What to do with dark spots on rims?

Tue Oct 13, 2015 1:10 pm

nytq wrote:I had the exact staining occur, on top of chipping. I finally broke down and refinished all the wheels. Unfortunately I did not strip the old finish completely off, just roughed up the surface so the new paint would take, so the original weak paint still chips off occasionally. But the staining is not happening. I don't know what Suzuki was thinking with the painted surfaces on this car. You would think the wheels would have been completely different than the the body, but it seems like the same cheap paint is all around. At this point the car could easily use a complete repaint to a high quality job, but I'm going to wait until I just can't stand it anymore, and probably just get another car at that point. I'm hoping for 2 more years. They must have put all there money in R&D and then making the rest of the car high quality and then ran out of money for good paint. It really makes no sense.

Agreed. The paint on this car is just terrible. It's sad because the rest of the car is quite good.

G13b · Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:24 pm

Plasti dip at your leisure.

mille33 · Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:12 am

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I use to clean my car about 3-4 weeks and would definitely use various rim/wheel cleaner. Although I try to wash it by hand as often as I can it's been through some automatic car washes too in the 3 years I've had it. I have not tried a clay bar that might do the trick. I was also thinking about plastidipping them in a glossy black or grey finish. We'll see... Thanks again!

Fritz2 · Sun Oct 18, 2015 2:32 am

Funny I never had any wheel paint problems with my '12 gts, and only moderate pin chips on the hood. No worse than my g37 ( that the dealer kindly tried to hide with touchup).

stevesharpe57 · Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:22 pm

Same has happened to my rims especially the rear took it to dealer who contacted Suzuki with photos (warranty?) came back with it must be what I am cleaning the rims with ?

WESHOOT2 · Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:13 pm

(The chief engineer, when asked why the 5-ton 18's on the GTS Sport, replied "for the folks that it matters to, they'll buy the appropriate wheels aftermarket".
Cynical, but a good business model.....)

WESHOOT2 · Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:14 pm

Use a caustic wheel cleaner to take ALL the paint/stains off and render them all at least uniform?

Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:40 pm

nytq wrote: You would think the wheels would have been completely different than the the body, but it seems like the same cheap paint is all around. At this point the car could easily use a complete repaint to a high quality job, but I'm going to wait until I just can't stand it anymore, and probably just get another car at that point. I'm hoping for 2 more years. They must have put all there money in R&D and then making the rest of the car high quality and then ran out of money for good paint. It really makes no sense.

They went with that eco-friendly, 'green', water-based chit. Somewhere back in 2010-11 I'd read about it...it was a bragging point at the time as I recall. Not so much now huh?

The non-friendly 25-year old 'real' paint on my Samurai still shines (if/when I wash it, every 5-6 years or so).