[Appropriate]

So either (a) I am a shitty driver; (b) I'm not used to the wicked tight slow-speed turning radius on this thing; or (c) these wheels are a lot bigger than I'm used to... but at any rate I keep banging the shit out of my right rear wheel on curbs.

So a while back there was a discussion on the RMC BMW CCA board about wheel repair shops in Denver, and I reproduced some excerpts below. I hear these shops can make your wheel look like new, and the cost is relatively inexpensive.

Anyone else have any recommendations? If I keep hittin the damn wheel on shit, I'm thinking about getting a new set for the rear and just having them switch them out every six months while they repair the set they take off (just kidding... ... ... mostly). Something I may do is get a winter set anyway, and then repair the summer set when they get taken off. I hear the tires on the sport package 18's suck in the snow, even with the xi.

Any other recommendations? Thoughts on why I'm such a shitty driver (at least at low speeds )?

p.s. Sid, saw your car and you across the club at La Rumba on Thursday last week... didn't make it over to say hi, but there's was no missing your car that night when I pulled in.

----

Wheel repair:
Spec Wheel in Commerce City
Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists of Colorado, Inc.
TruDesign Wheel
Woody's Wheel works
http://www.wheeltechnologies.com/exchange.html

Replica Wheels:
Wheel Exchange, Inc.
533 Dynamic Dr
Garner, NC 27529-2509
Phone: (919) 662-7178

Genuine BMW wheels at a discount:
http://www.bmwwheels.com/

I used Spec Wheel to repair mine. Cost was $85, plus $10 to remove/install
the tire. The crack on mine was on the inner lip, so it did not affect
the finish. After I got the wheel back I could not tell where the crack was,
mainly because they refinished the whole area. So far things look good.
They (and most other shops) offer a lifetime warranty for the repair.
The cost included trueing the wheel.

----

I just had three (3) older OEM basket weave wheels done at Woody's Wheel Works in Denver. They did a perfect job of blasting, truing, and refinishing!

[raceyBMW]

Damn that sucks! I have some rash on one of mine from hitting a large pothole about 2 months after I picked up the car. Spec Wheels and Woody's Wheel Works are the ones I have heard recommended.
http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/

[Appropriate]

Yeah, at first the right-rear just had very slight rash, but then I really knocked the shit outta it on a parking garage curb the other day. It's so f'n irritating 'cause I know as soon as I fix it, I'll do it again. Sigh.

On a good note, I finally got my regular tags back on... that temp tag in the back window was just so tacky... it was driving me nuts.

[Appropriate]

If anyone cares, Woody's did the wheel work for me and it turned out great. Plus they were a better deal than Spec Wheel. I would definitely recommend Woody's if you need any repair to your wheels. http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/

[F82_SID]

Hey man. So you had it done huh? How much did it cost and how long did it take. I have been meaning to have this done too. I have curb rash on all four of my rims. Dont feel bad dude. I love my car and am always so careful but that shit still happens. I really want to get my rims fixed BAD! I paid allot for my M6 reps.

[raceyBMW]

Hey guys, I need your opinion. I might be upgrading my wheels soon and selling my stock 189s. The front 2 of my stock 189s are perfect, but the rear 2 are rashed on the lip. Do you guys think its worth it for me to get them repaired before attempting to sell?

How much approximately per wheel does it cost for rash repair from Woodys??

And I hear ya, shit happens for sure.

[Appropriate]

Okay, let's see... I had three damaged wheels, two were pretty nasty. They all look brand new now. I felt horrible each time I damaged one. I've never had a car with such big wheels and low profile tires... very easy to damage.

The cheapest wheel was $55. The most expensive was $85. Balancing was included in those, and they balanced my only non-damaged wheel for $10.

I stopped by Spec Wheel, and the guy told me $110 for each wheel, not including balancing of $10 each. He seemed nice enough, but when I told him I still wanted to get one other place to look at it, he guessed I was going to Woody's and told me Woody's would definitely be more expensive. Wrong.

Ideally Woody's says they like to do all the wheels of a car in one day (drop off in morning, pick up in evening), but they were a little slow on that estimate and had mine for just over 48 hours. I don't really use my car that much (only 5k miles since I got it in early May), and they and me are near the light rail, so I didn't mind. But you might have to nail them down on a commitment if you can't be without your car.

Racey, I may be interested in the wheels. Probably not really. I need a set of snow tires/wheels, and I doubt the 18" 189's could be set up with the right tire. Probably need to go to 17's huh?

---

Update: Well holy crap, they do make snow tires that fit the 189's. Let's talk.

[F82_SID]

5K since may? That is crazy! On the 23rd of this month my car will have its first birthday and I already have 21k on it. If im gonna pay for it then im going to drive it!

[raceyBMW]

Originally Posted by E92_SID

5K since may? That is crazy! On the 23rd of this month my car will have its first birthday and I already have 21k on it. If im gonna pay for it then im going to drive it!

Had my car since Jan '07, and have just over 20k miles.

Originally Posted by Appropriate

Okay, let's see... I had three damaged wheels, two were pretty nasty. They all look brand new now. I felt horrible each time I damaged one. I've never had a car with such big wheels and low profile tires... very easy to damage.

The cheapest wheel was $55. The most expensive was $85. Balancing was included in those, and they balanced my only non-damaged wheel for $10.

I stopped by Spec Wheel, and the guy told me $110 for each wheel, not including balancing of $10 each. He seemed nice enough, but when I told him I still wanted to get one other place to look at it, he guessed I was going to Woody's and told me Woody's would definitely be more expensive. Wrong.

Ideally Woody's says they like to do all the wheels of a car in one day (drop off in morning, pick up in evening), but they were a little slow on that estimate and had mine for just over 48 hours. I don't really use my car that much (only 5k miles since I got it in early May), and they and me are near the light rail, so I didn't mind. But you might have to nail them down on a commitment if you can't be without your car.

Racey, I may be interested in the wheels. Probably not really. I need a set of snow tires/wheels, and I doubt the 18" 189's could be set up with the right tire. Probably need to go to 17's huh?

---

Update: Well holy crap, they do make snow tires that fit the 189's. Let's talk.

That is great news to know it will cost less than 100 per wheel to get repaired. I just always assumed it would be like 120 or so per tire. Definitely will be giving them a call

Honestly, if I were ever going to get a set of winter wheels I would probably go for 17s. They do make 18" winter tires, but there just still isn't that much rubber there to protect your wheels against potholes and winter road disrepair. I will definitely talk to you though once I get my new wheels.

[F82_SID]

Racey you have been saying that you are going to new rims since last spring. Whats up dude? Pull the trigger. What type are you thinking?

[Appropriate]

Originally Posted by E92_SID

5K since may? That is crazy! On the 23rd of this month my car will have its first birthday and I already have 21k on it. If im gonna pay for it then im going to drive it!

Yo, I hear you. I love driving it, but I live and work within a nine block area, so I only use it on the weekends and the occasional trip out on the week nights.

My 11 year old Chevy was dying, I needed a new car, and had always wanted a BMW, so I splurged a little given that it doesn't get many miles put on it. I figure it keeps re-sale value up if I ever want to move into an M3.

[Xiaofeng]

Hey Appropriate, glad to hear that Woody's got you squared away. I talked to them several months ago, as I have a pretty nasty rash on my left rear wheel as well, but I'm holding off on the repair until the weather gets warm and I get a set of summer wheels so I can swap out the current ones.

Also, as Racey mentioned, if you're looking for a set of winter wheels, I would opt for a 17" wheel. More rubber to help absorb the bumps and divots, especially when the CDOT trucks shovel all the asphalt out of the road along with the snow. I don't know what routes you take more, but I-70 is pretty much pothole hell.

[Appropriate]

Forget the snow and all that, I can't believe how hard even some smaller holes in dry road feel on these 18's! More than a few times I haven't even noticed ahead of time what felt like some real doozies.

Xiaofeng, I was also gonna just plan on a seasonal swap out of wheels/tires and have Woody's fix whichever set was coming off. Seems like a good plan... now I just need to get the snow set.

[Appropriate]

What did you end up paying gofast?

[Appropriate]

Naturally, I slightly curbed the right-rear today... F F F F F F.

[E30M3Driver]

Originally Posted by Appropriate

Naturally, I slightly curbed the right-rear today... F F F F F F.

Dude you need to develop your spidey sense on those wheels.

I have only done that twice, once on my 330i and once on my E46 M3 and it totally sucked. On the M3 I was trying to park it close to the curb to avoid door dings. F F F F F F! My 335i remains rash free.

[Appropriate]

I swear it's like the rims stick out an inch further than the tires. Sigh.

[inabis]

Do they only do stock rims or can they fix lips as well? My polished lip got curbed pretty bad

[Appropriate]

I think they can probably handle just about anything...

[F82_SID]

Wow guys that shop looks great. I went to woodys a couple of weeks ago and they were hesitant to take on my rims since they specialize in motorcycles. I think as soon as I get some extra cash I am definitely going to use them. My m6 reps where so beautiful when they were new. Now each rim has at least a little curb rash.

[F82_SID]

Hey I guys I just hit these guys up to get some curb rash repaired on my M6 reps before the season starts. I will let you guys know how it goes.

[raceyBMW]

Awesome, very interested in what they can do, because I may need to get my hyperblack CSL reps repaired sometime.