What is the white stuff smearing wheels after installation of tires?

neelkc12 · 03-20-2013, 07:07 AM

Weather was terrible.. snow , slush , freezing rain .. ouch . Service was scheduled was installation of my pirelli RFT's with my local dealership . I braved the weather and made it. Prize - A bmw loaner ..

great so far. Got a call in the evening that my x3 is ready to be picked up .
On visual, I did not like the looks of my new tires and wheels .. white grease like stuff smearing all of the wheels and tire sidewall.. I thought it's slush from the road test after new tire installation and went home. Nope the white stuff stayed over 3 weeks over a couple of washes and disappeared only after I manually wiped all wheels and side walls. What is it ? Just curious. Had changed tires several times but never came across similar white greasy stuff before.

Sp82 · 03-20-2013, 07:38 AM

not 100% sure, but sounds like the grease substance they apply on the rims/tires when mounting the new tires onto the rims--kind of like a lubricant, if that makes sense.

Yeltzer · 03-20-2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikz

not 100% sure, but sounds like the grease substance they apply on the rims/tires when mounting the new tires onto the rims--kind of like a lubricant, if that makes sense.

This

noka · 03-20-2013, 08:19 PM

Super KY in case the new RFT are real tight.

pmacd55 · 03-20-2013, 08:37 PM

Lithium grease ? Surprised the dealer didn't clean up and remove it before you got it back. I would note it on the survey they send after service, give a low grade and check Have Service Manager contact me.... believe they end up at BMWUSA.

neelkc12 · 03-22-2013, 08:15 AM

Thanks guys. "Lithium grease" was the term I was looking for . Just completedup the survey with lots of loving words

bradleyland · 03-22-2013, 01:18 PM

It's more waxy than lithium grease, and a total pain to clean. Requires dedicated scrubbing. I find it in the groove of my bead every time I get tires from the BMW dealer, but I've never had it all over the sidewalls. Sounds like they didn't do a very good clean-up.

03-20-2013, 07:07 AM	#1
neelkc12 Private 21 Rep 87 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: boston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 [0.00]	What is the white stuff smearing wheels after installation of tires? Weather was terrible.. snow , slush , freezing rain .. ouch . Service was scheduled was installation of my pirelli RFT's with my local dealership . I braved the weather and made it. Prize - A bmw loaner .. great so far. Got a call in the evening that my x3 is ready to be picked up . On visual, I did not like the looks of my new tires and wheels .. white grease like stuff smearing all of the wheels and tire sidewall.. I thought it's slush from the road test after new tire installation and went home. Nope the white stuff stayed over 3 weeks over a couple of washes and disappeared only after I manually wiped all wheels and side walls. What is it ? Just curious. Had changed tires several times but never came across similar white greasy stuff before.
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03-20-2013, 07:38 AM	#2
Sp82 Colonel 166 Rep 2,000 Posts Drives: F15 X5/G30 5er Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: DFW, Tx iTrader: (1)	not 100% sure, but sounds like the grease substance they apply on the rims/tires when mounting the new tires onto the rims--kind of like a lubricant, if that makes sense.
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03-20-2013, 08:19 PM	#4
noka First Lieutenant 10 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 2013 x35i M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Super KY in case the new RFT are real tight. __________________ 2013 x35i (Space Gray, MSport, CW/CWII, DHP, Premium, Premium Sound, Technology, BMW-Apps) Retired: '09 C300 4Matic, '09 GTI, '06 750i, '05 C55, '04 R32, '03 M5, '02 GTI, '01 M5, '00 M-Coupe, '00 540i/6, '99 M3 Coupe, '98 M3 Coupe, '96 328i,... '86 4000 CS Quattro... too many to list.
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03-20-2013, 08:37 PM	#5
pmacd55 Private First Class 8 Rep 145 Posts Drives: 2016 M235xi Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NH iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW X3 [0.00] 2011 328 xi [0.00]	Lithium grease ? Surprised the dealer didn't clean up and remove it before you got it back. I would note it on the survey they send after service, give a low grade and check Have Service Manager contact me.... believe they end up at BMWUSA.
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03-22-2013, 08:15 AM	#6
neelkc12 Private 21 Rep 87 Posts Drives: x3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: boston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 [0.00]	Thanks guys. "Lithium grease" was the term I was looking for . Just completedup the survey with lots of loving words
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03-22-2013, 01:18 PM	#7
bradleyland TIM YOYO 1504 Rep 3,283 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW R1250GS [0.00] 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i [0.00]	It's more waxy than lithium grease, and a total pain to clean. Requires dedicated scrubbing. I find it in the groove of my bead every time I get tires from the BMW dealer, but I've never had it all over the sidewalls. Sounds like they didn't do a very good clean-up. __________________ His: *2019 R1250GS* - Black Hers: 2013 X3 28i - N20 Mineral Silver / Sand Beige / Premium, Tech Past: 2013 ///M3 - Interlagos Blue Black M-DCT Past: 2010 135i - TiAg Coral Red 6MT ///M-Sport**
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