Alloy wheel corrosion

[2SkodaFamily]

Hi,

Just a heads up really. I noticed some corrosion on my wheels. These showed up as milky looking marks around the rim. The service guy at DM Keith agreed and implied it was a common problem. The rears have already been replaced but we're now quibbling over replacing the fronts too.

Have a good look at your wheels and watch out for corrosion.

Martin

[JakeBlade]

Thanks for the heads-up. Do you have any pics of how they look?

[2SkodaFamily]

Afraid not. It looks almost like a milky deposit on the rim. Eventually it'll bubble and the paint will flake off.

[silver1011]

A common problem with these 'polished' or 'diamond cut' alloys.

 

All the rage now across all manufacturers, but they don't last.

 

Stone chips, light scratches, kerbing, even not sitting the centre caps flush when you 'pop' them back in can all give rise to the opportunity for water to get behind the laquer.

 

I've just had all four polished 'Proteus' alloys refurbished on my 6 year old Octavia Scout after two replacement sets under warranty. Now out of warranty I went for a more durable non-polished finish.

 

The Thermisto's on the Superb and Gigaro's on the Fabia will all go the same way no matter how well you look after them.

 

I've just uploaded some pictures here...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/123460-halting-alloy-wheel-lacquer-delamination/page-1?hl= delaminating

Edited 1 June, 2014 by silver1011

[vrsadz]

mine have gone like this but seen later models with same wheels in a normal finish, this is probably due to that skoda have had that many back under warranty for the water ingress they needed to do something.

[Bigpikle]

The key thing is to find some good wheel protector and keep it used regularly and NEVER use strong acid or alkali wheel cleaners. Keep them cleaned regularly and hope they last as long as possible. The polished rims still seem to suffer eventually though. 2 fronts on my E class went after 18 months but the rears have so far been ok.

[Superb170]

After two years I noticed the same thing on the polished callisto wheels.  If you kerb them at all its the beginning of the end for the polished wheels!  Watching my L&K Sirius wheels now and expecting the same despite my best efforts to mind them

[silver1011]

The worst of it starts come tyre change time.

 

There is nothing you can do when removing the tyres, even asking the fitter to be as careful as possible won't eliminate the damage. All it takes is a minute nick or scratch. That is all that is needed for the water to get underneath the laquer. After this point the rest is history.

 

My alloys were fitted from new with tyres with a rim protector so suffered no kerbing. It was stone chips and tyre changes that started the delamination off.

 

Not so bad during the summer months, very slow progression, however come winter you could almost see the trail of 'whiteworm' over night.

[silver1011]

mine have gone like this but seen later models with same wheels in a normal finish, this is probably due to that skoda have had that many back under warranty for the water ingress they needed to do something.

 

Really, are you sure owners haven't had them refurbished themselves?

 

Skoda UK and a lot of dealers will do anything they can to avoid honouring warranty claims on alloys, they simply spout their old favourite - stone chips, kerbing, wear and tear blah, blah and hope you'll go away - even on cars still well within warranty.

 

Lot's of new Superb's are still coming with polished finish alloys from the factory such as the Sirius on the L&K and Luxon on the Elegance (replaced the problematic Thermisto) so I'd be suprised if they haven't implemented the change across all wheels..?

Edited 2 June, 2014 by silver1011

[2SkodaFamily]

Luxon on the Elegance (replaced the problematic Thermisto)

 

 

The Thermisto is what I have.

[Leon-y-k]

I've got a slight bit of corrosion on mine from usual driving, just a quick flick of a stone and that's it! Their not bad at all compared to some I've seen so I will wait and see what happens, maybe get them done in black chrome finish before winter to avoid the aggro! 

 

I've seen loads of cars not just Skoda have this issue, Mercedes have a lot of the same issues. 

[theherbster]

My 56 Plate VW Passat with Catalunya alloys had the same.  The Catalunya's were renowned for it.  All you could do was get them refurbished if you were out of warranty

[robski90]

What would you expect to pay for a refub and what sort of quality should you look for. I bet there's pitfalls in refurbing wheels that you only find out once you've splashed the cash and it's too late. My Thermisto's are worming and now I'm keeping it, at some point I'll get them made nice again.

[Gizmo]

For a std finish they vary from £20 (citypowdercoaters) to £70.

They need to be acid dipped, blasted then painted (or powder coated) and lacquered

[silver1011]

£20 for a refurb? Where from!?

 

When I was ringing around the price varied depending on the size of the alloy.

 

For 18" I was quoted from between £65 and £120 per wheel.

 

The cheaper costs involved a sand blast and paint/laquer, the more expensive quotes involved sand blast, powder coat and then paint/laquer.

[Gizmo]

Citypowdercoaters charge IIRC £20 for a 16" wheel

Google them (I'm in France on the mobile, otherwise I would post a link)

[silver1011]

£20 for a 20" refurb back in 2010.

 

Alhough reading this thread its seems that you may be getting what you pay for...

 

http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/topic/124948-city-powder-coaters-beware/page-2

[JakeBlade]

Try these guys:

http://www.lepsons.com

http://www.platinumwheelrefurb.com

[highinthesky]

Interesting post

 

I have 4 wheels pitted around the hubcaps of a 16 month old car

 

Dealer Warranty man insists this has been caused by 'external circumstances' without ever looking at the car based on his long standing experience of such cases

 

I have been offered the choice of replacing all 4 wheels at full retail price whilst the original wheels go off for inspection or pay £800 for an 'Independent Paint expert' to come to the dealers to assess the problem

 

Neither of these seem particularly fair

 

Will be interested to learn how other people have dealt with this not uncommon situation

[2SkodaFamily]

I'd recommend you go to a different dealer. Sounds like you are being fobbed off. Skoda wheels are getting a bad press lately.

[Danny 57]

I'd recommend you go to a different dealer. Sounds like you are being fobbed off. Skoda wheels are getting a bad press lately.

 

 

I agree. When I had this problem (not dealer problem) I pointed out to the dealer that these "defects" could not be caused by anything else than the defect. Dealer (Capitol Skoda, Newport South Wales) agreed and changed the three wheels.

 

I must note that I thought I might have a problem with the dealer over this based on other peoples experiences but no it was straight forward and a pleasent meeting.

Edited 25 June, 2014 by Danny 57

[silver1011]

Yet another dealer taking the ****.

 

Sometimes it can be hard to argue when it is on the rim (potential kerbing) or on the leading edge of a spoke (stone chip), but when it is around the centre caps there is no argument.

 

Manufacturing defect plain and simple.

 

Find another dealer. If it were me I'd be back on to the same bloke who tried to fob you off and make him take notice.

 

As for charging you for a full set of replacement wheels whilst he sends them off to Skoda for analysis - what a load of tosh! Tell him to do what every other dealer does and use a camera and email.

 

Bloody dealers.

[highinthesky]

Is it possible to approach a different dealer and would they be willing to deal with the matter as they didn't sell me the car?

 

I thought the dealer who sold me the car would be the best bet.

 

I have also been in touch with Skoda Customer care but they have basically referred me back to the dealer which was somewhat surprising as I thought Customer Care would have been the ultimate authority rather than the Warranty person at the dealer.

 

Anyone know of a recommended Independent paint specialist who would be able to provide an opinion on this.

 

Apparently Skoda can get some an 'Independent' in a cost of £150 + Vat but I wonder how 'Independent' such a person will be

[silver1011]

As your car is within the 3 year manufacturers warranty you can take it to any authorised Skoda main dealer for a warranty claim.

 

Skoda UK customer services can't do anything without a report from one of their dealers.

 

This is why you need to take it back to the dealers and ask them to submit a claim under warranty on your behalf for the corroded wheels.

 

The dealer then takes pictures and sends them to Skoda UK who will then look at the evidence and decide on a suitable course of action.

 

The dealer who fobbed you off is doing just that, fobbing you off. He doesn't want the hassle. The effort of taking the pictures and the admin involved in submitting a claim won't earn him commision from selling a new car or a finance package. His time is better spent elsewhere.

 

You don't need independent advice, you need a dealer that can be bothered to help you out.

[sk8tergirl]

As your car is within the 3 year manufacturers warranty you can take it to any authorised Skoda main dealer for a warranty claim.

 

Skoda UK customer services can't do anything without a report from one of their dealers.

 

This is why you need to take it back to the dealers and ask them to submit a claim under warranty on your behalf for the corroded wheels.

 

The dealer then takes pictures and sends them to Skoda UK who will then look at the evidence and decide on a suitable course of action.

 

The dealer who fobbed you off is doing just that, fobbing you off. He doesn't want the hassle. The effort of taking the pictures and the admin involved in submitting a claim won't earn him commision from selling a new car or a finance package. His time is better spent elsewhere.

 

You don't need independent advice, you need a dealer that can be bothered to help you out.

+1 

agree totally, time to find another dealer.... 

I'm sure someone on here can suggest a dealer in Hampshire who offers good service.