Hi guys... been pondering what to do about this one for a few weeks now. What should I do about these alloys?

 

 

Please mind the dirt... hasn't stopped raining enough yet to give it a thorough wash.  

I have a years warranty with Skoda, but I bought the car from them with the allowys in current condition.  I was planning on getting them refurbished and the reason I got the car so cheap was because of the alloys and a few other imperfections.

I have read on here amongst other places that the Themisto are notorious for this type of peeling

A few people have said why don't I take it to my local dealer... rather than the dealer I bought it from and see if you can blag a refurb out of them.  Just wondering whether anyone has tried this? Do you think they'll have information in other dealers on the condition of the car?  Is it worth a shot?  Thanks in advance!

You could take a chance and ask, worth a try. I curbed one of mine a few weeks ago, I believe they are a polished wheel which takes specialised equipment to sort them out.I rubbed it down with 2000 grit and re lacquered, did not look too bad but my sanding was far smoother than the original wheel. The other alternative was to have all 4 wheels resprayed to match.

Rex

Wasting your time probably, all they will say is that it was caused buy a stone chip sir, thats not covered I'm afaid.

I think the Themisto are polished/machined and then lacquered.  If so, then I would only give a refurb around 6 months before it comes back worse.  The few places that will do it tend to only offer a 3 month warranty for that very reason.   I always vowed that I would have my Luxons resprayed at the first sign of damage to avoid going down the polished route.

Just get them sandblasted and then powder coated, then you'll not need to worry in the future. All polished wheels end up like that eventually, all it takes a small stone chip or a slight touch on a kerb and off it goes.

My Thermisto's were shot, one in particular, once the laquer has come of diamond cut alloys they corrode like mad, I had had a quote to have them re-diamond cut but it was £150 a wheel, nearly the price of a new wheel! My Dad works at a crash repair centre and they sudgested having them painted, I was a bit unsure about this as I love the look of Diamond Cut wheels but only when they are new! They did say that with primer, base coat, 2 top coats and laquer they would be a lot better protected and also the fact they would do all 4 wheels for me for £150 instead of the usual £50 - £60 a wheel, it was a bit of a no brainer so had them done last week! So glad I had them done now as they look brilliant and you wouldn't know they shouldn't be painted wheels!

Image added below now

Edited 7 April, 201412 yr by bryanp

 

 

This is how they look painted, sorry its at night but I think you'll still see how good they look, worth it I think, what you think?

Edited 7 April, 201412 yr by bryanp

^^^ For £150 for 4, looks really good Bryan.

Lee I found this offer, and a friend had his  4x4 wheels done. The disadvantage is they are in Birmingham. However at only £30 a wheel for powder coating including removing and refitting tyre and rebalancing which i thought wasnt a bad deal.

 

http://www.citypowdercoating.co.uk/#!__offer

Those look sweet fair play Bryan.  Better than the originals if you ask me lol

And nice find iain, gonna see if the wife will let me spend on this :p

 

I'll be honest I wasn't bothered by the marking on them as I got the car for a good price.  However I'm really shocked by these prices... expected much more tbh

I recently traded my 59 plate superb and the wheels were worse than the OP's pictures. the dealer said that they just powder coat them as it's not worth getting them done back to originals.

For Ref. the prices here are good, I just paid £300 for a set of 19"s to be powder coated, it was a very reputable place with top quality work etc. but still, a lot of money by comparison.

Just get them sandblasted and then powder coated, then you'll not need to worry in the future. All polished wheels end up like that eventually, all it takes a small stone chip or a slight touch on a kerb and off it goes.

+1.

 

I'm happy with the powder-coating on both my cars, much better than & more durable than the original polished / laquered wheels.

As has been mentioned polished alloys look great in the showroom, the reality is they are weak and rarely stay looking good much beyond the 3 year warranty.

 

Skoda have their fair share of issues, the Thermisto on the Superb, Gigaro on the Fabia and Proteus on the Octavia Scout, all unfit for purpose.

 

There are plenty of us that have had all four alloys replaced on our Scout's under warranty, but you have to be able to demonstrate the delamination isn't as a result of stone chipping or kerbing. At least on the Scout this was easy due to the rim protector on the OEM Dunlops ruling out kerbing.

 

As you are still under warranty I'd be pursuing this as a genuine claim, especially given the many examples of delamination. Skoda UK are well aware of the issue despite their guaranteed denial "we've never seen this before sir", yeah, right!

 

If you don't ask you don't get.

 

If not then there is another vote for getting them powder coated or painted. My second set of alloys are now heading the same way, no more warranty means I am getting mine painted. A shame as I like the polished finish, it's just a shame it isn't more durable.

I had polished callisto wheels on my last Superb. Looked great and I was careful with them but again after the first chip you really have to be careful as spots of corrosion appear.. Lasted the three years fine but I reckon the new owner will be looking at a refurb in another year or so.. Definitely something to watch for on the used models.


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When (not if) mine go I fancy getting them powder coated in a dark chrome.

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I'd agree with the powder coat option. The dark chrome effect sounds great.

Themistos look great when box fresh and mine lasted quite well - 2 years and about 65000 miles - before they started to deteriorate.

Powder coating is good but I was told that they harder to touch up when the enevitable happens and as theres only one coat they actually damage easier. Also with paint you have an endless choice of colours compared to powder coating.