was yesterday. I was sitting at a traffic light on a very steep incline. I choked the engine and quickly pulled up my handbrake. Suddenly, I felt a bump from behind. I got out and looked, but I couldn't see any damage. I told the guy no problem and we went on our merry ways. I stopped a few minutes later to add some air to my tires and when I got down on my knees and looked at the rear bumper, there was an imprint that looked like the outside edge of a license tag screw. It was about a cm in diameter. I was pissed. I got home and when I told my wife, she almost started to cry. Well, that's not the worst of it. I was driving to work at about 1045PM(I work at night) and passed a car on the outside of a 4 lane neighborhood street. I guess I was doing about 45. The other car moved a bit too far towards the center line so I adjusted-too far and ran over the curb. I've got a Performance model. When I got to the parking lot about 1/2 mile further on, I got out and found my right front rim edge messed up. It looked like someone had been working on it with a chisel. What a crappy day. Does anyone know if there would be a problem with taking the rim to a wheel shop and having them smooth out the rim and recoat it? Or should I get a new stock rim? Does that kind of thing affect tire wear? Plus, I'm a little worried about the soundness of my tire. Can anything be done to check this? And I guess I can live with the place on the back bumper, but if anyone knows if that can be fixed with ordering a new bumper, I'd like to know. Any info will be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

By the way, I did search this without luck.

 

olsilver...

Sorry, I can't answer your question... but my sympathy goes out to you... I would have been sick to my stomach. I know how you feel.

 

If that is one of the worst days in your life, you're doing ok man.

Take that rim to a shop that has Hunter GSP 9700 balancing machine. This machine is capable of pinpointing defects in the tire and the rim -- the shop of course will also visually inspect the tire.

If you want, they can also dismount the tire, and using a metal "ball" attachment on the GSP 9700, they can measure the runout.

 

Yes, go for the rim fix. I priced out a new 17 inch rim and they are CA$1,000 each or about US$600. The 18s on the Performance can't be cheaper than that.

 

I know what it feels, but look at it from a different perspective........why pay $600 on a rim when you can get some nice aftermarket rims for like 1500

just a thought

 

Well, I can assure you, if having a scratched rim and a small spot on your bumper has equaled the worst day in your life you are a lucky person! Many people cant even afford this car, others can only dream. What about other turmoils in life: losing a loved one, losing a job, etc etc. I think you should count your blessings tonight and realize how lucky you are.

Now, regarding what to do. If its driving you nuts, see if someone can re-finish the wheel (after knocking things back into shape) and dont worry about the bumper. However, if you insist on replacing everthing, you could probably expect to spend about $1300-1600 replacing the one wheel and one bumper. But, what you gonna do next month when you get some little rock stratches on your hood and glance another curb? Spend another $1300-$1600? Replace parts every time you get a blemish and youll have $100,000 invested in no time at all!

 

I would think that 17" wheels would be selling like hot cakes over there at eBay. Most guys are thinking about purchasing after market wheels to replace their 17" factory wheels. You should have any problem finding a set cheap. The problem will be finding just 'one' wheel. You may end up having to buy a set.....

 

If that was one of the worst days of your life, you are a lucky SOB. 2 weeks ago, I curbed my rim, and it looks like crap now. Last week, I got my first door ding. Yesterday, someone did a hit and run on my right fender. Kind of sucks hard, but I'll live.

 

A few weeks ago I scraped up my front right rim myself, i'd say about 1/5 of a rotation has that scraped/chiseled look to it. Some dumbshit pulled out of a side street without looking and I swerved around him (avoiding a serious accident) and banged it off the curb.. I get sick to my stomach evrytime I look at it

So here's the deal on a wheel repair, I personally went to the shop and got an estimate:

$75 for the rim to be fully restored to new condition, and it would of been $120 if it was warped (deffinatly not in my case). But here's why I havn't done it yet, they need 10-14 days to repair it due to the layers and paint that need time to set. So wtf do I do? Drive on a donut for 2 weeks? They have loaner rims but not a big as 18's!! So I am still left with a busted rim and wondering how the heck I am gonna get it done. Maybe I'll bring it in when I go on vacation or something

 

if it helps anyone I have a single front tire that is in perfect condition, Im taking it off the car on friday and will take pictures of it, as well as check that the inside of the rim is perfect as well.

its an 18" rim, make an offer, it can come with or without tread which has 4500 miles on it.

 

Ares, you got a PM

 

Replacement 350Z 18s are about $2200-2500 (rays and regular). They are also very hard to find. HAve it fixed. It's unlikely that it's bent and or the tire is damaged. They can do amazing things nowadays.