XSeries-forum

Just wanted to warn X4 owners, the lacquer was lifting from the centre of my car wheels, and BMW agreed to replace the wheels under warrantee, I had a call later in the day to tell me the wheels were on back order and would take ten months.

This is totally unacceptable for a £50,000+ motor to look like a cheap 2nd rate car for the majority of 2017.

Hi

Sorry to hear the news, some of the X5's with the diamond cut wheels are prone to it after a few years.

When I was looking for mine had been painted instead on order to avoid the problems.

Graeme

[quote="touring"]
Just wanted to warn X4 owners, the lacquer was lifting from the centre of my car wheels, and BMW agreed to replace the wheels under warrantee, I had a call later in the day to tell me the wheels were on back order and would take ten months.

This is totally unacceptable for a £50,000+ motor to look like a cheap 2nd rate car for the majority of 2017.
[/quote]
Unfortunately they have the same problem on the X5 too. Also look on Audi VW forums, they have exactly the same problems too
I had a set of Polished alloy rims too on my 5 series, these had the same white worm too.
Aluminium produces an oxide naturally, it's not rust. Changing the rims for new ones is only delaying the problem.
Paint or powder coat is the way to prevent this happening.

Very common now due to water based lacquers being mandated, and not just on those supplied to BMW.  The E70 has proved to be very bad ever since launch with many owners with diamond cut wheels having multiple sets replaced. 

I suspect just fitting the centre caps is enough to scratch the lacquer and that starts the failure going.  That or salt trapped between the wheel hub and centre cap.

10 months is ridiculous.  A local quality refurbisher could probably do a better job in a couple of days!

Completely agree, 10 months to supply a new set is taking the p......... a week tops to Refurb em,

Ironically I had a mobile alloy refurb business and would welcome a solid finish but BMW said no, preferring to replace at a silly price (to them) I just don't understand a 10 month wait, it will be a rolling example of a poor BMW product or at the very least poor customer service.

Not what you would expect from a 'prestige' manufacturer!

It's not BMWs fault, rather their sub-contractor.  It sounds (to me) that there is an issue with these wheels and therefore a backlog.  I absolutely still think you should be priority though. 

A few words with BMW GB to demand how they can possibly justify that wait would be my next move - and warning them that the press would be my next stop.  Nothing like adverse publicity to wake them up!

You are right X5Sport, however it is BMW's reponsability to take the rap and for them to chase thier sub contractor.

I would take it up with BMW uk, however the X4 was not my greatest purchase from the BMW range, and to be honest, I am glad it is going in favour of a new X5. There was not a lot wrong with the X4 but it was never a X5.

I have had two sets on my x5 and was supposed to have the same wait for the second set however with the x5 there where a lot of cars getting fitted with 21" wheels so the dealers had some lying around so to speak not sure if there was a m sport package for the X4 but might be worth asking the dealer to put an equiry out