Wheel Rims Coating Problem

mannyz

No they dont, they use a special wheel cleaner that is diluted with water. I never leave my car for wash, I am always there watching them do it. I try never to step away from my car, not even at the dealers I always find a way to stand in a corner and watch what they are doing.

SkyDancer

Wheel cleaner balls are a complete waste of money as they just cannot reach the various knooks and grannies that comprise different styles of wheels without having to put excessive pressure onto the ball to make it get into those spaces with the polish.

IMO wheel polish is a waste as well and really only makes a difference on chromed wheels.

I just wash my wheels using Stoner Window Spray (aerosal) and it cleans and shines them at the same time. And they look as good as new!

mannyz

Window Spray o_O

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SkyDancer

Stoner's Invisible Glass Aerosal Spray

kfscoll

It's possible they used a metal polish or cleaner wax to detail your wheels thinking that they were simply polished aluminum. Metal polish will very quickly take the top layer of paint off of the wheel exposing the black basecoat underneath. It is very, very easy to remove the top layer of paint from the RAYS wheels. Having learned my lesson, I now don't clean them with anything but a very plush microfiber towel and detailing spray.

When one of my wheels was damaged by cleaner wax (and before the dealer agreed to warranty it) I took it to a local wheel refinisher and they said (as was mentioned above) that the wheels had a "ghost chrome" finish. They quoted me $120 per wheel for a refinish which seems reasonable to me.

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2009 Brilliant Silver 370Z 6MT coupe w/ Touring, Sport, and Navigation packages

mannyz

No, never wax them, all this time and on all my cars is always rinse with water, cleaner and wash it out.

m4a1mustang

Use a proper wheel sealant to take care of them.

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mannyz

I didnt know that existed, can you throw me a PM with brand and product

mannyz

Guys I just got a call from BBB that Nissan accepted they will powder coat my wheels as a goodwill. So lets see what happen. I will keep you post it.

TipsZ

Sorry .. I completely forgot about this thread . .I will try to remember to upload those pics once I get home ..

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mannyz

No problem TipsZ. Right now I am still waiting for Nissan to call me to make an appointment for powder coating. BUt BBB wants me to wait 30 days. :/

kfscoll

I hadn't seen your pictures before -- I really don't think you have a problem. IMHO it's highly likely that the cure (the refinish) will be worse than the disease. Here's what mine looked like after using some very mild cleaner wax on them. That top silver layer is THIN -- don't ever use any (even mildly) abrasive cleaner on the RAYS wheels!!

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2009 Brilliant Silver 370Z 6MT coupe w/ Touring, Sport, and Navigation packages

BLUESLATE

That happens to OE coatings of Nissan wheels. My 07 G35 sedan had exactly the same problem. Claying the crap out of it seemed to help a little, but didn't completely cleaned them off. Also, I think it's the brake dust that gets baked into the wheels that causes this problem.

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mannyz

I thank you all for your individual inputs. Like I said I am always with the detailing guy when he washed my car and I know and see the process. Now been open to your opinions what I can think is that maybe even that he cleaned it fast maybe the mixture of the product was too strong. I also called a Power Coating Expert and as soon as I explained the situation he mentioned to me something that can also be possible.

He asked me if I ever washed the car in one of those touchless or automatic machines. He told me that some of those places are using such a strong acid that damage the rims, and since the machine is on timing, either sometimes they dont clean right, or as soon you enter the car to those machines they apply the acid first with the rim hot instead of applying water first and cool down the rim. From the whole year that I owned the car I will say I got the car 2 times trough those touchless places, as a fast clean getaway.

1. So I will agree with everyone, if possible that the mixture from my detailing people was wrong (which I doubt since they always wash all my cars trough the years, they are only 2 guys, so is not that a bunch of people working on my car)
2. I am more incline to the touchless machine and their wheel cleaner and that Nissan used a very thin coating, since I've never seen this problem on any of my other cars.

NOTE: Let me tell you guys that the thin layer could be a major factor, because I went to 2 dealers and I found 370z, with different type of wheels, with exactly the same problem. Maybe not as bad as mine cause those cars are parked, but definitively with the same coating discoloration on the edges and hard areas of the wheel. Even one of the managers from the dealer finally agreed with me cause I showed him the cars park at their lot and they help me with Nissan. Thats why they decided to powder coat the wheels what they called "good will"

Up to this point I haven't receive any calls from Nissan.\

THANK YOU ALL. I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED.

mannyz

Ok Guys, finally I got a call from Chris at Nissan USA, informing me to take the car to a Longwood Nissan, here in Florida. They will keep the car for 2 something weeks and ship the Wheels somewhere for re-coating. I hope they don't mess them up more than what they are or at least it last longer than the stock paint.