lacquer used. No idea if that’s true and definitely not slating (BMW) it’s just the one I have experience of. They replaced the first bike under warranty and I ended up returning the second.I gut be worth pursuing with them ??

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I suppose I'm lucky that it only affects a very small part of the wheels as 90+ % is painted and not affected ...just the small alloy bits that are polished. No way I can afford a new or even a spare set as these are expensive .......... very wide at the rears and just wide at the fronts ...add the Goodyear Eagles on top and wow that is some cost for a spare set!

I can either live with it until it gets worse or I may have a go and see what I can do ....being retired I have plenty of time and also have lots of tools to help me ... just need to find some patience to go with the tools

 

[Bobupndown]

Really common issue with so called diamond cut alloys. Any chip in the lacquer and corrosion starts. Can be refurbished by turning a small amount from the face and re lacquered but same will happen again. Better to get them painted or powder coated a single colour which will last much longer.

 

[tom2207]

and keep them off the kerbs , once the coating is compromised they all go down hill quickly.

 

[dholdi]

I have the same wheels and BMW replaced 2 off them at end of warranty for similar issues so it is widespread.
I now have a winter set of wheels I managed to pick up cheap and only use the 704's in the summer with Gtechnic wheel armour on them.
Any kerb damage needs treating sooner rather than later and I'm convinced the corrosion around the centre cap is because the lacquer has been damaged when fitting tyres.