So the 2011 SLS awd we're looking at has only two minor issues. One is something that I'm curious about since it could be a factory defect--the paint on the wheels is flaking/chipping off. Like, I can scrape it off with my fingernail. Almost like there was never any clearcoat on the wheels from the factory.
Anyone else seen something like this?
Paint Chipping off of Wheels?
There's a few posts on this if you search. Some were able to get dealers to cover uncer warranty. But if you're not buying from a dealer, you'll probably have a harder time getting it done under warranty. How many miles? If it's past 36K, the point's moot. There are also shops that repaint and there's a do-it-yourself thread on this forum from somewho who did it. From what I recall, it was a pretty good job.
I tried searching pretty extensively, but didn't find any threads on it.LPSISRL wrote:There's a few posts on this if you search. Some were able to get dealers to cover uncer warranty. But if you're not buying from a dealer, you'll probably have a harder time getting it done under warranty. How many miles? If it's past 36K, the point's moot. There are also shops that repaint and there's a do-it-yourself thread on this forum from somewho who did it. From what I recall, it was a pretty good job.
Do you have some links I could check out?I contacted a dealer to find out what the warranty status was of the car, and it's still under the 3/36 until March of 2014. I mentioned the wheels and if he's seen a problem before, and he said it was rare, but did happen. I asked what the solution was, and he said that he'd contact the Suzuki rep after examining the car to see if the repair would be covered under warranty. And if so, it would just be a warranty repair.
But I'd be without the car for a few days. I'm thinking of just finding a spare set somehow and just putting the snow tires on them. Then I'll just give them the 4 wheels and they can take all the time they want to fix them perfectly.
I'd be a little careful if the warranty repair work on the wheel would require the whole wheel to be repainted. I have a friend whose Mercedes had to have a wheel repaired under warranty due to a similar problem, and the Mercedes dealer repainted the whole wheel--problem is, the wheel now has a slightly different shade of silver, so it doesn't match the rest of the wheels anymore :/ Apparently only the factory is able to repaint it with the proper shade.
All 4 of mine have the problem so they're free to paint all of them whatever stock shade they want.smsmart wrote:I'd be a little careful if the warranty repair work on the wheel would require the whole wheel to be repainted. I have a friend whose Mercedes had to have a wheel repaired under warranty due to a similar problem, and the Mercedes dealer repainted the whole wheel--problem is, the wheel now has a slightly different shade of silver, so it doesn't match the rest of the wheels anymore :/ Apparently only the factory is able to repaint it with the proper shade.
But thank you for the head's up. This is good info for anyone that has to have just one wheel repaired.