Pitted Polished Wheels on New C5

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

Three of my wheels are getting pits on them. Kind of like a corrosion type pit. A few on the outside rim, but mostly on the inside rim. The 4th wheel has already been replaced because one of the spokes were cracked.

I can't believe the Chevrolet District Managers response:

They can be polished!!! Try to find someone local to do it.

They can't be polished unless they are sanded first. No way in hell on a $56,000 car. I want new wheels.

The local Chevy garage couldn't find someone local to polish them so now he wants me to send the wheels out???

I asked the Chevy dealership what they wanted me to do, put the car on blocks for 4 weeks????

Give me a break. I threatened to go to the attorney general.

They are getting back to me today.

Any advise who to call at GM?

Chuck

 

[GS Diva]

Chuck,

Let me tell you that those wheels are under warranty by GM!!! Don't let them tell you otherwise! A friend of ours bought a 2002 Electron Blue convertible recently, and the wheels had the same pitting...they were replaced under warranty!!

Keep us updated....

Elaine

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

Just got off the phone with GM Customer Service and explained what was happening. I must say customer service was excellent. Shane took the time to hear what I had to say and took notes. He calmed me down ( I have a tendency to get quite excited when I sense someone's taking me for a chump like the District Service Rep is doing).

They will call me with the answer between 4 and 5 Friday.

I just don't understand why I even have to go through this. There should be no question about the warranty on pitted wheels.

Thanks for your concern Elaine.

I guess Carlisle will have to see 3 crappy wheels on my car.

:cry

Here we go again!!!

Chuck

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

Mine are pitted too. And after only 4000 miles! I am trying to get them replaced by the warranty. However, the service manager at the Opel dealer cannot authorize the replacement without the go ahead of the regional manager for US warranty claims due to the cost of replacement rims.

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

GM just got back to me on the rims.

They are going to stand by the District Service Manager (DSM).

They actually want me to bring the car to the dealer, take the wheels off and leave the car on jack stands, give me some crackerbox rental for 9 days minimum (they said it).

Even though I have two body shops that have said the pits will not come off. The body shop also warned that if in fact they are successful, the 4th wheel will not match. He strongly suggested sending the 4th wheel along with the others. GM declined.

The DSM refuses to meet with me face to face. I believe the dealer that they are caught in the middle.

DSM said because I am the 2nd owner and the car has 24K on it, he is choosing this route.

He said that if I wanted to, I could give him $400.00 and he will do the new wheels. Can you believe this!

I didn't know GM had a tiered type warranty and favored the original owner.

Beware people who buy a used car from GM with left over new car warranty and think they have the same coverage!!!!

I've left another message with Customer Service through the phone and the net.

Am I in the twilight zone???

yellow_2002_germany, let me know how you make out.

They want me to call them today, but I think I'll wait until after Carlisle. Maybe I can bend GM's ear there.

Chuck

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

I'll let you know what I get told.

About the warranty -- it should transfer to the new owner without prejudice in my opinion. The warranty IS 3 years - 36,000 miles. It says nothing about the first owner getting better coverage than subsequent owners.

 

[atmmac]

Ive found GM to be a pain in the a** with covering things GOOD LUCK GUYS!

 

[bluecoupe]

That happened to my son's Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler gave him 4 new wheels. I think I'll start saving up for a Viper.

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

Just got a letter from GM letting me know that they regret my dissatisfaction and (listen to this).....suggested I go to the Better Business Bureau about it!!! They wrote that they will abide by what the BBB requests.

Talk about an attitude.

I guess that's my next step. Does anybody know who funds and pays dues to the Better Business Bureau? BUSINESSES!

I really wish I wasn't so hung up on these cars. This would be a reason to switch. Although from what I've heard, other manufacturers can be a pain in the a** about other things as well.

But, what I CAN do is NOT buy a GM truck when it's time. I was looking at the SS pickup.

Chuck

 

[BassPro2]

Wheels

It's fuuny I was dealing with this same problem last night. I have a 2002 Electron blue also and my wheels are pitted, just on the inside. How do you get it off ? They look like crap. I only have 17000 on mine . If you wet sand them what happens to the chrome does it scratch all up?

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

That's just what mine have. It's like a teflon cook pan with the coating coming off. There's an obvious "lip" when you scrape your fingernail on them.

Polishing it isn't going to get it done as the GM rep suggested. Sanding it will take the chrome (polish) off and will show marks.

Try going to your dealer to find out what they say and please let me know.

I would think GM gets credit from the supplier so I don't know what the big deal is.

Chuck

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

My pitted rims are being replaced under warranty. Center caps too. Mine were pitted by 4000 miles.

 

[fhturner]

But, what I CAN do is NOT buy a GM truck when it's time. I was looking at the SS pickup.

Good plan, but I'd try to let someone at GM know exactly why you're doing this. It might not make any difference to them, but if they have others do the same thing, or if they do take notice of your actions, then it could cause them to reconsider how they handle this in the future. And it might change how they're handling you now.

Have you been able to determine what the cause of this pitting is? I'll have the polished aluminum wheels on my new(er) 2000 coupe (wrecked the first one, you remember...), and I'm curious to see if this will be a cause for concern with them. Also, are you talking about the back side of the wheels (the side facing the brakes)?

L8r,
Fred

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

fhturner,

My next move will be done when I find a few more people getting their wheels with the same condition covered under warranty. The contact at GM customer service told me they were going this route with me because of the mileage and the fact that I am the second owner. They re-phrased it when I started questioning whether there was a two phase warranty for the original owner, then to subsequent owners on new cars. To me, this could be real serious stuff.

One strange thing I've noticed is that it's only the '02 owners that are responding to this and other sites. Maybe they had a bad run on the '02 model year.

The small pits are on the inside wheel and a few on the actual outside polished rim including a few of the spokes.

Congrats on the newer C5.

Chuck

 

[HOTMOTORSPORTS]

BassPro2:

Have you gone to your dealer yet about your pitted wheels. If so, can you let me know what happened.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

[BassPro2]

I will and let you know a.s.a.p.

 

[hotmtrsports]

FYI

It took quite some time, but GM OK'd new polished rims. By the time they figured shipping both ways and repair costs, it was only about 25.00 more for new rims. They called me today with the good news. The service manager was so excited, he had already ordered the wheels, and they are in and waiting for me to pick up.

Chuck

 

[Dave1998]

Hello Can someone tell me if we are talking about the Q5 highly polished $ 1250.

optional wheeks here ? I have a 98 with std wheels and was thinking of getting some of the high polish rims for mine

thanks

 

[hotmtrsports]

Dave1998:

Those are the wheels. They were ordered with the car.

Chuck

 

[Villain]

fhturner,


One strange thing I've noticed is that it's only the '02 owners that are responding to this and other sites. Maybe they had a bad run on the '02 model year.

Chuck

I have the same problem on my 2000 pewter hardtop. My rims are polished aluminum. Right now I'm out of original warrenty and have plus 40,000 miles on her. I'm the second owner and got it with 17500 miles. Anything I do to these wheels will be out of pocket because I don't want the aggrevation.