folx -

just stopped by the dealership after i noticed large flakes coming off of my wheels (all four) ... this included some of the finish bubbling up in discolored bubbles. i have not used ANY cleaning products on the wheels/tires and it has only been through the carwash 3 times since i bought it. the dealership immediately put a call into the service dept manager for me. apparently this isnt the first time they had heard of this happening, but its the worse case they've seen to this point.

they will probably order a whole new set of wheels for me ...

has anyone else noticed this problem? has the dealership taken corrective action? ill post an update monday after i talk to the service manager.

thx!

 

hmmm...if this is a problem on all TEs, maybe you should have the dealer put on some regular SE Rims, or maybe some nice 2k1 Anniversary edition ones, since you did pay for special rims. And it should all be free, of course. From what I understand, these new rims, genuine from Nissan are around the $300 range, so to have them flake like that is ridiculous. Maybe it's time for some Konig Tantrums

 

Hey Jerome,

I haven't noticed anything like that with my rims, but I'll check tomorrow when it's light out just to be sure. In either case, if you get new rims, that'd be pretty nice (just hopefully they won't peel).

 

nope, but thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out.

 

jerdubois: Thanx for the heads-up. I too own a 03 maxima SE TE. No problems with flaking rims yet,but i'll be keeping a close eye on them for now on.

 

Carwash?!?!?!?!?!

I have heard nothing but nightmares from people who use car washes. It's a brand new car, treat is as such! I also have a 2k3 TE SE with no flaking. I've seen guys at the car wash use stuff on the rims and hit them with a broom before it goes into the scratch machine. It could be acid wheel cleaner or something very harsh.

If you do get your rims replaced, please don't go to the car wash anymore. I'll only go to self serve places myself, or now that I have my own hose I do it in the driveway. If it is too cold, wait for it to get warm. You are better off letting the car sit dirty then having it done at a carwash. Just make sure you put on a good coat of wax!

 

very funny spta97 ... but i suppose you have no idea that i live in MA and we have just about the highest use of salt per capita of any state in the country. and if you do, then why dont you come up here in 3 years when the door panels have rusted through.

if you live in an area where you dont have to worry about harsh environmental conditions such as salt and wet-roads, and you live in a soft always-70-degree-phoenix sun you can wash your car anytime you like (believe me, i would love to).

in addition, im guessing touchless carwashes probably do less damage to your car than a sponge/cleaning cloth will.

cars are meant to be used ... and washed. i dont think that flaking off of finish from a wheel is normal ... and from nissan's reaction, neither do they. i am scheduled for a 4:30 appt @ their shop this afternoon.

cheers -

 

Well, I live in NY so I'm not as bad off as you. Although sometimes the weather report reads "2 inches of snow, 6 inches of salt!"

I was out with the hose last weekend pouring hot water though it to melt the ice...but then again I'm insane! I would at least take it to a hand wash place. Most of them that I've seen in NY are about $10. Not much more than a car wash I'd imagine.

Good luck with the appt, let us know if the new wheels hold up to the carwash. They better, otherwise I'm gonna be all "" on you again!

 

folx -

here is the update. i spoke to my service director 2 weeks ago. after speaking to the nna tech, they needed pictures which i promptly sent to him w/ highlights of the flaking and bubbling.

nna (keeping inline w/ the french ceo), have decided to take the next 2 weeks off (dec 25 - jan 3rd). but he sounded rather upbeat on the possibility of getting the wheels replaced. the flaking has only gotten worse.

there is some info on the forum that these wheels are "high polish". nothing could be further from the truth - they are finished w/ a spray on tint (think tinted poly for your wheels instead of your furniture) ontop of the stock SE wheels.

regards -
jerome

 

dam

this is the first I've heard of this...

I was just admiring my rims today...thinking how much more i liked them over the stock SE 17's...this sucks...I better take a closer look at them, to see if they already have the problem..


-vq

 

well -

after dropping the car off for its 7500 + an inspection of the wheel status by the regional parts rep, it was agreed that the wheel would be replaced. it turns out what i thought was bubbling on the other 3 was actually a paint mark used @ the plant to balance the tires. it should have been removed during the pre-pickup inspection.

so the result is that the wheel w/ the flaking (on about 25% of the wheel now) will be replaced, free of charge.

in addition, the guys did an alignment during the 7500 (tires rotated) and the car no longer pulls.

bruce carr is the service director @ nissan natick and he has been SUPERB! no complaints on my first time around w/ nissan service!

cheers -

 

If I was you I'd find out what they're going to do with the damaged rim. See if they'll let you buy it (at a discount, of course).

 

great idea ... but i dont think the trunk will fit a full-sized spare. anyone know?

 

I agree and the touchless carwashes are reginal so some people have not seen them. There is no problem using a touchless carwash, unless water is bad for your car

 

since i spend a significant amount of time in boston and new york, i'll chime in. yeah, the two cities are only 4 hours apart, but there is a HUGE difference between them. it's way colder up in boston, and snows a heck of a lot more. your car can be completely white with salt residue within 20-30 miles of driving in this city, and that's on a clear day after a snow storm. i'm with jer on this one - it sucks to take your car to a car wash, but sometimes there really isn't an option.

 

haha, i doubt that, when i had to get two new AE wheels they were $580 each from nissan. Of course insurance paid for it.

 

you know what majestic blue looks like after 30 miles on 128/93?

base-coat grey!

cheers -
jerome

 

Well, it's just spraying recycled salt-filled water on your car, with some suds mixed in. It's way better than letting the salt crust on the car, though.

I'm in the DC area; I wonder what people in the warmer climes would think about the lines of 20 or 30 cars at the car washes when the temp goes above freezing?

And, why doesn't DC have any of those wash it yourself places? Too cold?

 

If you can get nissan to replace the rims, personally i would just hand wash the car from now on if possible, i had that happen with my last car. the car wash caused the rims coating to flake, the guide can scratch the rims as well.

 

I have a 2K3 SE TE and haven't had any problems with the rims yet either. Never knew there was a problem, but thanks for the info and i will definitely keep an eye out.

Personally i wash my car myself and just use soap and water on the rims.

 

well i think its a bit sad that 1) the rims are touted as "highly polished" yet their finish is PAINTED on 2) that the paint cant stand a high-speed water jets spraying it.

just makes me worry more about the paint on the rest of the car.

but hey, i love the car and the dealership just installed the new wheel - no hassles, no worries. check out nissan of natick (ma) they were fantastic. bruce carr, service director, took care of the issue himself.

 

Well I bring my Max into car washes all the time. I can't wait until it warms up because that will take 5 months since I live in Canada. The car still looks fine though. The water literally freezes as the car comes out the car wash and the wheels turn white because all the water on it just freeze on the chrome. I sometimes envy people in say California because you can show off your clean car all the time. But then I think to myself, I would defintely miss out driving in the snow. It's tonnes of fun and it really can train you to be a good driver ... ralley style! hehehe

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions on what to put in the leather seats for protection? I have heard no water, some say no fatty stuff ... so what should I feed the cow skin with? hahaha