General Lacquer peeling off wheel

[Nuova500]

I have the 7 spokes with this laquered finsh and it doesnt look that durable tbh. Even Audi RS8 alloys go powdery quickly. It would be better if they werent laquered at all, like wolfraces from the 70s, that way you just keep em polished and they stay nice.

 

[vindaloo]

Lacquer peeling off alloys

You can just make out the peeling lacquer on the spoke and the edge of the rim near the valve

 

[Venters]

My eyes may be decieving me but that looks like a painted finish. Not seen that on a new Fiat before.

 

[The Sultan]

yea that's painted no lacquered


and as beast has said very uncomon

 

[vindaloo]

I think your both right, the Fiat garage said it was painted (forgot to mention), he said it was unusual as well, but assured me re-lacquering will solve the problem

 

[The Sultan]

I think your both right, the Fiat garage said it was painted (forgot to mention), he said it was unusual as well, but assured me re-lacquering will solve the problem

o well than you have nothing to worry about

as it's fiat approved body shop it will no doubt have to use a ppg painting system so matching the colour and metallic finish of fiat wheels should be a doodle

 

[vindaloo]

Quick update

Went into the bodyshop today to have the faulty wheel painted. Went to collect and was told that the wheel had previously been repaired/ repainted which they found when they stripped it. They think it was probably done at the supplying dealers pre-delivery.

Nice man at garage said he had already ordered me a replacement which should arrive next Tuesday.

Even painted mine as best he could just to make it look acceptable until Tuesday, splendid service indeed.

 

[Scorg]

Going to fire this one open again.

Giving the wheels a right good look over today and my Drivers side front Alloy (the 18 spoke 15") has a huge mount of peeling off of the lacquer on it. Looking horendous really but it is only this wheel, the other three are looking totally fine.

Now as my 500 is a 2008 model, would this sort of thing be covered under the anti perforation warranty ?
I've seen some GP owners manage to claim at the very least.

 

[Venters]

My understanding of the anti perforation warranty is that it only covers body panels.
But if you don't ask you don't get.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Anti perforations only covers you for panels that rust so badly that a hole appears in it I believe.

 

[Scorg]

Was generally getting that impression from the service book as well, but having seen some GP owners get their alloy sorted it did make me wonder, plus also how things went with a friend with his car from another manufacturer.

 

[jrkitching]

Going to fire this one open again.

Giving the wheels a right good look over today and my Drivers side front Alloy (the 18 spoke 15") has a huge mount of peeling off of the lacquer on it. Looking horendous really but it is only this wheel, the other three are looking totally fine.

Now as my 500 is a 2008 model, would this sort of thing be covered under the anti perforation warranty ?
I've seen some GP owners manage to claim at the very least.

Are these wheels of the lacquered polished alloy type?

A friend with an SLK has had full 2 sets replaced under a combination of warranty & goodwill but was told that will be the last - and now the latest lot are starting to corrode & peel after about 3 years in very light service, in spite of being meticulously maintained. ALL the secondhand Mercs in my local dealership with this type of OE wheel have had them professionally painted before being put on the forecourt.

I've come to the conclusion that lacquered alloy surfaces simply won't last if there is any salt on the road & the only way to keep them looking pristine in the long term is to fit something else for the winter .

Good luck with trying to get something out of FIAT. As others have said, the wording of the warranty suggests they'll only pay if you get a physical hole in a panel, so to get anything you'll probably have to fall back on goodwill.

 

[loveshandbags]

... As others have said, the wording of the warranty suggests they'll only pay if you get a physical hole in a panel, so to get anything you'll probably have to fall back on goodwill.

I managed to get a roof replaced on a old Escort which had rust but only when a hole started to appear under the anti perforation warranty. When I see the number of high end cars with peeling lacquer I'm off the opinion that if you are refurbishing alloys you're better off getting them powder coated. Also a set of steelies in the Winter (when it comes back) increases the life of your alloys.

 

[TrevC]

The paint on the wheels may have been covered by the 3-year paint warranty, but I guess the car in question is outside that now. The going rate for refurbs seems to be about £50 per wheel. I'd be tempted to get a few quotes, checking that they could get a good match with the other 3.

 

[jrkitching]

The paint on the wheels may have been covered by the 3-year paint warranty, but I guess the car in question is outside that now. The going rate for refurbs seems to be about £50 per wheel. I'd be tempted to get a few quotes, checking that they could get a good match with the other 3.

Painted wheels can be spot repaired, the quality will depend very much on the skill of the person doing the work, and it should be possible to get a decent result for £50.

The problem is that these wheels aren't painted, they're lacquered - so the only way to refurb back to the original finish is to remove all the existing lacquer, repolish the wheel & relacquer. That's likely going to cost way more than £50 & it may be almost as cheap just to buy a replacement wheel.

You can powder coat them, and that will likely give a more durable result, but then the wheel won't match the others so you're going to have to do all four. Again, that's going to cost way more than £50.

 

[loveshandbags]

Painted wheels can be spot repaired, the quality will depend very much on the skill of the person doing the work, and it should be possible to get a decent result for £50.

The problem is that these wheels aren't painted, they're lacquered - so the only way to refurb back to the original finish is to remove all the existing lacquer, repolish the wheel & relacquer. That's likely going to cost way more than £50 & it may be almost as cheap just to buy a replacement wheel.

You can powder coat them, and that will likely give a more durable result, but then the wheel won't match the others so you're going to have to do all four. Again, that's going to cost way more than £50.

As JR has pointed out - power coating one wheel as opposed to refurbishing it isn't an option unless all 4 wheels are done.
Here is a link (Click here) of where I had 4 wheels done. At the time I was unhappy with the price I paid but the wheels were badly marked and the powder coating did an amazing job to make them look like new again.
In addition, there was a glittery finish off the wheels which at first I didn't like and then I got used to it.
Also with the multispokes on the F500 it supposedly isn't to easy to spray since the spokes are tighly packed and you can't get the spray head in between the spokes.