Alloy paint flaking off

[stuartsjg]

Hi,

I just gave my car a quick wash (i am at work but i was using it to move some guests so washed it for good apperances) and as i rinsed it with just a normal hose with my finger over the end (i dont have a power washer) i noticed some of the paint on the front drivers allow had flaked off two of the spoked.

I went over to the front passengers side, and ran the hose over it and again some paint came off the spokes The rear ones had no problems.

I washed the car and wheels with a lambs wool glove, so theres no absrasion on any painted surface.

I looked closely and its a much lighter silver underneath, im guessing its the bare aluminium. I cant imgaine they have been resprayed as the car was an ex demo, always owned by the dealer i bought it. Its an 08 with Andromeda wheels with 8k miles.

Its quite an area on each wheel, a few cm long by about a cm wide, i cant imagine its just a stone chip as there was no signs of blistering, its as if the paint was stickeytaped on and ive just washed it off.

I have got small kerb marks on both alloy rims, but they are a good half radius away from the area where the paint has lifited and there are no scrape marks

Would this be a warranty thing? Anybody experienced this?
Ive seen other posts similar to this, but most have been blistered or scraped areas.

Will try and get a pic at some point.

Stuart

 

[phil3012]

I would take it back to the dealer, sounds like they refurbed the wheels before you bought the car but didn't do a very good job of it.

Demos are used by salesmen on a night and weekend so they could easily have been damaged.

 

[SSimpson3]

Look at my post, iv been fighting for new alloys for a few weeks but not getting then replaced as they say i have kerbed them, they are the only ones who say that as iv been to an alloy repair place to see about getting then refurbed but they say its definatly corrosion so to get them replaced so why would a company turn away work in this current climate if they did not think it was geniune???
Car is on garage AGAIN today getting a new airbag so they are going to inspect them

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=202736

 

[stuartsjg]

Thats what im worried they do to me as there are scrapes but only on the rim and nowhere near any of the damage.

Nowhere on the wheel is any blistering like what you describe. Im sure that you can flake more paint off with your finger nail. If its not blistered due to a stone chip and water and you can scrape what looks to be good paint off then its obvioulsy not adhered propery to the aluminium. This must be a warranty issue. At least thats the argement ill be using!

Ive got a 400mile round trip tomorrow for work so ill probs wash the car again on friday at work so ill get a closer look and photos of the damage.

Car is due for service in March so ill get them to look at it then.

Stuart

 

[SSimpson3]

hope you have more luck than me in getting them sorted

 

[leonmac]

I had this just the other week.
Dealer replaced it under warranty no questions
Cheers Leon

 

[stuartsjg]

hope you have more luck than me in getting them sorted

Hi,

before i took it to the dealers, i had a close look and speent some time stroking my wheels. I dont think its the underlying paint. I had the rims touched up due to kerbing and it looks like its the new paint thats coming off.

The seat dealer had a look and they agreed and that the guy should respray them for me. They think he didnt prime the surface well enough for the new paint to adhere to the factory applied stuff.

Stuart

 

[begbie]

Sorry to raise this thread again but thought i'd update it with my experience last week.

I took my car to the stealers for its annual service (30K) and pointed out that the wheels were blistering with a milky coloured liquid underneath the laquer. They came back and said that due to damage on the wheels (kerbing ) Seat wouldn't even look at them. I argued that they were defective and therefore should be replaced as the blistering is nowhere near the damage from kerbing. Still they dug their heels in.

I was seathing as I left the dealers, even though I knew what the outcome would be. It was just their attitude that pissed me off. (that and the fact that a problem with my passenger door not opening doesn't occur when I take it to the dealers to resolve! )

So, anyone had any luck with this yet i.e. another angle to attack them with???

Ps. I've had the car from new, so the wheels aren't second hand refurbs.

 

[stuartsjg]

They do have quite a strong line in the warranty T&C's about that. Its a very easy get out of it clause as they could argue that even a stone chip you cannot see may have caused the problem.

Its quite excessive - if you scratched your bumper and then the the roof started to rust they cant argue the two are related so ive no idea how they can with different parts of the wheel.

Stuart

 

[begbie]

They do have quite a strong line in the warranty T&C's about that. Its a very easy get out of it clause as they could argue that even a stone chip you cannot see may have caused the problem.

Its quite excessive - if you scratched your bumper and then the the roof started to rust they cant argue the two are related so ive no idea how they can with different parts of the wheel.

Stuart

I totally agree with your logic Stuart. I had a similar thought as I was driving home from the dealers - they are quite happy to replace other parts of my car under warranty even though it has 30K miles worth of wear and tear, so why not defective paintwork on wheels?

I think I'll wait until I have a spare £200 and get them refurbished myself. I feel like crying every time I see my kerbed alloys. I blame my ex!

 

[stuartsjg]

If your having them redone, be sure to get them powder coated, it doesnt cost much more and is more durable.

I found my 18's are powder coated as standard, im guessing all the FR 18" andromedas are. Whats yours?

Its so durable normal paint wont stick to it and hence this thread i started as i thought the wheels were faulty.

If you getting one redone, have a pair on one side done so they look the same.

Stuart

 

[begbie]

If your having them redone, be sure to get them powder coated, it doesnt cost much more and is more durable.

I found my 18's are powder coated as standard, im guessing all the FR 18" andromedas are. Whats yours?

Its so durable normal paint wont stick to it and hence this thread i started as i thought the wheels were faulty.

If you getting one redone, have a pair on one side done so they look the same.

Stuart

Mines are 18's too - the one's supplied with the Reference Sport with the aero kit on it. Can't remember the name of them. I'm afraid I need all four done!

I'll have a search on here for cost involved. Car's warranty is up in September so might get them done then....before the remap