At 10,000 miles, I've just had to have the front pair of tyres replaced on my vRS TDi, at a local tyre place (with a good reputation).  When they'd finished, I had a quick look at the wheels and on the offside one, there's now a chunk of lacquer missing from one of the thin silver spokes. :(

 

The garage are saying that it's probably due to corrosion and that piece of lacquer would have flaked off for whoever was first to remove a tyre.  I must admit, there's no damage that I can see to the wheel, just the lacquer missing, but my point was that I didn't think the lacquer would be flaky on a 6-month old car.  Anyway, they've said they'll meet me half way with the cost of a refurb because it happened when in their care.

 

I just went and got down on the floor and had a properly good look at the wheel and there's actually a few spots of lacquer missing around the edge of the wheel and there are what appears to be spots forming across a lot of the thin silver spokes.  Having seen that, I think they're right and it isn't because the fitter managed to clonk it, it's because the lacquer is failing.

 

My question then; are the wheels covered under warranty and if so, how difficult is it to get Skoda to replace one?  There is no damage on the wheel at all (the nearside front is a different story, thanks to the missus).

 

Thanks for any opinions offered

This might help....

 

http://bit.ly/1oiOc5L

Your not the first. The diamond cut and lacquered Geminis aren't durable it seems.  Others have had them replaced under warranty.  I guess it's the paint warranty they covers them? Which is slightly shorter than the mechanical, 2.5 years iirc. I suggest you speak to your local dealer before refurbishing, you should get a new wheel.

This might help....

 

http://bit.ly/1oiOc5L

 

Thanks for the supremely useless reply but oddly enough, I did Google that for myself - except I used a more specific search term rather than a generic one.  I couldn't find the answer on Skoda's website, nor in their warranty booklet.

 

 

Your not the first. The diamond cut and lacquered Geminis aren't durable it seems.  Others have had them replaced under warranty.  I guess it's the paint warranty they covers them? Which is slightly shorter than the mechanical, 2.5 years iirc. I suggest you speak to your local dealer before refurbishing, you should get a new wheel.

 

Thanks for that!  I'll have a word with the dealer and see what they say.

I first read of someone having the problem on this site back in about May.... I tried to change my order to the silver Gemini which are fully powder coated but it was just too late, I was locked down.  My plan will be to check them carefully, get them swapped when they show signs of lacquer lifting and try and get all 4 as new as I can just before the warranty expires.  In the mean time, save up for some new alloys in a few years. 

Well, the guy at the dealers said it would be covered if it was the lacquer gone and not due to kerbing or other damage.  He did try to blame it on stone chipping at first though and dodged the question when I asked why stones would choose to attack only one wheel.  I'm popping in on the way home from work for him to have a look at it.

We had all 4 replaced on the Wife's Fabia MKII Vrs

 

If there is any curbing on the wheels the chances are you wont get them replaced under Warranty 

I understand that moisture ingress under the lacquer results in obvious 'white worms'. If I get that inside warranty I'll be forcing repair whether there is damage elsewhere to the rim or not. It would be like accepting a rust hole because a panel has a stone chip elsewhere!

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/310724-2new-wheels-required/?hl=%2Bgemini#entry3716543

Mine doesn't have white worms - it has tiny little bubbles where the lacquer is lifting.

 

The guy at the dealer had a look at the wheel and agreed it wasn't stone or kerb damage and told me he'd get a new wheel under warranty ordered.

Good.

Polished or diamond cut alloys are weak I'm afraid. They usually last just until the warranty expires!

Get them sealed properly and don't use harsh chemicals or a jet washer on them!

Don't know why manufacturers still fit these to uk cars. All diamond cut alloys will suffer corrosion issues regardless of the quality. I used to sell alloy wheels and refused to sell diamond cut/ polished wheels as no matter how well you informed people of the durability they would come back and complain. Uk winters exaggerate the issue due to the salt we use as well.