How to Repair Aluminum Rings?

[Krzysztof]

Was someone repairing similar dents on original aluminum wheel rings, used for E3/E9?

There is slight access from other side. Could round shape tool do the job by hammering it back?
Good in a bad the aluminum is think.
I do not want to try it before hearing from you.

 

[eriknetherlands]

Yep, you can hammer it back. I would try first with a hardwood piece, shaped to fit the contour, it will help you a lot.
Aluminium is soft. You probably need to sand and polish.

By the way I never seen these before. The shape seem to match the std oem aluminium wheels. Were they wheel bling 70's style?

 

[Krzysztof]

I'm not sure, but I saw it only on few pictures. For sure 2.5CS were using these as standard (aluminum rims only on demand).
They're coming with specific chrome caps (BMW was using several types of these).
For E3 it was more common to have "flat" type of rings.

Here's the genuine BMW advert photo (hard to notice)

To be able to use wooden tool I would need to unfold the edge but it could be the only way.

I see most of the aluminum rings are damaged by someone trying to pry chrome caps off the wheel.

I'm wonndering has the original wheel nut tool was equipped with some foam to protect the rings?

 

[HB Chris]

Sure look similar to e3 rings, check out a pic of Dick Steinkamp’s e3.

1972 Bavaria Restoration

I took 548 pictures and 25 videos during the restoration of my Bavaria over the last 11 months. Some were just to document the build, some so I remembered what something looked like before I took it apart o_O , some so I could ask here what this or that unknown part was for. I boiled the 548...

e9coupe.com

 

[Krzysztof]

Yes @HB Chris. They are similar but different. Most of E3 I have seen were equipped with the rings like in Dick's car.

Here is the E9 2.5CS BMW folder picture with the specific rings I would like to restore. Hard to say which are more difficult to renew.

 

[HB Chris]

2.5CS part number 36131112790 shows as applicable to e3 as well. (There were two different e3 trim rings.). The color pic above has 9 slots, the B&W one has 12, how many does your trim have?

 

[Honolulu]

My '69 2500 had those rings and yes they are aluminum and easily deformed. Just like the old 2002 caps, there is a hook on the lug wrench to remove them. If they are attacked with a screwdriver, we see the results in the top photo.

I would rub the creases from the back with a hard wood block against a hard wood anvil. The wood won't scratch or stretch the aluminum.

 

[Krzysztof]

@HB Chris good catch!
I have 9 slots and B&W picture is really showing different style. It is interesting what was the condition they put 9 or 12 lug rings on.

@Honolulu, do you have a picture of the hook which is used to take the chrome cap off? Or is it only for the rings?

Wooden or plastic tools should be really the best way.
I will try to check on one of the worst rings and let you know in some time.
For today they all need deep cleaning first being full of brake pad's dust and some oxidation.

 

[eriknetherlands]

I've also used the plastic material that is used for kitchen cuttting boards. For just 5 euro/usd you get an A4 size piece of plastic, that allows for making all kinds of tools. I've shaped a few wedges from it, allowing for window trim removal, gutter trim, panel clips unclipping etc.

The wheel lug tool indeed has a little hook; see attached pics of my refresh process (I think they are originally nickel plated, so i redid mine that way, it came out near perfect. ) I've seen two versions of the hook; min is about 5 cm/2 inches. i've also seen versions with a short 2,5 cm/1 inch hook. I don't know what is original / year/ model. It may have to do with the difference in your rings.

 

[Krzysztof]

I need to check if I have such a hook but as far as I know there was no lug tool in a trunk left so probably I would need to make it by myself from INOX maybe?