Need opinions on what to do ???

[glenn14]

Last May I bought these wheels on ebay for $1399-$700 for my 4 year old stock 2009 alloys wheels. These are 2011 Toyota Chrome Plated Alloy wheels. so paid 699 +my stock wheels.

These have a 5 year warrenty, well I already had to send 1 back due to pitting and corrosian back in August now the other 3 are doing the samething. We have had an easy winter here in Mass, not much snow and salting of the roads and I have put at leat 6 coats of mothers chrome polish and these wheels are washed with mother chrome wheel cleaner rinsed off and dried everytime I wash the car. here are the pictures.

So my question is, If I send these back again it takes about 4 weeks to rechrome or should I contact him and ask for a 1399 dollar refund and by some new wheels.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. I also use my Daytona Speed Brush when cleaning these wheels.
Regards,
Glenn

 

[oejeffrey]

Have you coated the wheels with anything ??

 

[HellaBroke]

Not a cheap wheel but the chrome definitely looks cheap... I would go with a refund start from scratch with somethin else... Just my .02

 

[Pureshine]

If there under warranty I would have them fix them if not I would sell them. Chrome is a high maintenance you have to keep clean and make sure you uses very soft brush on them.

 

[glenn14]

Have you coated the wheels with anything ??

No if you mean a clearcoat or anything like that, I have put at least 6 coats of mother's chrome polish. And I use the daytona speed brush with mother chrome rim cleaner then hose them off then just use a clean sponge or wash mit with carwash meguire's to go over them once and get he wheel barrels good then rince them off, dry with a synthetic chamois and then use a microfiber cloth, then every few weeks I wax/polish them up. Thank you for your responses, my worry is if I send them back, the samething is going to happen
again.

I have been thinking on contacting the seller and getting a full refund and getting a nice painted wheel.


Regards,
Glenn

 

[Crazy Amos]

I saw this on a Mustang Saleen that I worked on. His was a lot worse though. His had the chios in the barrel as well. I believe this is where it starts.

I inspected it and it looked a lot like yours. I think it is a combination of poor prep work, or a problem with the platinh itself, in combination with the brake dust embedding itself into the plating. Wheels get extremely hot amd everything expands openimg up amd allowimg contaminats to embed. Once this happens the plating integrity is comprimised and it starts the flake off because it is no longer "one".
Sent from my SPH-L900 using AG Online

 

[Vegas Transplant]

...should I contact him and ask for a 1399 dollar refund and by some new wheels.

Either this, or have them redipped yourself.
At this rate, they'll be toast in another season or two.

I'm not sure if they're genuine Toyota wheels, or just Toyota centercaps. Both may actually be knockoffs.

 

[glenn14]

Either this, or have them redipped yourself.
At this rate, they'll be toast in another season or two.

I'm not sure if they're genuine Toyota wheels, or just Toyota centercaps. Both may actually be knockoffs.

These are OEM Toyotawheels that a guy with a chroming shop does the 3 step process, a nickle bath, a copper bath, then a chrome bath then sells them on ebay.

Thank you for your response.
Regards,
Glenn:xyxthumbs:

 

[ihaveacamaro]

Do you have to pay for shipping if there is a defect? If you don't then I would go that way and if you do have to pay shipping, then I would rather ask for my refund.

 

[glenn14]

Do you have to pay for shipping if there is a defect? If you don't then I would go that way and if you do have to pay shipping, then I would rather ask for my refund.

Yes this happened once b4 and I had to pay $30.00 shipping via UPS ground for 1 wheel so 4 would be 120 dollars. but if he rechromes them he pays the shipping back.

Thanks,
Regards,
Glenn

 

[glenn14]

Do you have to pay for shipping if there is a defect? If you don't then I would go that way and if you do have to pay shipping, then I would rather ask for my refund.

Yes this happened once b4 and I had to pay $30.00 shipping via UPS ground for 1 wheel so 4 would be 120 dollars. but if he rechromes them he pays the shipping back.
Here are some more pics.

Here you can see a bubble in the chrome.
]
Pitted wheel barrel

Thanks,
Regards,
Glenn

 

[glenn14]

I spoke with the seller on ebay and I am going to get my OEM painted wheels back plus the 699.00 dollars so I am getting a complete refund.
Thank you all, for all of your imput..this just did not seen right to me.
Regards,
Glenn

 

[glenn14]

I got new wheels and bought the Collinite #845 and #850 from the store. I got the same wheels but from another vendor and they are much better chromed. I am also getting my OEM painted wheels back tomorrow. And I am keeping them as winter wheels and this coming nov. I am going to get snowtires for these and swap wheels every nov.and March. So I will not run the chromes in the winter.

 

[WAXOFF]

I workrf fot Lexuse fro 18 months here in PA. We had the same problem on all the Lexus's. The salesman would sell the cutomer these exchange chome wheels and make a big profit in their pay check and then when they pitted they came and complained to the service dept. Wait until you have them on for a while in the salt. You think you have a problem with the surface? The chome on the bead will start to peel and cut the tire where it seals. Aluminum is a porous metal. It needs to breath. That why you loose some air pressure more in alloy wheels over steel. The chrome just doesn't adhere to the surfacce like it should. Why do you think most of the car lines like GM and Chrysler use a chome plated plastic cap over the spokes of the wheels. I know it has to do with price but can you imagine if the had tp start paying warrant claims for whole wheels. JMHO.

 

[ihaveacamaro]

Nice, glad you're happy with the new wheels