Repairing bent rim?

[marcw]

So the bean counters at my tire and wheel insurance are hard at work and the insurance inspector deemed that my front rim can be repaired. I got word from the SA that somebody came by to pick up the wheel to 'repair' it. Hmmm not sure how I feel about this. Can a bent rim be straightened to factory specs w/o weakening the wheel? I would assume they have to heat the wheel in order to get out the dent.

-Marc
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[Memphis1]

if it's a little bend on the lip, then yes. If it's a big bend on the lip or any size bend on the "belly" then NO. if they try to fix a bend on the belly tell them you want a full replacement instead.

[Silver-Bolt]

Ditto what Memphis said. I have had wheels repaired that I thought were well beyond fixing and they came out great. No issues after the repair. No heat involved.

[marcw]

OK. The rim was bent on the inside lip. Not sure Memphis what you mean by 'belly'. I saw the bent when the wheel was off so it was definitely noticeable. The tire was still on it so I couldn't inspect anything other than the obvious damage on the lip. Small bent vs big bent is pretty subjective. I think I'm going to ask the insurance company for some paperwork that tells me how out of round the wheel is. I think the BMW tolerance is up to 5/1000th.

-Marc

Originally Posted by Silver-Bolt

Ditto what Memphis said. I have had wheels repaired that I thought were well beyond fixing and they came out great. No issues after the repair. No heat involved.

[Memphis1]

the belly is the area you would see when the tire is off the rim

[Silver-Bolt]

Lip repair is the easiest. It will go on a machine that resembles a spin balancer. As the wheel turns the tool gradually adds pressure slowly moving the metal back into place. With a cast wheel there are limits to how far they can move it. If it's still holding air and not cracked it can typically be repaired safely. Had the same repair done on out IS350. Mrs hit a board on the freeway. The inside lip was noticably bent. I checked the wheel fr runout with a dial indicator and it was better than the wheel that didn't hit the board.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by marcw

So the bean counters at my tire and wheel insurance are hard at work and the insurance inspector deemed that my front rim can be repaired. I got word from the SA that somebody came by to pick up the wheel to 'repair' it. Hmmm not sure how I feel about this. Can a bent rim be straightened to factory specs w/o weakening the wheel? I would assume they have to heat the wheel in order to get out the dent.

-Marc
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Marc,

you paid your insurance, I would stick to my guns and ask for a new wheel. You have to drive your car not your insurance adjuster.

I read last night in the Roundel Magazine one member wrote in ... about wheel and tire insurance ... the first tire they replaced the second one they ask me to ship it to them so they can it.



don't let them push you around

good luck

[marcw]

Well the ever present fine print of the policy clearly states that they have the right to repair it if it can be repaired. Legally there is little I can do about this.

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

Marc,

you paid your insurance, I would stick to my guns and ask for a new wheel. You have to drive your car not your insurance adjuster.

I read last night in the Roundel Magazine one member wrote in ... about wheel and tire insurance ... the first tire they replaced the second one they ask me to ship it to them so they can it.



don't let them push you around

good luck

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Marc,

Yes I know, I often wonder why we pay insurance ...