R65 front wheel replacement ?

[1972R60]

I severely damaged the front rim on my 79 R65. 18" snowflake. Can I use an 18" snowflake from other years? If so, which years or all? How much out of true is acceptable? Any referrals to a possible source? Thanks in advance for your input.
MIBMWNut (Mike)

[Bob_Roller]

You can use a rim from other year R65's, the early R65 rims were a bit different looking from later years .

I don't know if you have any wheel straightening businesses in your area, I was at the local BMW auto dealership getting an oil and air filter about 6 months ago and one of these mobile services was working on a car rim, I was impressed on how it turned out .

Don't know if there would be issues later on with cracks, etc .....

[1972R60]

 :)Thanks for the suggestion to straighten the wheel. It will need to be welded first, it is bad, bad. And I understand it can be done locally, but there is a pretty decent delay, and that it can be expensive. :But I will get a price on that too, but I want to get back on the road this year. I only have one bike. Anybody else want to chime in? :-/

[Justin B.]

Check in our Trading Post, put a wanted ad in our Trading Post section or keep a watch on fleabay.

[Tony Smith]

I severely damaged the front rim on my 79 R65. 18" snowflake. Can I use an 18" snowflake from other years?

The wheel off any pre-1985 R65 will fit. I also have a very bent front wheel and I was loathe to have it straightened again as it has already been re-worked twice and then damaged again.
 
I bought a front wheel from a German seller and found that the cost of the wheel plus post by DHL was significantly less than the only wrecker I could find in Australia with a wheel wanted for his wheel with post still to be added. From memory I paid about $AU75 for the Wheel and $AU80 to have it posted to me.

It's a shame you are not in Australia as I will shortly have a surplus r65 front wheel as I am in the process of fitting a K100 complete front end to my r65.