Can a leaking alloy wheel be sealed?
03-18-2009, 10:57 AM
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My Ride: 530D SE
Thought my days of losing tyre pressure were behind me when I ditched my run-flats 
Except I now have a front tyre which refuses to stay at pressure for more than 1.5 days! 2.2 bar is soon down to 1.7 bar and out comes the compressor... I've had the tyres checked and including it's original fitting, this one's been fitted three times (including new valves!). It's not good pr for BMW as I stand on my drive every other day with el-cheapo 12v compressor buzzing away at my feet 
Is my alloy leaking? Can it be sealed somehow? I think it's going to be hard to find one wheel to buy
Ian.
Except I now have a front tyre which refuses to stay at pressure for more than 1.5 days! 2.2 bar is soon down to 1.7 bar and out comes the compressor... I've had the tyres checked and including it's original fitting, this one's been fitted three times (including new valves!). It's not good pr for BMW as I stand on my drive every other day with el-cheapo 12v compressor buzzing away at my feet Is my alloy leaking? Can it be sealed somehow? I think it's going to be hard to find one wheel to buy
Ian.
03-18-2009, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by z06bigbird' post='820356' date='Mar 18 2009, 12:04 PM
Tire shop can identify leak with a special chemical designated as H2O. If they do not have any, refer them to Ebay where it is very inexpensive.
03-18-2009, 04:50 PM
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My Ride: 2015 535D M Sport
I had a small crack in my alloy wheel on the inside edge near the tire which slowly leaked air, but it was detectable using that eBay H2O kit mentioned above. It's possible to miss a leak like that if you don't fully submerge the tire in that H2O solution, so maybe your shop only checked the tread area and that's why they didn't find it. I replaced the rim, but they are apparently repairable using welding at specialty shops. However, I am not sure I would bet my life riding around on a repair like that.
03-19-2009, 01:58 PM
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My Ride: Bmw 530i
i had the same problem, it was something to do with the beads of my tires leaking since the rim was slightly bent. so basically i took it to a buddies shop and they sealed it for like 80 bucks, it is not a guaranteed fix tho but so far so good
03-19-2009, 06:21 PM
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My wheel had a crack, visable. Wheel shop welded it and it was fine.
03-19-2009, 07:30 PM
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Send your wheel to Wheel america and the will fix it like new.
I have used them before with my other cars when i bent or cracked a rim in the past.
http://www.fixrim.com/
I have used them before with my other cars when i bent or cracked a rim in the past.
http://www.fixrim.com/
03-19-2009, 08:56 PM
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My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
Yep, like many people, I've had a rim repaired before - cost 190 with mounting and balancing and everything. Rides like new. If you were in the States, I'd give you the place I went to, but I'm sure you can find someone in UK 
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