Hello folks

I've just purchased my first Skoda, a fantastic 2010 Superb Elegance Tdi 170 twin door and am looking forward to many happy years of motoring.

After just a couple of days of Skoda ownership, I'm delighted - the Superb is everything and more the name implies.

My car has 34,500 miles up with a full Skoda service history and is due its next service in a couple of weeks...

The only issue I have is that all four Thermisto alloys are blistered - it's clearly not kerbing damage, but some kind of manufacturing fault. A car in such good condition with so few miles should not have wheels as cruddy-looking as these.

What are the chances of Skoda repairing/replacing the wheels as a goodwill gesture when I take the vehicle in for its service? The car is 5 years old next month so clearly it's not a warranty job.

Buying the car has cleaned me out so I'm loathe to pay for the repairs myself - if I were to do so, should I go down the powder coating or painting route?

If anyone has any experiences of this issue and can advise, please get in touch!

Cheers,

John

Yes.

Mine was the same. Original themisto have what they call diamond gloss paint and mine looked like they had water or bubbles underneath. Had them recoated and repainted, paid £200 for all 4 at a wheels specialist, took 6 hours, they gave me replacement wheels, very happy with the result.

Related pic:

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

Edited 18 October, 201510 yr by alextan

Hi Alex, could you tell me what company you used for your wheels, mine are the same as your were...!

Many thanks.

Bob

A common desire on modern cars is as mentioned, polished or diamond cut alloy wheels.

 

This is where the bare metal is polished to a high shine and simply laqured, no paint.

 

They look nice, but do not take wear and tear too well. A stone chip, removing and fitting tyres etc. can all damage the laquer. Once water gets under the laquer it is game over.

 

On normal alloys you'd still have several coats of paint to protect the bare metal from the elements.

 

It isn't just a Skoda issue but Skoda dealers and Skoda UK are well aware of the issue, people have been putting in claims for years.

 

The Proteus alloy on the Octavia Scout, the Gigaro on the Fabia and the Thermisto on the Superb, all weak by design. Luckily (or not) they tend to last for just as long as the 3 year warranty.

 

Those that do try and claim within warranty normally have their claims rejected as it is very easy for Skoda to blame kerbing, fair wear and tear etc. It is very difficult to prove that it is a design flaw.

 

I had two full sets replaced under warranty on my Octavia, but only after digging my heels in. When the warranty ran out I had them properly refurbed with a full covering of paint, non of this polished / diamond cut rubbish.

 

£250 will get you a top quality refurb. I'm not far from you but took my wheels up to SEM in Sunderland (near work), they were great.

 

This thread goes back to February 2009...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/123460-halting-alloy-wheel-lacquer-delamination/

 

After the refurb...

 

 

 

Not mine but you get the idea...

 

Edited 30 November, 201510 yr by silver1011

I have the same issue but just can't justify the spend to get them painted, given that 1. My wife is likely to kerb the alloys as soon as they are painted 2. Who knows how long we will have the car (our last car was written off a week after getting 4 new tyres, aaaaargh!).

 

I doubt that the oxidising causes any issues other than cosmetic, so will simply put up with it.

I guess we're lucky, as our 4 yo Thermistos are, touch wood, not showing signs of deterioration. I suspect it's only a matter of time though...

Hi Alex, could you tell me what company you used for your wheels, mine are the same as your were...!

Many thanks.

Bob

They are these guys:

http://www.letchworthdiamondwheels.com/

Had them done a year ago.

Edited 2 December, 201510 yr by alextan

I have two sets, one for summer and one for winter. I have at least one wheel on each set showing the problem.