Scraped my right rear stock 18" wheel. Seems repairable though. Any referrals for DFW wheel repair shops or DIY instructions would be greatly appreciated. I am in North Dallas so closer to home the better.

 

FYI...When I bought by C63, I also bought a wheel and tire insurance package. Cost was $695 and lasts the duration of the warranty. No deductible. Take it back to the dealer and they will either repair or replace the damaged wheel or tire. The policy also covers any brand of wheel, not just OEMs. Total one wheel and you've paid for the policy.
Sorry to hijack your post.

 

np Bob. Minor hijack, but filled with very useful information for the rest of us.

 

Repair should be approximately $150 (unless seriously damaged). Ask your SA they probably have someone they use.

 

Wheel and tire usually doesn't protect against curbing or even bending wheels. They'll fix a wheel only if it doesn't hold air. I've had wheels fixed for $150 at the dealer but they simply use RimPro, which is the company I'd recommend. See if you guys have them down in Texas.

 

+1 on dealer.. I'm assuming OEM rims? They charged me around $150 per rim too.. I took it to an indy shop the day before and got some ridiculous quotes just for a little curb rash, albeit i didn't shop around too much either.

 

Yes, OEM. This wheel ding is like the bald spot on the crown of my head. When i brush my teeth looking in the mirror I can't see the bald spot, but I know it's there.

 

Ive never actually done this before but Ive heard in the past they wet sand it with very fine grit sand paper and sorta polish it out

 

lol i had a similar curb on my 19" multi-spokes last year, cost me $250 to get it fixed perfectly. But it was worth it, cuz they made it look like brand new again.

 

who did the work?

 

I don't think MB wheels/tires warranty covers aftermarket wheels.. Only OEM wheels. Plus I was told the warranty will not be honored if u use different size tires other than OEM size. Read the fine print, there is a lot of catch which makes it not worth it in my opinion.

 

Is that white part on the tire just dirt/dust off of the rim? Or is it white like when people ride a curb? If it's the latter of the two, you may need to replace the tire as well as its structural integrity may be compromised and may fail under "spirited" driving.

As for the curb rash. it doesn't look that bad honestly. You have a couple of different options.

1. Take it to the dealer and have "them" fix it. However, dealers never actually fix it themselves. They typically outsource the work to another company that repairs rims. They'll smooth it out and probably paint it.

2. Do it yourself.

While it may seem like a daunting task, it's really not.

You'll need a few things that can all be had for well under $20.

Materials:
1. Sandpaper. Grits: 320, 600, 800, 1000 and 1500.
Try to find a parts store in your area that specializes in body work. There you'll be able to buy a few sheets for really cheap, like $1-2 per sheet and in the grits that you want. Instead of those prepackaged sandpaper kits which don't have enough of what you need, and are usually lower quality and cost more. Go figure.
MOST IMPORTANT: Make sure it's wet/dry sandpaper as you're going to be wet-sanding.

2. Painter's tape. The blue or green stuff is fine. Get one role of the 2" wide, and one roll of 1/2" or 1" wide.

3. Polishing compound.

4. a can of Clear coat.


Here's what you do:

First wash and dry the wheel. You can use dish soap for this since it's a degreaser and will remove any wax, tar, etc. that may be on there. You need a clean surface.

Second, tape off the area around the rash that you don't want to hit with the sandpaper.

Third, get a small bowl of water and start sanding. Dip the paper in the water go at it. Start with the coarse grits to knock down the imperfections. So start with the 320. Be sure to keep dipping the paper frequently. This will extend the life of the sandpaper and help keep it free of aluminum.

Once all of the imperfections have been knocked down, move on through the other grits. You'll notice that as you move up through the grits, the smoother and shinier the surface will become to match the rest of the wheel.

After you've gone through all of the grits, grab a clean rag and the polishing compound. Then polish it out.

After you've done that, wash the wheel again, let it air dry though. Once dry, tape off areas that you don't want clear coat getting on. So maybe the center of the wheel, the fender, etc.

Read the directions on the can. Typically, you shake it for one minute, hold the can ~8" from the surface and spray. Use sweeping motions. Go over it a few times, and you're done.


This is not difficult, just takes a little elbow grease.

Or you can just take it to the dealer.