[hmi1750]

I have the same issue.. just not got energy to chase it up right now.. might just spray them with the correct type of paint.

[Ti Rich]

Me too, six weeks old and covered in rust - not a happy chappy at all. All four hubs the same:-

[3_toed_tree_sloth]

More of the same and an image too.

[nagge]

I'm glad I got mine replaced under warranty, although they'll probably look the same in two years.

[deejaygee]

How are people cleaning your wheels, I blame acid based wheel cleaner for mine.

I for one will only be using fairy once replaced.

[dxb335d]

Fairy mate will scratch things, has grit in it. Whatever you do, DO NOT wash your car bodywork with it!

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Fairy mate will scratch things, has grit in it. Whatever you do, DO NOT wash your car bodywork with it!

Fairy has grit in it? Are you sure carloski!?

I know it contains a degreaser (obviously to get your plates clean ) that effectively strips your car of it's wax finish over washes.

Not sure it has been know to scratch anything tho??

[Z4 Beemer]

Update:

Dear Dr X,

Thank you for your email dated April 4, 2008. I am sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with the level of corrosion on your vehicle’s wheel hubs.

Although we ensure that all of our vehicle components are manufactured to the highest standards, corrosion will form naturally on hubs due to the iron used in their manufacture. Iron is used due to its robustness and ability to handle extreme temperatures without warping or fracturing. While I can appreciate your disappointment with the aesthetics of the surface corrosion, I can advise that this does not affect the performance of your vehicle and is not a manufacturing defect. There are a number of external causes which can contribute to the increased corrosion of hubs, including stone chip damage, non approved cleaning products and grit on the road during the winter months

Although you are looking for a solution to this problem, surface rust on wheel hubs has affected vehicles for many years, but due to the increased popularity of alloy wheels, has only become apparent to vehicle owners recently. the metal surface of the brake hubs cannot be lacquered or protected from external influences, as this area heats up due to regular brake usages.. Any protection coating will wear away or melt from the metal’s surface. Powder coating risks interfering with the wheel balancing and is therefore not an option considered by BMW Germany.

Having reviewed the pictures you have sent in, I do not feel that your local dealership will be able to offer you a permanent solution. They may offer a cleaning service, however, this will be chargeable and the result would be temporary.

I hope that this information is of assistance and that the rust does not detract too greatly from your overall enjoyment of your vehicle.

Yours sincerely,
....
....

[jjbirch]

wow what a kick in the teeth, its like they dont want to know

[dxb335d]

F**k me, how do i preserve mine then. Mine are ok at the moment!

[jjbirch]

i think if you havnt got it u wont have it. A friend who got his car was a demo i guess it was left outside for a while and not moved and it rusted,my car is parked outside mostly on nights and used every day no rust

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

<<SNIP>> the metal surface of the brake hubs cannot be lacquered or protected from external influences, as this area heats up due to regular brake usages.. Any protection coating will wear away or melt from the metal’s surface. Powder coating risks interfering with the wheel balancing and is therefore not an option considered by BMW Germany.

Has anyone considered repainting using manifold paint or other such high temperature paint? This is supposed to work at 1500°F or higher.

I remember when I repainted my exhaust manifold in 1978. I thought I had bought the right paint, prepared the surface properly, cleaned it, sprayed it, and let it dry for two days. I reinstalled the manifold and took the car for a drive. Four miles up the road there was such a cloud of smoke emanating from under the bonnet I thought the engine was on fire. The nice red manifold was then a smouldering black. Turned out, the can of paint had been in the wrong location on the shelf, possibly someone else had replaced it incorrectly.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Although we ensure that all of our vehicle components are manufactured to the highest standards, corrosion will form naturally on hubs due to the iron used in their manufacture. Iron is used due to its robustness and ability to handle extreme temperatures without warping or fracturing. While I can appreciate your disappointment with the aesthetics of the surface corrosion, I can advise that this does not affect the performance of your vehicle and is not a manufacturing defect. There are a number of external causes which can contribute to the increased corrosion of hubs, including stone chip damage, non approved cleaning products and grit on the road during the winter months

Although you are looking for a solution to this problem, surface rust on wheel hubs has affected vehicles for many years, but due to the increased popularity of alloy wheels, has only become apparent to vehicle owners recently. the metal surface of the brake hubs cannot be lacquered or protected from external influences, as this area heats up due to regular brake usages.. Any protection coating will wear away or melt from the metal’s surface. Powder coating risks interfering with the wheel balancing and is therefore not an option considered by BMW Germany.

Hmmm, I wonder why the silver paint that was applied to the rotors when they were manufacturered doesn't burn off with the heat of braking. Maybe they should try applying a second or third coat. The bit about powder coating does make a little sense.

[RockIt]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Update:

Dear Dr X,

Thank you for your email dated April 4, 2008. I am sorry to learn that you are dissatisfied with the level of corrosion on your vehicle’s wheel hubs.

Although we ensure that all of our vehicle components are manufactured to the highest standards, corrosion will form naturally on hubs due to the iron used in their manufacture. Iron is used due to its robustness and ability to handle extreme temperatures without warping or fracturing. While I can appreciate your disappointment with the aesthetics of the surface corrosion, I can advise that this does not affect the performance of your vehicle and is not a manufacturing defect. There are a number of external causes which can contribute to the increased corrosion of hubs, including stone chip damage, non approved cleaning products and grit on the road during the winter months

Although you are looking for a solution to this problem, surface rust on wheel hubs has affected vehicles for many years, but due to the increased popularity of alloy wheels, has only become apparent to vehicle owners recently. the metal surface of the brake hubs cannot be lacquered or protected from external influences, as this area heats up due to regular brake usages.. Any protection coating will wear away or melt from the metal’s surface. Powder coating risks interfering with the wheel balancing and is therefore not an option considered by BMW Germany.

Having reviewed the pictures you have sent in, I do not feel that your local dealership will be able to offer you a permanent solution. They may offer a cleaning service, however, this will be chargeable and the result would be temporary.

I hope that this information is of assistance and that the rust does not detract too greatly from your overall enjoyment of your vehicle.

Yours sincerely,
....
....

Such a cop out from BMW. My Mazda RX8 suffered from the same problem and was treated under warranty without quibble. Never had a problem like this with my Nissan, Toyota or Honda.

This phrase particularly makes me laugh. 'but due to the increased popularity of alloy wheels, has only become apparent to vehicle owners recently' Recently?? They've been popular for years! What absolute arse talk. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. My wife's Mini has alloys. Hubs are fine. So are my mate's Honda Civic Type R and a friend's Porsche etc. etc. So much for quality.

[Crimson92]

my stockers got the brake dust caked onto them

[Ti Rich]

May be we should all get together and call BBC watchdog?

I didn't pay £35K for a car only to have to paint the hubs myself after 5 weeks - shocking customer service.

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by Ti Rich

May be we should all get together and call BBC watchdog?

I didn't pay £35K for a car only to have to paint the hubs myself after 5 weeks - shocking customer service.

I'm all for 'kicking BMW UK in the crotch'.

Renault were in trouble with the 'springing bonnet catch' on Watchdog. Seeing 'BMW & it's ridiculously rusty hubs' would make them think again about sending out the reply Gordon received.

Tony- can you set-up a meeting with the new MD, Klaus Kibsgaard, please?
The weekend of April 26-27th in Buxton will do fine.

Viv

[Z4 Beemer]

I'm not really surprised by the response, and some of it did make me laugh! I think if they were to offer to replace the hubs, it would open up the floodgates and everyone would want the same thing done. I'm guessing those people that drive longer journeys each day, might not experience the problem to the same extent, as the heat produced down around the wheels might dry up any moisture on the hubs...?

I wonder if any of the usual car mags would be interested in hearing about this!!!!

[3_toed_tree_sloth]

I am driving at least 500 miles a week and the hubs are browny / orange. My colleague has the same car and does a similar mileage and his are not.
That patronising bilge illustrates to me the total contept BMW has for its customer's. They have become too comfortable. I will be changing my allegiance to the brand in 18 months time.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by vivekk

I'm all for 'kicking BMW UK in the crotch'.

Renault were in trouble with the 'springing bonnet catch' on Watchdog. Seeing 'BMW & it's ridiculously rusty hubs' would make them think again about sending out the reply Gordon received.

Tony- can you set-up a meeting with the new MD, Klaus Kibsgaard, please?
The weekend of April 26-27th in Buxton will do fine.

Viv

Might compile yet another letter to send to BMW UK - first build quality, then 320 engines, now rusty hubs.. anything else whilst I'm at it?! Might as well give Kibsgaard something to do on his first few days...

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Might compile yet another letter to send to BMW UK - first build quality, then 320 engines, now rusty hubs.. anything else whilst I'm at it?! Might as well give Kibsgaard something to do on his first few days...

Bogus Idrive stability, ELV fault codes, alloy fractures...

Would he prefer to look at this in the Evening Herald broadsheet, tabloid or in the Sunday supplement edition?

Viv

[pete_d]

I get this problem on my 335d, and on the 130i before it, and it does look a bit shabby. By contrast, my TVR Tuscan normally has lovely clean hubs, due to the fact that the dealer takes the disks off, cleans them up, and Hammerites the hubs at every 6k service. I'd assumed this was just a typical TVR cheap-but-labour-intensive solution, appropriate for a car with short service intervals.

It's disappointing that BMW can't apply something like the ceramic coating used on manifolds, given the longer expected lifespan of the discs, and the longer interval between visits to the workshop. Given they spent more on developing and tooling the 3-series dashboard moulding than TVR spent on developing a completely new model, it shouldn't be beyond them...

Pete