I noticed a crack developing in my OEM thin spokes a week ago or so ago. In order to replace the damaged wheels, I purchased OEM magnesium wheels from E-bay. They have only one small chip, but I don't think it can be seen with the tires on the car.

How critical is it that I cover up the small chip? I understand that older magnesium alloy wheels could develop some terrible corrosion problems. I understand new alloys are much more corrosion resistant.

I want these on my car ASAP, as I don't feel safe driving around with a cracked wheel. I'd rather not wait another week or two for touch up paint to arrive in the mail if it's unnecessary, especially to touch up an area that won't be seen when the tire is mounted.

The owners manual warns the following:

Magnesium Wheel Finish
NOTICE:
Improper paint repair or refinishing can cause
corrosion damage to a magnesium wheel. See
your dealer if a magnesium wheel needs paint
repair or refinishing.

I'm looking for a little more data than that. If the smallest chip required immediate attention, then you'd think they'd tell you to have the wheel serviced immediately if it were damaged in any way.

Here's a photo:

 

hit it with touch-up paint and forget about it

 

Run to your local auto parts store and pick up a bottle of Light drift sand met, dupli color 482. You'll be good to go

 

Should look great

 

Thanks for the help!

As far as getting GM touch up paint, it always takes a week or so for me to get anything like that. I hate to drive around on cracked rims for another week while I wait.

Duplicolor on the other hand, has a large display at the local auto parts store. I'll pick a can up and add two or three good coats to the area. Thanks for posting the color I need!

I'm still curious, though. Are mag wheels as high maintenance as I'm reading online?

Every time I get so much as chip on these will I have to rush to touch them up immediately or face corrosion?

If they were that hard to deal with, then you think the factory wouldn't even bother to sell them. Just curious.

 

Hi 71vetteinva -

I have never heard anything like that about the magnesium wheels.

They did seem to chip easily, but I have never heard that they become ruinously corroded if the paint chips on them.

best regards -

mqqn

 

They do chip really easy, tire replacement time is no fun at all. I have two sets of them and don't think there any higher maintenance than any other wheel. Once you get non run flats on them there is alot less risk of damage when the tires are replaced. The hardness of the runflats makes it very touchy to get them on and off.

They are really soft and the paint is really thick, when it chips it looks horrible! If you get a bad chip I'm talking a curb rash kinda chip it will develope corrosion over time but it's not going to happen in a week.

 

Great replies. I should receive them in the mail on Monday. If it looks like you can see the chip when the tire is mounted, then I'll paint them. Otherwise, it's straight to the installer. Hopefully, my trusted shop will do a good job!

 

Good info here...I just got a used set and have some touch ups, maybe more that will need to be made. I was really looking for runflats on these but sounds like the info here is to stay away with these rims. Guess I small air pump and plugs will have to do then.

 

An excellent Goodyear rim guy believes the problem is the profile of that outer lip area combined with magnesium being a softer mix........says the "chips" upon dismount are not an installer inadequacy but rather the Flex in the magnesum which results in the paint pops.
Two large dealers here will not touch them without a waiver from the customer (they've eaten more magnesium than they'd like to admit)

 

Magnesium does corrode and eventually becomes dull dark gray with white corrosion.
Look at any old HALIBRAND wheels at the next swap meet (Pomona, Carlisle, etc). Painting the damaged area should stop the problem.
This image isn't the best, but it should give you an idea.

 

I got a little curb rash on one of mine about 2 years ago. I replaced it and put this one in my basement. Here is a picture I took about 5 minutes ago and there is no corrosion anywhere.

 

It's probably fairly protected in your basement, but expose it to the elements of nature for a while.
Do an internet search on magnesium corrosion and you should find plenty of reading material.

 

Magnesium is corroded by water/humidity. I guarantee that the humidity is higher in my basement than it is outside.

Now if he drives it in the rain, different story.

 

Planning to pick up some of the dupli color tomorrow. What should be done to prep the rims for painting? I may just paint the inside where the weights go completly as there are sections of finish missing...the untold story.

 

The statement below is from a guy that machines magnesium parts. Although it isn't magnesium wheels, you can see that there is a detailed process, not just sand and paint.

A buddy of mine is a painter at a Chevrolet dealership. He's out of town racing, but Monday I'll ask him what GM suggests as the proper procedure.


We OVERHAUL HELICPOTER GEAR - BOX'S in our Shop, All are Made of MAGNESIUM.
We seal all of the Exposed Magnesium With ** DIACHROMATE PICKLE **
And they are Painted With ** SYNTHIDYNE ** Paint it is a two part coating that is Baked in an Oven for 2 Hour's at 300 DEG " F "
DIACHROMATE can be purchased at ** AVIALL ** You just brush it on and leave set for approx 2 MIN then wash it off with WATER . It gives the MAGNESIUM a Stained Color But SEAL'S it Completly against any CORROSION
It is a Standard in the AREO - SPACE industry. SYNTHIDYNE Paint only come's in One color ** GULL WING GREY ** So not what you want for color .
Hope this Help's with the sealing Part.

If you get some DIACHROMATE make sure you wear gloves when useing it.
We also DIACHROMATE PICKLE on any Magnesium Part's Prior to sending them out for COLOR ANODIZEING.AND also Small Internal MAGNESIUM parts That we MACHINE from magnesium bar stock such as sleeve's , liner's, plugs, anti - rotation pin's etc.

 

Keep us posted on what GM informs on this.

 

Your wheels are junk. I'll have UPS pick them up if you want..