Bmw Style 333m Corroding

[Wjjklj]

Anyone have these wheels and have them corroding around the centercaps? If so, have you been able to replace them under warranty? If you have would you share the TSB number or a picture of the dealer paperwork showing what number they used to charge them out to BMW? My X5 is two years old with 40k on it. Thanks.

[Cattivo]

My 333's are all corroded around the center caps as well...I was quoted $600 to get them refinished...a lot of X5's I looked at before buying mine had the same problem...I think its from the acid they spray on the wheels at car washes...my X is out of warranty so i'll be fixing them on my dime

[Draper]

Do the 333Ms have a clear coat, or are they raw metal?

I haven't had any issues with my OEM 300Ms - they are a similar style but they have a clear coat/plastic film to protect them.

[overheadvalve]

My style 335's are doing the same thing. Never had any acid sprayed on them. I bitched about it to the dealership SA (well skilled at perfectly ignoring me) and all he did was replace the center caps and acted like it was the greatest thing they had ever done for a customer. Same thing happened on the wife's Lexus GX 470 a few years back and they pulled the wheels, stripped them for repaint, and even let me pick a different shade of silver!

[P1]

Same here. But only the rears it seems. The fronts appear to be fine.

[rennis]

It's the weirdest phenomenon. Why the clear coat peels and chips right at the center cap on these is really strange to me.

I bought a set of HREs from a guy who had them on a X6M. One year old, same problem. I don't think he ever washed these wheels, so I think the brake dust itself was corroding the clear.

I'm refinishing the HREs, and I only hand wash my wheels, no acid or harsh cleaners. I'll be curious to see how the clear holds up around the center caps going forward on those.

[Wjjklj]

Thanks for the replies. Several posts on these corroding on the Internet but none here. Some in US and some in UK. They are definitely clear coated and it happens only around the center cap. Has to be a design flaw. The X5 I picked up is a 2013...shouldn't be seeing this in that short amount of time.

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by rennis

It's the weirdest phenomenon. Why the clear coat peels and chips right at the center cap on these is really strange to me.

I believe it may be due to the fact that the "new" style center caps are made out of metal (chrome). Previously the BMW center caps were made out of nylon. I switched all of my center caps back to the "old" style, but they are getting harder to find.

The wheels themselves are clear coated aluminum. It starts as galvanic corrosion between the aluminum wheel and the chrome center cap. Once it works its way under the clear coat, the delamination of the paint layers begins.

[sburke91]

Is this a case where a liberal coat of a good thick grease will slow things down?

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by sburke91

Is this a case where a liberal coat of a good thick grease will slow things down?

Don't think so ... once the galvanic corrosion has started, it continues every time the wheel gets wet.

I tried sanding and scraping the affected area with a dremmel tool and refinishing with Wurth silver wheel paint, but it never looks the same again ...

Using the nylon (plastic) center caps should slow things down. Now I just live with it.

[goodmaj]

Got a part number for those caps?

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by goodmaj

Got a part number for those caps?

BMW 36136768640.

However, it has been discontinued.

Alternatively, right click on image --> "search Google for this image".

eBay has best selections. Some of them are "OEM from Japan". Quality is indistinguishable.

[BMWOO7]

If your car is still under warranty they should be FULLY covered. If the dealer you take it to doesn't cover it, go to a different one or call BMW.

I had the exact same thing happen on a Ford SuperDuty I had, looked just like the picture above, took it into the Ford Service Department and without question, they ordered and replaced all 4 rims with new ones and sent the others back to the manufacture.

I know we are talking different BMW vs. Ford in this case, but the SA at the Ford dealer said that this happens from time to time and it's covered under warranty.

As mentioned, trying to fix the area will not work, once it's started, it's going to continue and will eventually cover the wheel.

[Draper]

I wonder if this would fall under the corrosion warranty, which would help those that fall outside the normal warranty period.

BMW is pleased to announce that all cars registered from 1 January 2004, will now be covered by a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty and a three-year paintwork warranty. This move represents a significant benefit for BMW owners as the previous level of cover was six years’ anti-corrosion and one year’s paintwork warranty. The news comes soon after BMW amended its three-year dealer warranty.

[Wjjklj]

Not sure if corrosion warranty applies to wheels. My SA said he hadn't seen this on the 333m wheels but I have seen it on many. Really surprised nobody on the forum has had these replaced under warranty. My SA is having the BMW NA rep look at them. Mine look like this.

[135ivert]

Originally Posted by Wjjklj

Not sure if corrosion warranty applies to wheels. My SA said he hadn't seen this on the 333m wheels but I have seen it on many. Really surprised nobody on the forum has had these replaced under warranty. My SA is having the BMW NA rep look at them. Mine look like this.

My 261's were peeling all over the barrel, along with chipping around the roundel. My BMW shop told me it was "environmental and therefore not covered." Pfft. I'll have to get them powder-coated I guess.

However my 333's and 300's look perfect. If I can prevent this type of corrosion by buying plastic roundels I just may pull the trigger on that.

[CWL21]

All 4 of mine are doing it just a little bit. Took mine to dealer and they agreed to replace all 4 no questions asked. Only problem is they claim BMW has no idea when they will have stock. It's been 4 months and only the fronts have came in yet.

[Wjjklj]

Thanks for all the comments and replies. CWL21 you give me good hope.

[goodmaj]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

I wonder if this would fall under the corrosion warranty, which would help those that fall outside the normal warranty period.

BMW is pleased to announce that all cars registered from 1 January 2004, will now be covered by a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty and a three-year paintwork warranty. This move represents a significant benefit for BMW owners as the previous level of cover was six years’ anti-corrosion and one year’s paintwork warranty. The news comes soon after BMW amended its three-year dealer warranty.

Looks to be a rust perforation warranty, not just general corrosion. This is from the BMW site, 2012 X5 SA warranty.

----

Extensive corrosion protection measures implemented by BMW now make it possible to offer a 12-year unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty against rust perforation on your vehicle provided that the vehicle is maintained in accordance with the provisions of the New SAV Limited Warranty as outlined in the Warranty Section of this Statement (page 21).

The major degree of corrosion protection is due to the electrophoretic dip painting process which cathodically deposits paint particles on all body parts, attracting paint particles into the minutest cavities or seams. Body parts are designed to provide optimum corrosion protection.

During manufacture, exterior body parts receive an additional corrosion protection coat. Hood, trunk, doors and other body parts with metal folds are coated with PVC and sealed from the outside.

All floor panels receive a resilient coating of PVC for maximum protection against damage due to stones, etc.

Corrosion protection materials tested over many years are applied to the surfaces of cavities and to the entire underside of the vehicle during and after assembly.

For additional information on the 12-year unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty see the Warranty Section of this Booklet (page 22).

[Cattivo]

BMW should really look into this and its other design flaw of the rocker panels and fender flares for those of us with the M Sport/ M's which are notorious for chipping and the paint fading around these areas

[goodmaj]

Originally Posted by Cattivo123

BMW should really look into this and its other design flaw of the rocker panels and fender flares for those of us with the M Sport/ M's which are notorious for chipping and the paint fading around these areas

Tell me about it. Already had both plus the lower passenger doors resprayed. Now they're covered with clear bra.

[Cattivo]

Originally Posted by goodmaj

Tell me about it. Already had both plus the lower passenger doors resprayed. Now they're covered with clear bra.

That's my plan after winter is to have them re sprayed then put a clear bra on the fender flares, rockers, front bumper, side mirrors, hood and fenders...I already looked into this and its going to cost around $3k...$600 to have wheels refinished