2 wk old Volk Phantom Series Wheels...Paint Flaking
01-22-2010, 07:19 AM
#1
2 wk old Volk Phantom Series Wheels...Paint Flaking
I bought a brand new set of Volk GTS's in phantom black from a authorized reseller. I had these mounted on my Z for less than 2 weeks, about 200 miles. Now before you ask if rocks had done the damage...that would be near impossible because 3 of 4 wheels are showing signs of paint flaking. Also a $3000/set of rims shouldn't be so vulnerable to everyday driving conditions. My question is has anyone ever had problems with the Matte Black or Phantom Black flaking on a Rays wheel???
I have hundreds of pin hole sized areas of paint missing and a few larger ones as well. There are no dents in the aluminum where the paint is missing so I can't really believe that rocks are the culprit. Also if rocks are the issue here, what kind of crap paint is Rays using for their flat black finishes. Under the flaked portions I notice that the aluminum is still shinny, as if it were just polished. I am a auto painter by day and cannot believe that they just sprayed right over the top of polished aluminum, but that what's this looks like. I feel they skipped a step in the prep process. The aluminum is not etched or primed, no wonder the paint is falling off.
I have attempted to contact Mackin and they are proving to be useless. One persone tells me that they accepted the warranty and are currently making me a new set of wheel, identical to what I have now. The deal was to switch the rims out when the new ones were made. They even gave me an estimate of when the new wheels would be done. Then 3 days later someone else at Mackin contacts me and says that no new wheels are being made and I must ship my wheels(dismounted from the tires I just mounted) to Mackin at my own expense. So basically I was blatently lied to.
I want to know if anyone has ever had issues with Rays flat/matte black finishes and if they were ever warranted. Keep in mind that I ran these wheels for only 200 miles or less. Mackin is saying that I have to pay for dismounting and shipping so they can send the wheels to Japan to be inspected and this isn't even a gaurantee that they will be warranted. Basically I have to spend about $250.00 to have them make a decision. Then if they don't warranty them, Im still as*ed out because I have to fix the paint myself (at more expense to me) and remount the tires I just pulled off for nothing. Bottom line, even if tiny rocks or sand are creating this flaking issue don't you think that a $900 wheel should hold up to that for longer than 200 miles???...Thanks for the input guys.
These pics are crap but you should get the idea.
I have hundreds of pin hole sized areas of paint missing and a few larger ones as well. There are no dents in the aluminum where the paint is missing so I can't really believe that rocks are the culprit. Also if rocks are the issue here, what kind of crap paint is Rays using for their flat black finishes. Under the flaked portions I notice that the aluminum is still shinny, as if it were just polished. I am a auto painter by day and cannot believe that they just sprayed right over the top of polished aluminum, but that what's this looks like. I feel they skipped a step in the prep process. The aluminum is not etched or primed, no wonder the paint is falling off.
I have attempted to contact Mackin and they are proving to be useless. One persone tells me that they accepted the warranty and are currently making me a new set of wheel, identical to what I have now. The deal was to switch the rims out when the new ones were made. They even gave me an estimate of when the new wheels would be done. Then 3 days later someone else at Mackin contacts me and says that no new wheels are being made and I must ship my wheels(dismounted from the tires I just mounted) to Mackin at my own expense. So basically I was blatently lied to.
I want to know if anyone has ever had issues with Rays flat/matte black finishes and if they were ever warranted. Keep in mind that I ran these wheels for only 200 miles or less. Mackin is saying that I have to pay for dismounting and shipping so they can send the wheels to Japan to be inspected and this isn't even a gaurantee that they will be warranted. Basically I have to spend about $250.00 to have them make a decision. Then if they don't warranty them, Im still as*ed out because I have to fix the paint myself (at more expense to me) and remount the tires I just pulled off for nothing. Bottom line, even if tiny rocks or sand are creating this flaking issue don't you think that a $900 wheel should hold up to that for longer than 200 miles???...Thanks for the input guys.
These pics are crap but you should get the idea.
01-22-2010, 07:27 AM
#3
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I just got a set of GT30 Phantom but I put less than 50miles on them.
So far no issues that I can see but will get back to you in a few weeks after I put some more miles on them.
So far no issues that I can see but will get back to you in a few weeks after I put some more miles on them.
01-22-2010, 08:00 AM
#7
Zeez, my Phantom barrels have small knicks on them as well but nothing like paint peeling or anything. Mine are obvious from small debri like sand/dirt (ie: when an idiot in front of you goes off the road) hitting it at freeway speeds.
I do have one bigger chip (about 1/4 size of a pencil eraser) caused by the previous owner and it is shinny aluminum underneath like you stated.
I do have one bigger chip (about 1/4 size of a pencil eraser) caused by the previous owner and it is shinny aluminum underneath like you stated.
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01-22-2010, 08:06 AM
#8
Farmer, are the inside of your barrels rough as if they are not clear coated? The other problem I have is the inside of the barrel collects a lot dirt, as any wheel would. The problem is that I can't get it clean, I even had washed them off the car...this makes these rims look cheap, being 19's you can see all the way through them. Needless to say I am very upset with the overall quality of their finishes.
Zeez, my Phantom barrels have small knicks on them as well but nothing like paint peeling or anything. Mine are obvious from small debri like sand/dirt (ie: when an idiot in front of you goes off the road) hitting it at freeway speeds.
I do have one bigger chip (about 1/4 size of a pencil eraser) caused by the previous owner and it is shinny aluminum underneath like you stated.
I do have one bigger chip (about 1/4 size of a pencil eraser) caused by the previous owner and it is shinny aluminum underneath like you stated.
01-22-2010, 08:11 AM
#9
Farmer, are the inside of your barrels rough as if they are not clear coated? The other problem I have is the inside of the barrel collects a lot dirt, as any wheel would. The problem is that I can't get it clean, I even had washed them off the car...this makes these rims look cheap, being 19's you can see all the way through them. Needless to say I am very upset with the overall quality of their finishes.
01-22-2010, 12:48 PM
#13
Is this the same Brain at Mackin?
Nevermind, just looked him up. This is Brian at Mackin, the one who said a new set was being made for me. He won't be able to help anymore since there going back to the seller that sold them to me.
Brian, if you read this...you did help out a lot. Don't take this rant personal, I just want a solution or other's opinions on how to solve my problem.
Nevermind, just looked him up. This is Brian at Mackin, the one who said a new set was being made for me. He won't be able to help anymore since there going back to the seller that sold them to me.
Brian, if you read this...you did help out a lot. Don't take this rant personal, I just want a solution or other's opinions on how to solve my problem.
Last edited by ZeezCustomz; 01-22-2010 at 12:53 PM.
01-22-2010, 01:10 PM
#16
I know, but what doesn't make sense is how something that costed me $3000.00 is not holding up to its standards. I can't justify spending more money to fix something that's basically brand new, not to mention my time. If I saw this coming I would have picked up a used set and repained them to the color I wanted and saved my self $1000.00 and much time and hassle.
01-22-2010, 01:26 PM
#18
damn, i would be pissed and going crazy if I just dropped 3k on wheels that supposedly everyone on this forum reveres, only to find out they cant even prep it correctly. And you guys make fun of rota owners. Anyways, good luck, hopefully they take responsibility. If not, that wouldnt make sense. It is their fault.
