Well had my first case of curb-rash already . It's not a pretty sight, although it looks worse in the photo than in person. Can I use some fine sandpaper or Emery Cloth? Do I need to redo the clear-coat? Or should I use the Wurth German Alloy Silver Wheel Lacquer?

I don't want to start spraying the entire rim, I just would like to touch up the part that got hurt.

If I leave it, other than asthetics, will that cause a problem?

 

Light sanding then touch it up. You will get more in the future.

Try to find a clean one someone has taken off and use this one as the spare wheel.

Not nice to get curbed, but it happens.

 

With the touch up, is there any silver paint that's a brush on? I have such a small area I'm worried that if I start to try to spray and it runs I'm just going to end up with an even worse problem

 

You can probably get wheel touch up in the bottle at your MINI dealer.

Another way would be spray the color into a container then dab/touchup from container before the paint dries.

I would not spray the curb-rash directly, it will run as you noted.

 

Great tips. Sure appreciate it!

 

i would just leave it..... as others have said you will probably get more over time. There is plenty of info on the web about how to repair it, but it is a pain staking process. A little curb rash won't devalue the car, and it doesn't really spoil the looks of the car either.

Just my 2¢

 

Ask your dealer about there process. I had a rim that they fixed and it looks brand new.

 

If it makes you feel any better...I've got 2 wheels like that.

 

When I repaired some curb rash and repainted a set of wheels this past summer, I referred to this DIY and found it helpful....

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/realwhda.html

If you end up repairing it yourself, the spot putty method is pretty easy. I would only add from my own experience of doing it that if you have a really high spot where you scraped the wheel, take a file to it first before sanding it down and applying the putty, otherwise you will have a hard time getting it smooth and even.

I did a whole set of four wheels and all had extensive rash (from the previous owner). It took a while.....but one little spot like you have should take no time at all, especially since you would just tape off the one spot and touch up with the spray paint.

Good luck.

 

For painted and clear-coated wheels, the following link is probably a similar technique used by dealerships to fill curb-rash and refinish the damage. I hope you're feeling ambitious (although seriously, it doesn't actually look too hard if you take your time. Perhaps this would be a good technique to wait and try if another wheel were to get damaged.)
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext43.shtml

EDIT: Looks like Fastlane beat me to it! (The instructions are the same)

 

I did almost the exact same "curb brush" just a few weeks ago. Man, I felt like such a dweeb! But after a few days, I didn't think it was all that noticable and decided to just leave it alone. I think that painting or sanding may make it just as noticable as leaving it alone if not done really well.

 

Rick,
No one will notice your rash, not with that cool antenna.

...seriously, I had a rock smack my newly powder coated wheel, left a big ding/chip. I sprayed paint onto a wire and let it run down into the damaged area, filled it up nicely. On your's you may need position the scuff down and mask the tire below the area. Take your time, and from ten feet, good as new!

disregard if this has been discussed in any of the above links.

Bryan

 

Thanks everyone for the great advise. I think I will give it a try with the DIY repair but I'll wait til the summer. Perhaps by then I'll be less in shock about Spike . Also right now it's too cold where I am. As I often say, why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow.

Bryan, that's just crazy talk about the antenna, but it is nice isnt it

I wonder if these curb-feelers come in an MCS version

 

The old lady who lived next door to us when I was growing up had those on her car!

 

If you are were looking to change to some non runflat tires, you can get new, wider tires. Stock is 205, I've gone to size 215 tires myself. This will offer a bit of protection as the rubber comes out past the rim. Save your old tires in case u get a flat. Or if you were looking for new rims, same rules apply.

Of course, those r more costly options...

 

i too feel your pain . i did almost the exact same thing, i was soooooo mad at my self when i did. i asked my MA what it would cost to fix and a local repair shop and they both said about $150... i hate my mini not being perfect anymore....

 

Good call, that's what I was thinking too. Extra protection plus added good looks, how can you go wrong

My BMW had the widest tires available for the stock rim and you're right the tires did offer some protection for the rims. I'm going to get rid of the RFs once they go so 215s for me.

 

Misery loves company. Perhaps we could start a Curb-Rash Club, or one for those who's Mini's aren't pristine any more