[Exotica]

Originally Posted by conman

first post here from myself,i have been considering the 3 series as my next car but after reading this thread i am left wondering .why it is that you guys and gals would even consider painting your own wheel hubs on a premium cost vehicle.why do you not seek a ccj against your supplying dealer.jees,you must love this brand so much,the warranty on these cars is appalling.

I was in my local Bmw today and funny enough the one i drove had the same problem and BMW are fully aware that they all do it. Its the wheel cleaners they use when they first prep the car that causes the problem.

My dealer said the normally sort it under goodwill as BMW UK will not entertain a warranty fix. His words were that they couldnt care less and fully agrees with the unhappy customers.

[conman]

exotica,do you mean that the wheel cleaner applied by the dealer or bmw.

[Exotica]

Originally Posted by conman

exotica,do you mean that the wheel cleaner applied by the dealer or bmw.

I would say by the dealer . I dont know why they use acid wheel cleaner on them as many on the market that dont contain harsh chemicals.

[dxb335d]

How do i paint mine?

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

How do i paint mine?

It's pretty easy - wheel off, remove rust with wire brush (I also used a sanding block), clean thoroughly, paint with high temp manifold paint or smooth hammerite.

[dxb335d]

with a paint brush?

[G33]

can we put it on the agenda for UK7?

[willhollin]

I just ordered a jack to do mine. Shall I do a demonstration at UK7?

[dxb335d]

Pleae mate yes.

[G33]

Thanks will, dont forget the torquewrench, breaker bar, brush and sandpaper

what do u think of this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165594

will it work better than hammerite smooth? will 250ml cover it all?

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by G33

Thanks will, dont forget the torquewrench, breaker bar, brush and sandpaper

what do u think of this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165594

will it work better than hammerite smooth? will 250ml cover it all?

I'd use a stiff wire brush and emery cloth rather than that.

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

How do i paint mine?

Originally Posted by dxb335d

with a paint brush?

Try Mr Maker on CBeebies channel for some tips on arts and crafts. Once you've mastered water based paints, thin brushes and sticky backed plastic then your ready to tackle your hubs

PS always make sure you have an adult to supervise. I'd suggest Will as he likes to rub his with a stiff wire brush and emery.....nice

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

with a paint brush?

Yup!

[lons]

Originally Posted by doughboy

1. Remove wheel (jacking up car first)
2. Wire brush rusty brake disc bell
3. Apply Holts / Hammerite etc silver hi temp paint with brush by rotating hub (spray is too messy and thin, requires masking / sheeting and several coats etc). Chock wheels & take care letting off handbrake when car jacked up. Do not worry about paint getting on braking surface.
4. Re-fit wheel
5. Repeat on 3 other wheels, most BMWs have 4 in total.

Easy.

Err

just tried yesterday and only took me 30 minutes........................................'ca use I

COULDN'T GET THE F****** WHEEL OFF

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ill be paying a visit to the dealer and make them remove each wheel so I can prepare them myself properly.

[lons]

Just found these on the Screwfix site

item 29784 zinc galvanising spray
79048 copper grease

Would these be suitable paint / release agent to use ?

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by lons

Err

just tried yesterday and only took me 30 minutes........................................'ca use I

COULDN'T GET THE F****** WHEEL OFF

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ill be paying a visit to the dealer and make them remove each wheel so I can prepare them myself properly.

Not sure of the best way to get them off when they're stuck, but I always apply copper grease when I remove mine and put them back on. Removes the problem before it starts.

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by lons

Err

just tried yesterday and only took me 30 minutes........................................'ca use I

COULDN'T GET THE F****** WHEEL OFF

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ill be paying a visit to the dealer and make them remove each wheel so I can prepare them myself properly.

If you removed the bolts OK, then wheel can become attached to the hub due the the rust build up. This is my hub after one months ownership, less than 3 months since it rolled off the production line. Brute force and a mallet released my wheels.

[lons]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

If you removed the bolts OK, then wheel can become attached to the hub due the the rust build up. This is my hub after one months ownership, less than 3 months since it rolled off the production line. Brute force and a mallet released my wheels.

Sh*t - thanks for that!

That's bloody awful on a £30k motor and I guess it must be exactly what mine are like.

Gave one of my wheels some heavy treatment with a big rubber mallet but couldn't budge it.

Think I'll give it another go this weekend before resorting to the dealer as he's a fair distance away.

Interestingly my last E90 didn't rust over 2 years from new and my usage and cleaning regime haven't changed , but my neighbour who has a Mazda 3 had the same problem after a puncture and had to use recovery services to get to a garage as the AA couldn't change his wheel.

[AlanQS]

It is claimed that the Dealer using acid cleaners is the cause of the rust. As a small experiment, has anyone who got their car new from Douglas Park in Scotland had rusty hubs?
I don't. Perhaps they don't use acid cleaners as I haven't seen any rusty hubs on their new cars in the showroom.

[Carrera RSR]

My car was washed once prior to delivery by the dealer prior to this photo last September. Why would they use acid cleaner on new wheels?? IT would have to be seriously corrosive to be the cause to this. The centre hub is steel with no protection. The disc/hub section has some silver coating which is not thick enough to protect the steel.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by lons

Gave one of my wheels some heavy treatment with a big rubber mallet but couldn't budge it.

Take the nuts off, spray some WD40 on the hub, so the 40 gets between the wheel and hub (cup of tea/coffee of preferably a JD), jack the car up, and then gently lower it,this should break the wheel away from the rusted hub.

If that does not work, a sharp whack on the back of the wheel (with a rubber mallet) should shift it.

[SoYank]

If you use a rubber mallet it will just bounce without giving full impact. Get yourself a deadblow hammer. These are hollow and the core is filled with steel shot. It doesn't bounce and transfers almost all of the impact to the wheel. Works a treat. I'll bring mine to UK7 if anyone is planning to do their hubs.