Alloy wheel corrosion

[DaGuv]

Had my diamond cut wheels all refurbed less than 12 months ago and the dreaded webbing effect of corrosion on diamond wheels has come back. No kerbing etc just standard crap diamond wheels. The refurb company won’t do anything. What are my options under consumer law? Thanks

[Driver101]

Most of the companies that do diamond cut refurbishments offer little or no warranty. Have you checked the company you used terms and conditions?

I suspect you will have little comeback. Diamond cut wheels are not fit for purpose for the UK.

[FlyingPanda]

Agreed, I could find very few reputable wheel refurbishers that would offer any meaningful guarantee beyond 6 months, and the reason for that was explained as “it just won’t last”.

[DaGuv]

Thought as much. Thanks for the replies.

[CarbonV12V]

DaGuv said:

Had my diamond cut wheels all refurbed less than 12 months ago and the dreaded webbing effect of corrosion on diamond wheels has come back. No kerbing etc just standard crap diamond wheels. The refurb company won’t do anything. What are my options under consumer law? Thanks

No real help to you but last year I had my SL diamond cut alloys done locally by RAW Wheels - they offer a 12 month warranty but so far no issues.

[rlw]

CarbonV12V said:

No real help to you but last year I had my SL diamond cut alloys done locally by RAW Wheels - they offer a 12 month warranty but so far no issues.

I went to Raw Wheels to get a price for refurbishing mine and they talked me into having them powder coated instead. That was pre lockdown and no sign of deterioraton as yet. Very pleased that I took their advice.

Choose your colour wisely and they will look far better than originally.

[Biker 1]

My car had refurbed wheels when I bought it. I think they were powder coated in this instance, but the stuff had bubbled up all over the place with oxidation on the rims causing air leakage. They were so long gone I bought a set of aftermarket alloys!

[Jarcy]

My Jag XK Dynamic R is the first car that I've own with diamond cut wheels.
They had obviously just been done when I bought the car, and looked fabulous. Really distinct for the model.
4 years on they now have curb rash and some oxidation so need redoing.
But is seems that my set have already been cut the maximum number of times, so there's no meat left for another cut.

Powder coat may be the only refurb solution, but it really does need the two tone effect of diamond cut over black.
I'm in a quandry over my options. One refurb place offers to quote for masking off for a two tone powder coat, but I never received the promised email.

[Dog Star]

They never last. Just get them powder coated and be done with it.

[Olivera]

I had a diamond cut wheel refurbed - it started corroding within 6 months of being done. Perhaps it's the cheap and slapdash way that alloys are refurbed, with insufficient prep/lacquering? After all they can easily last 4-5 years+ when new, but are gubbed in short order again after a refurb.

[Caddyshack]

Diamond cut can look great when a car is new but it is a fools choice really as they always corrode and can only be re-cut a few times...I have them on my Rangie and I am just going to get them powder coated one colour and put up with it not looking like the new design.

[Stoofa]

Olivera said:

I had a diamond cut wheel refurbed - it started corroding within 6 months of being done. Perhaps it's the cheap and slapdash way that alloys are refurbed, with insufficient prep/lacquering? After all they can easily last 4-5 years+ when new, but are gubbed in short order again after a refurb.

There isn't really a cheap way to do them - it's a lathe and having them skimmed down - that's why when you look at the pattern on a refurb Diamond Cut closely enough, it doesn't look quite the same as the original.
Especially notice if there are "holes" in the design of the wheel, as they become ever so slightly bigger.

I've got Diamond Cut on my car, two are actually fine, no issue whatsoever, other two have been curbed.
If it gets to the point where those two are going to need work, I'll go for powder I think.

[Olivera]

Stoofa said:

There isn't really a cheap way to do them - it's a lathe and having them skimmed down - that's why when you look at the pattern on a refurb Diamond Cut closely enough, it doesn't look quite the same as the original.
Especially notice if there are "holes" in the design of the wheel, as they become ever so slightly bigger.

I've got Diamond Cut on my car, two are actually fine, no issue whatsoever, other two have been curbed.
If it gets to the point where those two are going to need work, I'll go for powder I think.

I was referring to the refurb lacquering process on diamond cut wheels, which appears substantially inferior to the lacquering on oem wheels. The latter might last 4-5 years+ before letting moisture in and corroding, the former will be lucky if it lasts a year.

[Caddyshack]

Olivera said:

Stoofa said:

There isn't really a cheap way to do them - it's a lathe and having them skimmed down - that's why when you look at the pattern on a refurb Diamond Cut closely enough, it doesn't look quite the same as the original.
Especially notice if there are "holes" in the design of the wheel, as they become ever so slightly bigger.

I've got Diamond Cut on my car, two are actually fine, no issue whatsoever, other two have been curbed.
If it gets to the point where those two are going to need work, I'll go for powder I think.

I was referring to the refurb lacquering process on diamond cut wheels, which appears substantially inferior to the lacquering on oem wheels. The latter might last 4-5 years+ before letting moisture in and corroding, the former will be lucky if it lasts a year.

Diamond cut it too fine a finish and the lacquer has nothing to key to - it will just flake off at the lightest knock and then moisture gets in behind the lacquer....you may as well leave them raw and keep polishing and sealing them every few days and nobody wants to do that.

[MervJnr]

Somewhat hijacking your thread, recently got a car with diamond cut alloys - has anyone found a good way of protecting them to stop this from happening?

Edited by MervJnr on Wednesday 17th May 12:43

[helix402]

I’ve even seen a brand new gen. BMW diamond cut wheel that has corroded whilst in storage in the box.

[Caddyshack]

MervJnr said:

Somewhat hijacking your thread, recently got a car with diamond cut alloys - has anyone found a good way of protecting them to stop this from happening?

Edited by MervJnr on Wednesday 17th May 12:43

Only thing is to clean them with safe cleaner and then seal them with wheel sealer. You won’t beat it but you will prolong the life.

[CharlieDeltaTango]

The webbing is usually water ingress under the lacquer. It's cause by small stone ships and moisture getting in.

I don't know of a company that will do anything about it, and we used to have a lot of diamond cut wheels refurbished. Usually starts round the centre cap where it scratches the lacquer putting the cap in.

Powdercoat the chrome/metal finish in a high power silver to stop this happening seemed to be the only way to stop it.

[KTMsm]

The other option is that you don't lacquer them - you just polish them every few weeks

That's what we did 20 yrs ago and you don't use them in the winter

[Aluminati]

MervJnr said:

Somewhat hijacking your thread, recently got a car with diamond cut alloys - has anyone found a good way of protecting them to stop this from happening?

Edited by MervJnr on Wednesday 17th May 12:43

Take them off and put them in the shed. HTH.