HELP

[850CSi]

I'm not in that much of a hurry. I usually come home every two or three weekends so it'll be fine. I also don't need my car for the next 3 months.

At this point I just want to find a used replacement for my car's rim (which I've been doing by talking to people on E90 Post and BimmerFest). My parents for some reason are avert to letting me get a whole new set.

[the Teuton]

I'm not in that much of a hurry. I usually come home every two or three weekends so it'll be fine. I also don't need my car for the next 3 months.

At this point I just want to find a used replacement for my car's rim (which I've been doing by talking to people on E90 Post and BimmerFest). My parents for some reason are avert to letting me get a whole new set.

Yours are probably worth a bit more money since they're new.  They might have some value as trading tools.

[850CSi]

Yours are probably worth a bit more money since they're new.  They might have some value as trading tools.

Eh not really, you can buy an entire set of used 156s like mine with decent tread left on the RFTs for ~$450. Plus, no one is going to want a set of three. It's not even a money issue my parents for some reason won't let me replace my wheels.

[Soup DeVille]

Eh not really, you can buy an entire set of used 156s like mine with decent tread left on the RFTs for ~$450. Plus, no one is going to want a set of three. It's not even a money issue my parents for some reason won't let me replace my wheels.

I will steal your current ones for you.

Then you'll need to.

[AutobahnSHO]

I will steal your current ones for you.

Then you'll need to.

This guy's a Genius!!!   :-)

I was being silly and hit the curb in a TacoBell drivethru one winter- snapped the front sway bar- couldnt even drive it since that side front wheel would drag into the fender..

[etypejohn]

I'm not in that much of a hurry. I usually come home every two or three weekends so it'll be fine. I also don't need my car for the next 3 months.

At this point I just want to find a used replacement for my car's rim (which I've been doing by talking to people on E90 Post and BimmerFest). My parents for some reason are avert to letting me get a whole new set.

Replace the damaged wheel and tire and take it for a 4 wheel alignment.

[850CSi]

I think I might have myself a deal... Someone on E90Post is offering a wheel/tire with 7K on it for $125...

[MrH]

Buying/selling forums FTW!

[280Z Turbo]

Buying/selling forums FTW!

The problem is you often have to have 20 posts or so before you can use the classifieds. I don't have time to fuck around on a bunch of Focus forums to find a new rim.

I also damaged one of my rims just recently, so I'm kind of in the same boat.

I'm looking at dropping $130 on ONE RIM! No tire, just one rim.

As long as the toe and camber are within spec in the rear, you're okay. I'm not sure how BMW suspensions work, but even if you did bend something they may be able to adjust it to compensate.

[850CSi]

The problem is you often have to have 20 posts or so before you can use the classifieds. I don't have time to fuck around on a bunch of Focus forums to find a new rim.

My only problem is that I'm negotiating with someone who has no buying/selling reputation on the board. How do I know if I can trust this guy?

More good news: I found out that my car's TPMS is ABS based rather than having sensors in the tire itself, so that's one less thing to worry about (will only have to get the system reset and my car is due for service anyways).

[Soup DeVille]

The problem is you often have to have 20 posts or so before you can use the classifieds. I don't have time to fuck around on a bunch of Focus forums to find a new rim.

I also damaged one of my rims just recently, so I'm kind of in the same boat.

I'm looking at dropping $130 on ONE RIM! No tire, just one rim.

As long as the toe and camber are within spec in the rear, you're okay. I'm not sure how BMW suspensions work, but even if you did bend something they may be able to adjust it to compensate.

http://www.restockwheels.com/

It's a bit of a drive for you, granted, but I've worked with them in getting an original set of '71 aluminum Mustang wheels repaired for use on the Caddy, and have been happy with their work and prices.

[MrH]

My only problem is that I'm negotiating with someone who has no buying/selling reputation on the board. How do I know if I can trust this guy?

More good news: I found out that my car's TPMS is ABS based rather than having sensors in the tire itself, so that's one less thing to worry about (will only have to get the system reset and my car is due for service anyways).

This is how I operate in those kind of situations.  Seems to have worked for me in the past (for the most part.  Got sort of burned on a cell phone deal once).

The Protege forum I'm a part of makes you post pictures of the thing for sale, with a sign with the date, your forum name, and the name of the forum.  Most people trying to scam others won't go that far.

I take it a step further, and ask for an eBay name.  Once they provide it, I go onto eBay, check their feedback.  If it looks fine, I send them a message through eBay asking if they are truly the person on the forums (ie, are you really BIMMER325i on E90 forums?).  Once I get a message back confirming them, I go through with it.

This has usually been enough for me.

[The Pirate]

This is how I operate in those kind of situations.  Seems to have worked for me in the past (for the most part.  Got sort of burned on a cell phone deal once).

The Protege forum I'm a part of makes you post pictures of the thing for sale, with a sign with the date, your forum name, and the name of the forum.  Most people trying to scam others won't go that far.

I take it a step further, and ask for an eBay name.  Once they provide it, I go onto eBay, check their feedback.  If it looks fine, I send them a message through eBay asking if they are truly the person on the forums (ie, are you really BIMMER325i on E90 forums?).  Once I get a message back confirming them, I go through with it.

This has usually been enough for me.

What Protege forum do you post on?

[MrH]

Mazdas247.com

Protege5.com also directs to mazdas247.  It's probably the biggest Protege community.  There's a ton of Mazda3 and 6 guys there too.  There's a lot of domain names that direct to it.  Pretty good forum overall with a good Buy and Sell section and lots of great How-to's and info.

[The Pirate]

Mazdas247.com

Protege5.com also directs to mazdas247.  It's probably the biggest Protege community.  There's a ton of Mazda3 and 6 guys there too.  There's a lot of domain names that direct to it.  Pretty good forum overall with a good Buy and Sell section and lots of great How-to's and info.

Sweet, I don't think I've been on that one, I'll have to take a look.

[the Teuton]

The problem is you often have to have 20 posts or so before you can use the classifieds. I don't have time to fuck around on a bunch of Focus forums to find a new rim.

I also damaged one of my rims just recently, so I'm kind of in the same boat.

I'm looking at dropping $130 on ONE RIM! No tire, just one rim.

As long as the toe and camber are within spec in the rear, you're okay. I'm not sure how BMW suspensions work, but even if you did bend something they may be able to adjust it to compensate.

Ask useless questions.  If they don't have a reputation point system, it will rack up quickly.  And as for the rim, there have to be better deals out there.  I bought my 2002 WRX wheels in good condition with a little tire on them (not much, to be honest) for $300 including shipping from Arizona to Ohio.  It can be done.

[AutobahnSHO]

I saved my SHO rims when the car blew up- I had plenty of space and weight allowance when the Army moved the family from Germany to MD.

I put them on Ebay and got $100 for 4rimz, 2 tires that were about 60%, and 2 tires that had 300miles on them. (All cheapo brand tires though...)   

The guy bought them for his son's REGULAR Taurus..   

:-<

[280Z Turbo]

And as for the rim, there have to be better deals out there.  I bought my 2002 WRX wheels in good condition with a little tire on them (not much, to be honest) for $300 including shipping from Arizona to Ohio.  It can be done.

That may be, but I don't have a lot of time to fuck around with this. I am in no way shape or form involved in the Focus community, so it's pretty hard for me. If I had bent a rim on the Z, it wouldn't have been an issue.

I've been rolling on a minispare for a couple weeks now and I'm sick of it. I use my dad's Dakota for longer trips, but that's a problem as it gets 16 mpg as opposed to 28.

[JWC]

Keep in mind I'm biased, but I've worked independent garages and dealerships.

I always find it amusing when someone buys an expensive car and then whines that repairs at a factory dealership is too expensive. 

I also find it totally believable that the dealership doesn't have wheels just laying around waiting for someone to come in who curbed their car just so they can "try it" and see how far the alignment is off.  Especially, with the mindset that the wheels are too expensive anyway. 

One last thing.  Keep in mind the price is set by the manufacturer and the dealership has to pay them to get the part. 

If you are going to complain, complain about (or to) the people that made the car and are supplying parts to repair it.  Not the people who have to buy it then sell it to you.

[Secret Chimp]

throw some D's on that bitch

[Minpin]

I wish I had seen this sooner. A few months ago I hit a curb taking a left  and I scratched up the rim and ripped some of the rubber off and it was pulling to the right also. Took it to goodyear and the re-aligned it and everything was fixed. I didn't read through the whole thread so I don't know what your verdict was but this is just my experience on this.

[Submariner]

Ok.
I was just wondering because if everything got pushed righward like that, if that'd mess up the drivetrain components.

I can't imagine the driveshaft having anything to do with it, but I see where you're coming from. 

As stupid as this sounds, check for snow buildup in the chassis.  I was driving in the G about 3 weeks ago, (after sliding through the unplowed parking lots) and experienced violent shaking on the highway.  Come to find out, a large buildup of snow in the wheel was causing it.  Removing it made the problem go away.

[sparkplug]

Keep in mind I'm biased, but I've worked independent garages and dealerships.

I always find it amusing when someone buys an expensive car and then whines that repairs at a factory dealership is too expensive. 

I also find it totally believable that the dealership doesn't have wheels just laying around waiting for someone to come in who curbed their car just so they can "try it" and see how far the alignment is off.  Especially, with the mindset that the wheels are too expensive anyway. 

One last thing.  Keep in mind the price is set by the manufacturer and the dealership has to pay them to get the part. 

If you are going to complain, complain about (or to) the people that made the car and are supplying parts to repair it.  Not the people who have to buy it then sell it to you.

Yeah, your biased. hehehe

[850CSi]

Ok guys, update...

I got a tire/wheel off of a guy on E90Post for $125 (damn good deal if you ask me, tire has only 7k miles on it, plenty of tread left, rim seems to be in pretty good shape). It arrived yesterday, I came home from school today and it's sitting in my trunk now.

I'm going tomorrow to get it mounted and get an alignment, hopefully that takes care of it.

That leads to a question... Where should I go? Is going to a place like Midas fine for something like this? I'm going to call the dealership and see how much they charge, too.

[Danish]

Why don't you change the tire yourself and then take it somewhere to get an alignment?

I don't trust the likes of Midas to properly install a tire especially when they seem hell bent on getting the lugnut on as tight as possible with a impact wrench

[850CSi]

I don't have a jackstand.

[Rupert]

You don't need a jack stand to change a wheel, just a jack that's not super shitty.

[Danish]

I don't have a jackstand.

I should have known - your car doesn't come even come with a jack right? Because of that inflate tire thing?

[850CSi]

I don't have a jack at all.

[Soup DeVille]

I don't have a jack at all.

There's not even the one that came with your car?