[andrew.webber]

Hi There Guys,

I am after some advice please with regards to the approach to take with BMW with respect to the issue of Rusting wheel hubs.

I think that a few people have mentioned this being an issue on their cars since the F30 was launched.

I got my 2012 F30 when it was a year old and there was hardly any rusting in the wheel hubs at that stage.

However I now notice that the hubs on all 4 wheels are covered in rust!! Went to my local dealer who said that BMW would only cover it if the car had done less than 6000 miles. I said that it was not an issue when I got the car at 7000 miles. The car has now only done 18000 miles.
They offered me a discounted price of painting all 4 wheel hubs in the same paint / colour as the alloy wheels at £50 a wheel.

I did not argue at that point as I wanted to get more information and think about a reasonable argument. At the end of the day I think it is poor that the wheel hubs rust up so badly after 2.5 years and I am thinking of complaining to BMW directly.

Could anyone who has experienced the same issue please give me some pointers on how they resolved it or tackled the issue with the dealer / BMW.

Thanks,
Andrew

[xenon]

Mine are covered in rust and I've only done 1500 miles, 2 months old. Never thought about asking the dealer to do anything but perhaps I might...

[andrew.webber]

Yes I would mention it now - you use Sytner Coventry I assume?

Andrew

[robbiep]

I think you'll find that this is happens on virtually every car, from Kia to Ferrari. Wheel hubs are not usually painted, because of the simple fact that they get so hot that the heat would craze/crack paint in short order, and they would then look even worse when rust started to come through the paint.

[xenon]

Not necessarily - lots of cars (including the F1x and M-Sport brakes on the f3x) use aluminium hubs. My F10 hubs never rusted. Also, stove enamel can deal with a far higher temperature than hubs will ever see. There's no excuse for it.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by andrew.webber

Yes I would mention it now - you use Sytner Coventry I assume?

Andrew

Not if I can help it but they are my local dealer so I'll see what they have to say. Car is with them now having a new bumper and headlamp fitted

[teaston]

Originally Posted by xenon

Not necessarily - lots of cars (including the F1x and M-Sport brakes on the f3x) use aluminium hubs. My F10 hubs never rusted. Also, stove enamel can deal with a far higher temperature than hubs will ever see. There's no excuse for it.

Yep it's worth getting the M Sport brakes just to not get the rusty hub syndrome!

[Frosticles]

Mine started to rust. Couldn't be bothered with hassle so bought a tin of smoothrite. Still look like new now

[Nick the Greek]

WD40.

[teaston]

Not sure about WD40 on brakes!

Get some caliper paint, it's guaranteed to be heat resistant and long lasting. It comes with cleaning spray and a brush for £20!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-Tech-Brake...+caliper+paint

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by teaston

Not sure about WD40 on brakes!

Get some caliper paint, it's guaranteed to be heat resistant and long lasting. It comes with cleaning spray and a brush for £20!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-Tech-Brake...+caliper+paint

Not putting it on the disc.

Spray over hub and calliper.

If you do get some on the disc, it burns off after one application of the brakes.

My car was one of the first MSports in the country, hubs clean up like new.

[Kal101]

Noticed some rust bleed coming through under the BMW badge in the alloy soon after pick up. Took it back to dealer who took some pics and sent back to BMW who advised rustproofing repainting and greasing up.
This was done at no cost but was also present on the loan 3 series I had and a few others. Dealer said something about BMW no longer fitting a plastic cap or something. Can't quite remember fully as wasa couple of years ago.
Worth checking it's not a known issue.

[DTP1980]

When cleaning the car, spray some 'Fallout remover'on the rusted area. Bilt Hamber make a product called Korosol. I am 12k miles in and no rust on hubs or discs. It's also excellent for dissolving the hot braking material which tries to embed itself onto the wheels as a result of braking. It's not necessary to take the wheels off either. Cheap easy solution that is too easily overlooked.

[xenon]

^ are you saying that spraying Korrosol will treat hubs that are already rusted?

[geoffgp]

My hubs were rusty from new! Now after 18 months the calipers are in the same condition! Spoke to the dealer who tried to get both the hubs and calipers refinished under Warranty. BMW UK refused so the dealer as a good will gesture agreed to do it at their expense. Look great now!

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Kal27

Noticed some rust bleed coming through under the BMW badge in the alloy soon after pick up. Took it back to dealer who took some pics and sent back to BMW who advised rustproofing repainting and greasing up.
This was done at no cost but was also present on the loan 3 series I had and a few others. Dealer said something about BMW no longer fitting a plastic cap or something. Can't quite remember fully as wasa couple of years ago.
Worth checking it's not a known issue.

My car, March 14 built, has the plastic caps over the hub nut.

[Kal101]

[QUOTE=teaston;17223791]My car, March 14 built, has the plastic caps over the hub nut.[/QUOTE

They must have sorted it out then. Mines a 2012 and didn't have any. Not sure if they have been retro fitted. Will check when I change back to summers !!

[AP_75]

Good to get the advice, thanks.

My car is March 2013 and suffers from same rust on the hubs - will have a go at painting in the spring as agree it looks rubbish but have also seen on other brands.

[DTP1980]

Originally Posted by xenon

^ are you saying that spraying Korrosol will treat hubs that are already rusted?

Yes. Korrosol (there are other brands) dissolves oxidised steel; rust. Turns purple when it comes into contact with it. For very heavy rusting, a light wife wool or brush might be necessary, but weekly or fortnightly washes with a light dash of this stuff will keep it at bay

See www.theultimatefinish.co.uk for such products

[amaar_malik]

My dealer painted mine black same as my alloys for free. But my car is still under warranty. Only 10months old

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by teaston

My car, March 14 built, has the plastic caps over the hub nut.

Just checked mine as fitting on summers for auto trader shiots. No plastic hub cap. Only the BMW rounded in centre of the wheel

[Kennyg71]

Originally Posted by teaston

Yep it's worth getting the M Sport brakes just to not get the rusty hub syndrome!

Hiya. Can I ask what you use to keep the msport brake centres like this. Mine only replaced in December and already looking heavily tarnished and dull.
Thanks