How to fix curb rash?

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Ugh. I feel your pain. I’m going to order bright yellow RimBlades for my recently-acquired black Victory Spoke 16s for winter — one of which already has a tiny bit of rash. Hopefully I can be gentle on the summer Power Spokes.
 
It’s not that bad, but any imperfection is annoying and this is my first damage of any kind so it’s certainly sad.

I feel like someone here has mentioned some sort of touch up material that might help? Though I’d rather just leave it than apply a junky-looking fix.
 
Curb feelers. Can you still buy those? Back in the day, curb feelers were always my dads initial mod on any new car. Followed shortly by plastic seat covers; mind you in cars without A/C.


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Found some Energetic Yellow touch-up paint that's a good match for the color. My application isn't pristine but it's better than before, you'd have to really get down and look to notice.

I'll have to be more careful in the particular parking situation that did me in there. Failing that maybe the Wheel Bands are an option. Their yellow won't match, but black might look ok.
 
I’m unsure but I think Rimblades might be a lower-profile option and the yellow looks close (not too warm).
 
endquote said:
Found some Energetic Yellow touch-up paint that's a good match for the color. My application isn't pristine but it's better than before, you'd have to really get down and look to notice.

I'll have to be more careful in the particular parking situation that did me in there. Failing that maybe the Wheel Bands are an option. Their yellow won't match, but black might look ok.
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The existence of this touch-up kit to repair paint chips implies that MINI painted some of their cars Energetic Yellow. I know no SEs were painted Energetic Yellow, but is/was Energetic Yellow the yellow used on yellow non-SE MINI Coopers? Was the color available only on UK MINI Coopers (since the touch-up paint kit is from the UK)?
 
Puppethead said:
Maybe it's meant for the energetic yellow blade (2020-2021 models) and mirror caps?
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You didn't mention the Power Spoke rims, which are the most likely to need some of this paint. Looking at the contents of the kit and the fact that it's not available in the US made me think it's designed for repairing body paint for UK MINI Coopers.
 
I had a clubman with the black wheels. 3 of them got curb rash, mainly because the vehicle was just a little bigger than I was expecting after mostly driving a Miata for 15 years. It became a real sore point for me. This is why I went with the gray wheels on the SE. I am liking the size of this car much more, so hoping to avoid curbing them.
 
insightman said:
This is the Power Spoke balancing accessory--it clips into a hole on the wheel to simulate the weight of the asymmetrical wheel cover.

View attachment 14233
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when you remove the cover on the power spoke, this necessary, but not provided! tool is shown on hte decal inside. Mini provides the key to remove the cover but not the more important balance tool?
 
Unfortunately I've accumulated some more curb rash on my power spokes. I won't share a photo as to not be too triggering.

There is a local wheel specialist that will come to my home and repair them with the color-matching paint.

However, they want to remove the wheels. If the wheels come off and go right back on where they were, do they need to be balanced with the special balancing tool? I'm not sure I can expect a wheel repair guy to do that sort of balancing, can I?

Trying this out before doing my two-year service, if it doesn't work then I'll see what the dealer can do for repairs or new wheels.
 
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If they remove the wheels? Or the tires? If the tires have to come off the wheels, yes they will need to be balanced. If it's just the wheels coming off, no, and you can use the opportunity to rotate front to back and back to front (or some other pattern, depending on the brand of tire).
 
"We need to remove the wheels from the car but not the tire from the rim"

So I guess we're ok then.

I'm going to get those jack adapters, and familiarize myself with the jack points.
 
In Nashville, there is a wheel repair place and they unmount the wheel from car, take the tire off, repair the wheel, powder coat it again, mount and balance the tire again, and then put it back on the car. They do this all in a day too.
I would assume you could find something like that in the bay area since it is so much bigger than little ole Nashville.
 
endquote said:
Unfortunately I've accumulated some more curb rash on my power spokes. I won't share a photo as to not be too triggering.

There is a local wheel specialist that will come to my home and repair them with the color-matching paint.

However, they want to remove the wheels. If the wheels come off and go right back on where they were, do they need to be balanced with the special balancing tool? I'm not sure I can expect a wheel repair guy to do that sort of balancing, can I?

Trying this out before doing my two-year service, if it doesn't work then I'll see what the dealer can do for repairs or new wheels.
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You should balance a wheels every 5000 miles to keep them last longer if they directional you switch them on the same side of a car front to rear on four corners a guy who come to your house in an artist to paint your scratches he got no means/ tools to balanced your wheels I never heard about with 50 years of experience.In my understanding only dealer can balance a wheels if they have that attachment and you don’t have one .Those wheels on SE is the stupidest design from BMW they ever come up with !
 
Yeah. I had a set of four damaged and out-of-round BRABUS alloys – lacquered but with a diamond-cut lip – completely refurbished to better than new, including re&re tires, for less than $500.
 
SameGuy said:
Yeah. I had a set of four damaged and out-of-round BRABUS alloys – lacquered but with a diamond-cut lip – completely refurbished to better than new, including re&re tires, for less than $500.
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I hope you balance them bc after refurbishing they loose an alloy bc they remove a metal to make look them good
 
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