Coachman Alloy Wheels problem

[woodsieboy]

At the second service in October the technician indicated that the surface of the alloy wheels on our 2011 Pastiche has started to bubble.
There is no visible damage from kerbing or wheel clamps,and it appears that the bubbling is coming from below the exterior finish of the wheel. I am interested to know whether other people have experienced this happening and if so how their dealers have resolved the problem.

 

[BernardinTring]

Evening to you,
I had a Coachman 460/2 for nearly seven years and absolutely no problems of the type described. Recently taken delivery of a newer model and IF this occurs in the future, I would be very inclined to take several digital photographs of the problem and then to e-mail them to Coachman Aftersales with a suitable letter seeking their observations with a view to replacement/or refurbishment. Always found them very helpful if a genuine concern/problem with their product.
In first instance might pay you to check the various elements of the Coachman 'warranty' booklet to see if the wheels are specifically included/excluded. Reading this does produce a few surprises!!! Sorry mine is not readily to hand.
Best of luck in getting a sucessful resolution.
Bernard in Tring

 

[otherclive]

Dont forget the good old SOGA fitness for purpose, not of merchantable quality etc. it's the dealer to resolve under SOGA.

 

[MichaelE]

You dont say how bad they are and where the issue on the wheel is or is it just one?
I know Toyota and Lexus have problems with their alloy wheels bubbling and exchange them under warranty, i know they are cars but it is a common problem with them so look on other forums to see if there are other Coachman owners with the same plight as there may also have a common problem?
The problem is it doesnt take much to get the surface lacquar coat damaged a tiny pin hole will do it? Water creaps in under the paint ,
It doesnt cost much to get them refurbed if it does worry you.
SOGA act on 2 year old alloy wheels? unless common problem would think this would be very difficult to prove.

 

[woodsieboy]

I have spoken to the supplying dealer who has said they are aware of a problem with the wheels ,it is because the wheels are 'diamond cut' to finish them and water then gets under the surface causing the laquer to lift. Coachman do not cover wheels under warranty according to dealer,but there is no specific exclusion in my Coachman warranty booklet. The wheel manufacturer offers an exchange system to replace the wheels at cost of £90 each,but says the problem could re occur,they also offer a pair of painted wheels for the same sort of price which they say may still have the problem but will not be so noticeable.
I have told the dealer by telephone that I consider that 2 yeras is not reasonable and they have agreed that other customers have expressed the same view.I have also told them that our contract is with them and it is therefore of no concern to us what Coachman or the wheel manufacturer say,and that I will be taking advice ref a SOGA claim,specifically over what is a reasonable time for the wheels to last. As an aside my neighbour has just had all of his alloy wheels replaced on his 11 plate Volvo without question by the local Volvo dealer.

 

[MichaelE]

Diamond cut wheels normally get corrosion under the lacquer and it blooms , but you say they are bubbling? Is it all 2/4.You need to get more evidence from other owners. Got any pictures?
Car makers are very different as i believe the wheels are covered under the perforation/paint warranty? The manufacture has changed the wheels not the dealer as it is in your case, i bet the Volvo dealer said we will submit the claim to Volvo?
Friends Nissan Naravro had badly pitted alloys so went back to the dealer, he wouldnt change them so they submitted a claim to Nissan who did.

 

[otherclive]

£90 a wheel is a rip off. I can get 4 x17 Volvo alloys exchange alloys refurbished for £280 including delivery from/to Blackpool. These are grit blasted, cleaned, primed, painted baked and lacquered and baked. Ie a full refurb. I had my Sorento wheels done by a franchise called The Wheel Specialists and they did the same plus removal of tyres fitting and rebalance. Similar price to Volvo. So for two caravan wheels £90 each is expensive.

 

[MichaelE]

His wheels are diamond cut not the same process as you need a cutting machine.
Do all of the above then machine the face and re lacquer £90 is very good.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I have spoken to the supplying dealer who has said they are aware of a problem with the wheels ,it is because the wheels are 'diamond cut' to finish them and water then gets under the surface causing the laquer to lift. .......
......I have told the dealer by telephone that I consider that 2 yeras is not reasonable and they have agreed that other customers have expressed the same view.I have also told them that our contract is with them and it is therefore of no concern to us what Coachman or the wheel manufacturer say,and that I will be taking advice ref a SOGA claim,specifically over what is a reasonable time for the wheels to last....

You make some important points in your posting. The first is the "Dealer is aware of problems" Now I don't know where your information came from about the manufacturing process, but if it came from the dealer, then they have made a nail for their coffin. If they acknowledge that the manufacturing process leads to premature deterioration, then they have admitted they have sold a product that has a manufacturing or design fault. It would be better if you had their admission in writing, but all is not lost as its down to if a 'reasonable person' accepts your description of events.

In my opinion wheels should last more than two years before corrosion starts in undamaged areas.

 

[xtrailman]

Not a very good reponse from the dealer is it.

IMO the wheels should be at least refurbished, that aside i dont rate machined wheels or lacquered. I had those on a Audi, all four wheels were changed just before the 3rd year, the wheels were showing small pitted areas.

Never had any problems with normal alloys.

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Prof John
tThe information I have about the wheel process came in a telephone call with a member of the service department at the dealership,who also admitted he was unaware of the SOGA and that I would need to speak to somebody 'higher up'

 

[xtrailman]

I have now started to record all phone calls where necessary to my mobile.

Only yesterday i recorded a call to a car insurer, i stated that i definatly declared a fitted towbar as a mod on the comparison site.
But no mention of it on the insurers pdf sent.
Yes i did check the details on the insurers site, but missed that ommision simply because it wasn't there. No mention of modifications.

Any way not a problem in this instant, as the insurer has sent a email confirming the mod.

 

[MichaelE]

If you record a conversation and you intend to disclose the conversation to a third party ie someone else then you must get permission from the person you are having the conversation with at the time.
The third party could be someone else from the same company.
The service guy just has to deny it or say you misinterpreted what he said to you.

 

[MichaelE]

Not a very good reponse from the dealer is it.

IMO the wheels should be at least refurbished, that aside i dont rate machined wheels or lacquered. I had those on a Audi, all four wheels were changed just before the 3rd year, the wheels were showing small pitted areas.

Never had any problems with normal alloys.

How can you not rate lacquered wheels? As "normal alloys" are powder lacquered then baked for durabilty.

 

[AlanADS]

We had our Coachman Pastiche from new in early 2010 and have only recently sold it. Despite thousands of miles travelled both here and in France in all weathers the alloy wheels were like new. We have not heard of this problem before from fellow Coachman owners.
Alan

 

[woodsieboy]

That is good to hear Alan and echoes what Bernard in Tring said about his previous Coachman, our wheels were described in the 2011 brochure as 'new Vortex graphite shadow alloy wheels' so I presume your wheels were different,the 2011 models had the same wheels as ours across the range from Amara to Laser,I suspect the issue will be to do with the diamond cutting that produces the finish.

 

[MichaelE]

You dont say where the bubbling is? Diamond cut is a process that is done after the wheel has been sprayed, the face is machined to take the paint off so we are talking fractions of mm's here, the wheel is then powder laquered then baked in an oven.
These wheels can only be refurbed at certain places that have the machinery, alot of places recommend to have all wheels refurbed a just spayed often for the same price as just the one, had a 19" done £180.

 

[Martin24]

No problems with our 2007, 2010, and so far 2013 alloys on our amaras.