Wheel repair in the area?

[zett4m]

I recently picked up an '01 M5 and took it to FSC to have them look it over. Of the list of things they reported back to me, all but one I have or will be able to fix - bent rims. Apparently, three of the four rims are bent. Is their a place around the area that anyone knows of or has used to repair their wheels?

[Alan]

While it may not be convenient to Falls Church - I use Alloy Wheel Repair in Gaithersburg. He and his staff have trailers that do the actual work at nearby dealerships. He does do weekend and off-hour work sometimes - which is good for me. He has done perfect work on my SSR GT3s twice... couldn't be more satisfied. PM me if you need contact info.

[mcoupemindy]

While it may not be convenient to Falls Church - I use Alloy Wheel Repair in Gaithersburg. He and his staff have trailers that do the actual work at nearby dealerships. He does do weekend and off-hour work sometimes - which is good for me. He has done perfect work on my SSR GT3s twice... couldn't be more satisfied. PM me if you need contact info.

That sounds like rash repair, not bent wheel repair.

OP, there are very few shops that do wheel straightening. I would suggest that you call Radial Tire in MD to ask advice.

[zett4m]

Options seemed limited for this sort of work. From searching around the webs, I have found lots of info about Ye Olde Wheel Show near Baltimore... I have also discovered (from reading a few threads at m5board) a place in North Carolina (Prince Wheel) that does great work and can restore the wheels to almost-new condition, even using the original Chrome Shadow paint. But the thought of having the car on blocks for 2+ weeks, well...

At the moment, it's not a huge issue, but I'm trying to weigh all options.

[Biggins]

Get some aftermarket/used/5er wheels for the time being, drop the bent wheels off at Ye Olde Wheel, and then sell one of the sets or put snows on one and problem solved.

I've heard good things about Ye Olde Wheel. There is also Transwheel in Williamsport, MD, but I do not know much about them.

[pseto]

I've have no personal experience, but have heard very mixed opinions on Ye Olde Wheel Shop. Either they're great, or they're awful. Many complaints about rudeness and slow service.

Any complaints with Ye Olde Wheel Shop is always because they are somewhat slow. However, they repair the wheels very well. Rims always come out perfect, but it just takes a while.

If you have another set of rims to use temporarily, I would recommend them.

[Coupenut]

I have used both Ye Olde Wheel Shop and Wheel Dr and have been very pleased with the work and prices of both. Ye Olde Wheel Shop did take a while (about a month or so) to do the requested work but they told me that going in and it wasn't a problem. They straightened one bent wheel and refinished an entire set of 4. I didn't find them rude at all. I have also used Wheel Dr in Gaithersburg, MD and they were great. They picked up my wheels, repaired a small crack in one, and a bend in another. They refinished all 4 wheels and delivered them to my home. It doesn't get much better than that.

[John in VA]

I used Ye Olde ~10 yrs ago - good work, but slow, as reported. I have purchased wheels from WCC in PA - good value, great finish.
I'm trying to put together a tech session/open house with a a wheel repair facility in NoVA before the Deutsche Marque Concours. They are not mobile, so are able to do a bit more.

[Alan]

I used Ye Olde Wheel Shop - and the work was well-executed.... but the wait was ***5 weeks***.

That is why I went looking for another shop.

[AG]

How badly are the wheels bent? Do you think a good balance will be able to mask the problem? Give Radial Tire a call. They did a bang-up job hammering the dents out of my el cheapo winter wheels when I got my new winter tires put on a few weeks ago.

[zett4m]

How badly are the wheels bent? Do you think a good balance will be able to mask the problem? Give Radial Tire a call. They did a bang-up job hammering the dents out of my el cheapo winter wheels when I got my new winter tires put on a few weeks ago.

It may be my untrained eye, but I can't see where the wheels are bent. There is some curb rash on each wheel, but as far as other damage, I can not tell. I can, however, 'feel' a bit of vibration 'at speed' - IF I were to go over the state-mandated speed limit.

I had struggled to pull from the recesses of my brain a memory of mobile wheel-repair truck I had witnessed in the tyson's area. That was until yesterday when I saw it creep past me on 495 during the hell that was yesterday's evening commute. Eurobeat mobile wheel repair. Since, I have not had the opportunity to look them up.

In all likelihood, if I were to have the wheels repaired/repainted, I am leaning towards sending to that shop in NC. From what I have read, they do great work and pride themselves and restoring BMW wheels.

But repairing the wheels has moved down the priority list; especially considering the total bill from J&F for repairing the damage a family of mice did to the fuel diagnostic pump and system! But that is quite another story...

[John in VA]

It may be my untrained eye, but I can't see where the wheels are bent.

Once the wheel is spun, it will be obvious.
I believe it was techs from one of the Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists franchises that were demonstrating at ChapterFest, but I didn't get a chance to see them work.
http://www.awrswheelrepair.com/

[DAS703]

Call the Fairfax BMW body shop; they are a drop off and pickup point for a group called National wheel repair. I have used them twice to resurface a couple of my 2 piece BMW/BBS wheels on my E39. Looked like new for approx. $180.00 ea. Bent ones may be more. They(Fairfax BMW body shop) will give you the phone number to contact them(National) for priceing.