[MerlinMc]

Shortly after installing a new set of wheels and tires on my M240i, I noticed a small bend in the wheel when cleaning the car. I only had maybe 150 miles on the this new wheel and tire set up. I cannot remember hitting anything like a pothole.

The wheel still seems to be balanced and is holding air. Some questions:

1. The wheels and tires were shipped to me mounted and balanced. Is it possible that the wheel was bent before I installed?
2. Can the wheel be straightened? Or, should I replace the wheel?
3. As soon as I noticed the bend, I removed this set of wheels/tires and put another set on. Any opinions on whether it would be safe to drive on this wheel with the slight bend?
4. The are OZ TUV certified wheels. It seems like they should be more robust and less susceptible to bending.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and opinions.

[x233]

[*]The wheels and tires were shipped to me mounted and balanced. Is it possible that the wheel was bent before I installed?
Possible but you'll never know now.
[*]Can the wheel be straightened? Or, should I replace the wheel?
It can probably be straightened.
[*]As soon as I noticed the bend, I removed this set of wheels/tires and put another set on. Any opinions on whether it would be safe to drive on this wheel with the slight bend?
Shouldn't be a problem if it's only the lip that's bent.
[*]The are OZ TUV certified wheels. It seems like they should be more robust and less susceptible to bending.
Wrong. These are flow formed OZ wheels. They are weight optimized, not strength optimized. You can fairly easily bend them. (bend as opposed to crack).

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by x233

[*]The wheels and tires were shipped to me mounted and balanced. Is it possible that the wheel was bent before I installed?
Possible but you'll never know now.
[*]Can the wheel be straightened? Or, should I replace the wheel?
It can probably be straightened.
[*]As soon as I noticed the bend, I removed this set of wheels/tires and put another set on. Any opinions on whether it would be safe to drive on this wheel with the slight bend?
Shouldn't be a problem if it's only the lip that's bent.
[*]The are OZ TUV certified wheels. It seems like they should be more robust and less susceptible to bending.
Wrong. These are flow formed OZ wheels. They are weight optimized, not strength optimized. You can fairly easily bend them. (bend as opposed to crack).

Thank you for your thoughts. According to OZ: "The HLT exclusive manufacturing process achieves mechanical features comparable to those of a forged wheel both in terms of weight reduction and structural strength."

[overcoil]

I’d replace the wheel.

1) minimize issue of potential balance issues and paying for repeated balances.

2) strength and safety

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by MerlinMc

According to OZ: "The HLT exclusive manufacturing process achieves mechanical features comparable to those of a forged wheel both in terms of weight reduction and structural strength."

There aren't any free lunches out there (except possibly Bimmerworld's forged wheels).

The general rule with wheels is: light, strong, inexpensive - pick two.

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by dradernh

There aren't any free lunches out there (except possibly Bimmerworld's forged wheels).

The general rule with wheels is: light, strong, inexpensive - pick two.

Yep.

These OZs were expensive for cast wheels, but nothing compared to most forged wheels. Bimmerworld doesn't seem to make forged wheels that fit our cars.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by MerlinMc

Bimmerworld doesn't seem to make forged wheels that fit our cars.

The 17X9 ET42 is pretty much the only choice, and they would require some work to the car to make them look right.

This is an image they sent me with the wheels one of our cars. I don't know which tires they mounted.