Help! My LE-37 Volks' Clear is FLAKING!
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
From: SF South Bay area
WARNING - VOLK CARNAGE!!!
WTF? I am pissed - these are only a few months old and the clear coat is just flaking off of them. with just water pressure, the clear-coat is coming off in big chunks.
I think these are factory defects. Both of my rear 19x10.5s are doing this. But I bought them Brand-new in the box from another member
WTF? My AME wheels held up much better than these, in fact at this point, these are the worst wheels I have ever owned (Finish-quality wise).
No, I did not abuse them. I do not use ANY chemicals on them. I always hand-wash with mild car soap and lambskin mits. I dry with leaf blower and finish dry with microfiber towels. And there is ZERO curb rash on them. They obviously did not prep them correctly at the factory before clear-coating.
Any idea if Volk will cover under warranty? Or am I just screwed for buying volks from another member? I don't even know if they'd have replacements for these since they are discontinued now.

This happened just as I was rinsing a dirty wheel to get ready for washing...

















WTF? I am pissed - these are only a few months old and the clear coat is just flaking off of them. with just water pressure, the clear-coat is coming off in big chunks.
I think these are factory defects. Both of my rear 19x10.5s are doing this. But I bought them Brand-new in the box from another member
WTF? My AME wheels held up much better than these, in fact at this point, these are the worst wheels I have ever owned (Finish-quality wise).
No, I did not abuse them. I do not use ANY chemicals on them. I always hand-wash with mild car soap and lambskin mits. I dry with leaf blower and finish dry with microfiber towels. And there is ZERO curb rash on them. They obviously did not prep them correctly at the factory before clear-coating.
Any idea if Volk will cover under warranty? Or am I just screwed for buying volks from another member? I don't even know if they'd have replacements for these since they are discontinued now.
This happened just as I was rinsing a dirty wheel to get ready for washing...

















Last edited by hiz-n-herz; Dec 20, 2009 at 05:49 PM.
You should have bought rotas (Sarcasm) 
Side note: I doubt they will warranty them. One because you didn't purchase from an authorized vendor directly. Two...Japanese companies especially ones that are US based that import parts from Japan are cheapskates for the most part.

Side note: I doubt they will warranty them. One because you didn't purchase from an authorized vendor directly. Two...Japanese companies especially ones that are US based that import parts from Japan are cheapskates for the most part.
Last edited by Rickdogg; Dec 20, 2009 at 06:06 PM.
i've own quite a few different sets of wheels and le37 is by far the best finished wheels so far. I don't see how your clear can flake like that though. upside is that you can reclear the lip.
Trending Topics
WTF? I am pissed - these are only a few months old and the clear coat is just flaking off of them. with just water pressure, the clear-coat is coming off in big chunks.
I think these are factory defects. Both of my rear 19x10.5s are doing this. But I bought them Brand-new in the box from another member
WTF? My AME wheels held up much better than these, in fact at this point, these are the worst wheels I have ever owned (Finish-quality wise).
No, I did not abuse them. I do not use ANY chemicals on them. I always hand-wash with mild car soap and lambskin mits. I dry with leaf blower and finish dry with microfiber towels. And there is ZERO curb rash on them. They obviously did not prep them correctly at the factory before clear-coating.
Any idea if Volk will cover under warranty? Or am I just screwed for buying volks from another member? I don't even know if they'd have replacements for these since they are discontinued now.
That being said, I've never seen paint or clearcoat chip off of anything like that. And to tell you the truth, the looks of the part that is still clearcoated doesn't look right.
Chill out, call Mackin tomorrow morning and once you have a resolution, post back. BTW - you might want to contact the seller and find out when and where he got them from - you may need to know that for warranty coverage.
WARNING - VOLK CARNAGE!!!
WTF? I am pissed - these are only a few months old and the clear coat is just flaking off of them. with just water pressure, the clear-coat is coming off in big chunks.
I think these are factory defects. Both of my rear 19x10.5s are doing this. But I bought them Brand-new in the box from another member
WTF? My AME wheels held up much better than these, in fact at this point, these are the worst wheels I have ever owned (Finish-quality wise).
No, I did not abuse them. I do not use ANY chemicals on them. I always hand-wash with mild car soap and lambskin mits. I dry with leaf blower and finish dry with microfiber towels. And there is ZERO curb rash on them. They obviously did not prep them correctly at the factory before clear-coating.
Any idea if Volk will cover under warranty? Or am I just screwed for buying volks from another member? I don't even know if they'd have replacements for these since they are discontinued now.[/IMG]
WTF? I am pissed - these are only a few months old and the clear coat is just flaking off of them. with just water pressure, the clear-coat is coming off in big chunks.
I think these are factory defects. Both of my rear 19x10.5s are doing this. But I bought them Brand-new in the box from another member
WTF? My AME wheels held up much better than these, in fact at this point, these are the worst wheels I have ever owned (Finish-quality wise).
No, I did not abuse them. I do not use ANY chemicals on them. I always hand-wash with mild car soap and lambskin mits. I dry with leaf blower and finish dry with microfiber towels. And there is ZERO curb rash on them. They obviously did not prep them correctly at the factory before clear-coating.
Any idea if Volk will cover under warranty? Or am I just screwed for buying volks from another member? I don't even know if they'd have replacements for these since they are discontinued now.[/IMG]
Sorry man. I'm bummed for you but from what I have seen from other wheels, these have been recoated and not prepped. The good news is it is an easy fix from a reputable wheel repair shop. Will cost some more money though. Good luck.
--Spike
He said they were brand new. Why would someone re-clear brand new wheels? Unless we're missing some story behind it all from the original owner that had to have gotten it re-cleared. If these were any other wheels other then volks, works and what not everybody would say you get what you pay for.
He said they were brand new. Why would someone re-clear brand new wheels? Unless we're missing some story behind it all from the original owner that had to have gotten it re-cleared. If these were any other wheels other then volks, works and what not everybody would say you get what you pay for.
LOL! You dont think that maybe.....the original owner lied?
....maybe they were damaged
...wouldn't be the first time.
Wow this is the first time I have seen something like this. Even my first set of volks that had chemical damage did not flake like that, not even close. Your best bet now is to remove the rest of the clear and possibly re clear the lip. Or keep polishing the raw metal.
the LE37's clear isn't that great.. but my le37s were made in 2007, driven through hundreds/maybe thousands of miles of rain and daily driven.. never flaked. only the usual rainbow-ing foggy-like look appears at certain agains. (i've seen this on all le37s). i take care of them though, using techniques like you described.








