Hello,

I am new to the forum, although have used as a guest previously when I first got my 500 in 2013 (bought second hand 2011 model). Just wanted some advice really about replacing a buckled alloy. The tyre is fine but the garage have said that I shouldn't really drive about on it too much and definitely not on the motorway and so I really need to get it fixed soon - it has already been a week.

The Fiat garage have quoted £398.57 inc. VAT for a new 5 double spoke alloy wheel and I have looked on ebay and called a number of local garages to see if I can get a single one second hand, but to no avail. It is the O style and is unusual and so hard to fine spares.

There are other alloys (non fiat) that I have seen and could replace the lot for less than the one quoted above but I am not sure of any implications of doing this.

So my questions are:

Can the alloy be repaired to a safe standard or is it generally not worth it? Has anyone had this done? And can recommend anywhere in the North West?

Has anyone changed their alloys completely? And if so,are there any issues I need to consider? And nay recommendations for a good brand that is compatible with a Fiat 500?

I'm loathe to spend the £398, plus the labour charge, but I am fearing this is my only option.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance

Fabs said:

Hello

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Hello and welcome.

Sorry it's in such sad circumstances.

Fabs said:

Can the alloy be repaired to a safe standard or is it generally not worth it?

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There are some companies who claim to be able to straighten buckled alloys but they will never be as strong as before and personally I wouldn't take the risk. As you've already found out, they're not that strong to begin with.

Fabs said:

Has anyone changed their alloys completely? And if so,are there any issues I need to consider? And nay recommendations for a good brand that is compatible with a Fiat 500?

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The 500 uses 98PCD wheels (most other marques, and most aftermarket alloys, will be 100PCD). It's possible to fit 100PCD wheels to 98PCD hubs using wobble bolts, but at the end of the day, it's a bodge. Non-standard wheels should be declared to your insurance company (otherwise your insurance may not be valid) and you could have to pay an increased premium.

Fabs said:

I'm loathe to spend the £398, plus the labour charge, but I am fearing this is my only option

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Fitting aftermarket alloys would likely reduce the value of the car by at least that much.

Fabs said:

Any advice appreciated.

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You need to find a good secondhand replacement at a sensible price; that will require patience.

What I'd do now is to buy a secondhand set of 14" Fiat steel wheels & tyres; probably around £100-£150 all in, or even less if you're lucky. Run them until you can find a good secondhand genuine matching alloy for a reasonable price, then fit winter tyres to the steels and use them in the winter. You can sell the steels and winter tyres separately if you sell the car, and likely get most of your money back.

Single alloys always pop up on eBay, Gumtree and the like. I would be inclined to do what jrkitching said by pick up a set 14" steelies or even just one (if the rolling diameter is the same or close) I've seen them advertised for €25ea from a local wreckers.

Sorry to hear it.

As others have mentioned if you're not too adverse to the look of the 14" steel wheels, then this will indeed probably be the easiest/cheapest and most surefire way of getting the right wheels that fit and everything else. Even if this is just temporary while you search around. Might be worth contacting some breaker's yards if you haven't already just in case!

I've got a completely new set of alloy wheels, although mine are showy so not to everyone's taste, especially if that's not what you want! Fiat use an awkward 4x98, so I am one of those individuals running 4x100 and using wobble bolts (they don't wobble), but unless you're in the market for new wheels, it seems daft to go down this route, and potentially end up forking out for insurance modifications too. Furthermore the width of the wheel and the offset and all manner of fun things can crop up and just be an additional hurdle.

Hello everyone and thank you so much for your prompt, friendly and incredibly helpful replies.

I figured that a repair job on the alloy was going to be a no go, I wasn't feeling good about it as I thought there's no way they'd be as safe, so that's good to know this is the general consensus.

And fitting a different brand of alloys was something I was feeling like just because of the cost and asa last resort, but with all that people have mentioned in their replies, it sounds like it really isn't something worthwhile for me to do. I actually love the current alloys I have, it was one of the things I loved most when I bought the car, so am gutted that it's proving difficult to replace one of them.

Jrkitching - Yes, your advice seems the sensible thing to do (thank you!) and whilst I'm not averse to the look of the 14 inch steel wheels, as an interim measure, wouldn't be keen to keep them on too long. Also, will they feel different or affect any performance or driving compared to the 16" alloys?

Is there any type I should look out for or will any 14" fiat steel wheels do? And I'm presuming getting these fitted should be a simple job at a local garage or tyre/wheel fitters and there's nothing special that needs to be altered to fit a smaller wheel?

Foambullets - out of curiosity, if I were able to find a single steelie would it be ok with 3 alloys? Sorry for my ignorance, but would I need a 16" steel wheel or would I just have to make sure the rolling diameters were the same?

Yeah, Noxide, I did check as many of the local breakers yards as I could and even rang a few that list on eBay which were further afield, out of desperation, but nothing. I have seen the exact wheel for sale on gumtree in Norwich for only £45 (including tyre) but I'm in the North West and so its too far to drive, especially seeing as I can't drive my car on the motorway. It says it's collection only and I don't know if they'd be amenable to couriering it as it's more hassle for them, plus I wouldn't have seen the condition of it.

Thanks again in advance.

Is it this alloy?

https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=9071&sku=183434

I think they will discount it further if you say you are from the fiat forum.

Fabs said:

...would I need a 16" steel wheel or would I just have to make sure the rolling diameters were the same?

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If you just replace a single wheel, it needs to be 16" to pass an MOT (both tyres on the same axle must have the same nominal size and aspect ratio).

Fabs said:

I'm not averse to the look of the 14 inch steel wheels, as an interim measure, wouldn't be keen to keep them on too long. Also, will they feel different or affect any performance or driving compared to the 16" alloys?

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The ride will be less harsh on 14" wheels and you'll likely see a noticeable improvement in fuel economy.

To get the best out of 16" wheels on the 500, you really need to upgrade the suspension. @306maxi runs 16" alloys with a Bilstein setup and says generally favourable things about the combination.

chronicfathead said:

Is it this alloy?

https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=9071&sku=183434

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Unfortunately the OP has said they're 16" wheels.

Fabs said:

I have seen the exact wheel for sale on gumtree in Norwich for only £45 (including tyre) but I'm in the North West and so its too far to drive, especially seeing as I can't drive my car on the motorway. It says it's collection only and I don't know if they'd be amenable to couriering it as it's more hassle for them, plus I wouldn't have seen the condition of it.

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If you do find a potentially suitable wheel and it's too far away, post the details here and someone on the forum may be able to help you out.

Thank you for the responses.

Chronicfathead- thanks but no, I'm afraid that's not the one I'm after, this is the alloy I need attached. You can see the buckle in the alloy at the bottom.

I'm not able to post a URL to the gumtree advert as I'm new and need 5 posts before I can do it but at £45 it is a pretty reasonable price. If only it was closer to me. But if there is anyone out there on the forum able to help with the logistics of getting it, let me know - would be much appreciated.

Jrkitching - thanks for the advice re: the 14" steels and the info about the differences I'll notice. Interesting that the ride would be less harsh on the smaller wheel. I bought the car with current 16" alloys on that I think the guy who had it from new, customised straight from the brochure. I doubt that it would have come with a suspension upgrade though, and there didn't appear to be anything in the paper work that came with it to indicate that anything has been done to alter it.

Whatever I decide, I am going to have to do it soon as not being able to drive on motorways is hindering me and I need my car to drive up north this weekend, and further afield next weekend. It's such a pain. I think that is the problem that I need to find a solution sooner than later. If I had the luxury of time to source all of these things, and wait, it would be easier. I'll have a look to see if I can find any second hand 14" steels locally and if not, then I have a difficult decision ahead..

Thanks for all the advice. You've all be incredibly helpful.

There's a fair bit of scuffing in addition to the obvious damage. If the other 3 are also scuffed, this might be of interest and you will have plenty of insurance against meeting another pothole, plus a full size spare if you don't mind giving up some boot space. Reading between the lines, you might be able to negotiate with the seller to have them delivered.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fiat-500-alloy-wheels-and-tyres-PRICE-DROP-/322480560816?hash=item4b1556dab0:g:62EAAOSwrddY7Ule

There are also plenty of sets of 4 steels just now, some with decent tyres, in various locations for around £100 a set.

Fabs said:

Jrkitching - thanks for the advice re: the 14" steels and the info about the differences I'll notice. Interesting that the ride would be less harsh on the smaller wheel. I bought the car with current 16" alloys on that I think the guy who had it from new, customised straight from the brochure. I doubt that it would have come with a suspension upgrade though, and there didn't appear to be anything in the paper work that came with it to indicate that anything has been done to alter it.

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To be honest these are some of the few cars 14" steel wheels don't look horrendous on! If you want steel wheels, spare parts sites tend to do them, and some places will even wrap them in tyres for you ready to put onto the car.

The ride is definitely less harsh on lower size wheels, it's because there's more tyre wrapped round it, basically! I went from 14" steels to much wider 15" alloys, and my god is there a difference.

I doubt anything else has been done suspension wise, espescially if there's no indication of it. These aren't cars that most owners tend to modify too much!

Good luck in your search, hope you can find some scuffing about somewhere!

Is this the right one? Get it refinished/painted?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-F...453316?hash=item2124ed5104:g:J1cAAOSwVm5Y9jZh

Or there's this one from Austria, says free postage?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/alloy-whe...105525?hash=item440126f175:g:Kf0AAOSw3utY5J1X

Hi Fabs

Where abouts are you? I have a set of 14 inch steels and a set of 500 wheel trims in the garage that you can gladly have to get you out of the Mire. I live off junction 25 M1.

john202020- it is the second sliver/grey one.
I hadn't thought of looking at eBay sales from abroad but if it is free postage then it is certainly an option to consider. Main issue is that I need to get this sorted soon, so would depend on the time it takes to post

Thanks for your help!

muttleysdad - Oh, that's very kind of you to offer. I'm in Manchester. Not sure how I'd get them, I could drive via A roads through the peaks. Should I PM you?

Thanks again.

Are the two I posted not the same design just one a different colour?

Fabs said:

muttleysdad - Oh, that's very kind of you to offer. I'm in Manchester. Not sure how I'd get them, I could drive via A roads through the peaks. Should I PM you?

Thanks again.

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Yes please

Let me have your phone number and I'll give you a call.


Cheers

Chris

John202020 said:

Are the two I posted not the same design just one a different colour?

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Yes, they're same design but the first ones are the sport bi colour ones.

Thanks for all the replies and info, all invaluable.

I've been touch directly with Muttleysdad now and so hopefully I'll have solution to my immediate problem and can now wait, as jrkitching suggested, to see if a good second hand alloy comes up.

Thanks again - this forum and people on it have been incredibly helpful, friendly and generous