Powdercoated wheels chipped & pitted - comeback?

[SteBrown91]

Hi all,

Got my golf alloys powder coated by a national franchise that specialise in wheel refurbishment back in October.

Came to clean them today and noticed one or 2 wheels have developed several quite nasty chips to the paint. Additionally some of the gaps in the spokes have got quite severe pitting from brake dust.

Now I know wheels will pick up damage but I am surprised how many chips are on them. In regards to the pitting I try to clean my car when possible (usually around once a month), which I know may send detailers in a tizzy but generally that's all I have time for.

I could almost forgive the chips as I do 20k a year on pretty awful roads but the pitting seems quite bad considering how new the finish is (I have had cars previously ive barely cleaned and had 80k of action and the pitting was not as bad as this)

Would I have a chance under their 12 month guarantee or am I just going to have to live with it? I.e. is it an issue with the finish or my fault for lack of maintenance?

Thanks in advance.

[poing]

I think we would need pictures to be able to help properly here.

I guess it depends on the warranty the work came with, that might be considered normal wear and tear. Can't hurt to let the place that did the job have a look though.

[SteBrown91]

poing said:

I think we would need pictures to be able to help properly here.

I guess it depends on the warranty the work came with, that might be considered normal wear and tear. Can't hurt to let the place that did the job have a look though.

Yeah might give them a bell on Monday, I'll try and get pictures. Just wanted to know if I had any real chance of getting it sorted etc,

Cheers

[Leptons]

How long/many miles since you had them done?

[SteBrown91]

Leptons said:

How long/many miles since you had them done?

I think it was October last year so maybe 7-8k ish?

[poing]

8k sounds low, I'd expect them to last longer than that.

[SteBrown91]

Right here are some pictures - not the best as on my phone.

Picture one shoes a chip to the face with laquer lifting slightly


Then next couple of pics show deeper chips to the base coat on the edge/inside of the spoke.





Then these images show the pitting and rust marks from the brakes





These are all on one wheel. The others have pitting and a couple of minor laquer chips but the pictured wheel is the worst.

The chips i could understand if something large has flicked up but im not too happy about how pitted they are and how easily the brake rust has marked the finish.

These wheels are normally cleaned once a month or more frequent so not like they are mistreated. (In my opinion)

[vikingaero]

SteBrown91 said:

These wheels are normally cleaned once a month or more frequent so not like they are mistreated. (In my opinion)

I clean my wheels weekly. Even if I can't wash the car I have a bucket in the garage with a brush/sponge/water/carshampoo in it for a Friday PM whizz of the wheels. One month is a long time to leave wheels uncleaned especially in a salty environment. Even after a week I find that some parts of the wheel will start to tarnish.

[kwk]

Mine were powder coated about two years ago and have been on two different cars with about 20k. They are as good now as the day they were done.

[Sheepshanks]

SteBrown91 said:

Would I have a chance under their 12 month guarantee or am I just going to have to live with it?

You can only ask, I suppose. The sooner the better.

I had mine done by what sounds like the same outfit. I was never very happy with the finish, and then corrosion around the valve holes started to re-appear - the very reason I'd had them done.

To be fair, they unhesitatingly re-did them.

I coated them with the Gtechniq wheel stuff and it really is just a matter of sponging them to get them clean.

[ToothbrushMan]

from those pics i would say normal wear and tear. october to now is also the winter months with lots of salt and other debris on the roads. i had mine dones 4 years ago and they still look tidy. they no longer look mint but i am realistic about how long a finish can remain looking like new when its being used daily and picking up gravel dirt grit etc and chipping as a result.

only you can decide what to do.

[anonymous-user]

Brake dust causes that rust, and seen as you wash your car 12 times a year (?), I'm surprised you're surprised at the condition of your wheels!

[Fattyfat]

You'd need to contact the company now. Don't leave it until towards the end of the warranty.

Did they have explicit conditions regarding cleaning etc?

[SteBrown91]

I know I don't religiously clean my car and I didn't expect them to look mint forever but I expected that I'd get at least a year or so, considering my Mrs Mazda gets a wash a year if its lucky and the wheels come out with only minor pitting.

I will be ringing them tomorrow though will have to see when I can take them down to be looked at etc.

Cheers