Chrome Corrosion 18" 300C wheels

[tony324]

correct me if im wrong, but it looks like my 05c has a fake chrome cover almost like a hub cap. and not a fully solid chrome wheel cuz its just the lil outer lip thats getting nasty

[Northern300c]

Originally Posted by tony324

correct me if im wrong, but it looks like my 05c has a fake chrome cover almost like a hub cap. and not a fully solid chrome wheel cuz its just the lil outer lip thats getting nasty

Yes, the outer lip is not chrome cladded and it is what corrodes.

The chrome-cladded center portion never corrodes.

[Grill]

I have an 07 300C that I purchased at the end of December. All four wheels and my Mopar grill are all corroding already (less than three months). The chrome wheels are pitted, and the grill is discolored. The dealer has agreed to replace the wheels and grill one time only.

Once I get the new wheels and grill, how can I prevent them from corroding again?

[nemisis]

i have an 05 300c and i am about to be on my second set of factory rims replaced by the dealership

[Bowtie-Bri]

I went to the local dealership today.
I showed the service manager the wheels on my wifes car.
Its got 22,000 mi. and the outer lip of the wheels have the corrosion or pitting condition. The service manager told me they would replace
the wheels one time only. I know there just gonna pit and corrode like the ones I have on the car now. I wish Chrysler would do something. They've gotta be losing money replacing wheels all the time.

[Inferno07]

Originally Posted by RD3587

I had mine replaced, but it was under the original warranty.

I still can't understand how Chrysler gets away with half the stuff they do...

This is a well known, well documented issue with these wheels, yet they tell you to get lost if you are out of warranty... How nice of them!

I think Chrysler hopes and prays every night that people that own their vehicles don't have access to the internet... Owners would all think it is their own fault when really it is just a JUNKY CAR!

And do you think Chrysler is THE ONLY one who does these sort of things? Most car manufacturers do not want to deal with you. As nice as the 300 is.. It didn't cost what my Corvette cost me and when I picked up my brand new Vette it had the forged QF-5 rim option (polished and clear powdercoated) and there were buffing "burn marks" clear powder coated right over. When I got on the phone with a regional rep he said and I quote "Do the wheels roll?" to which I replied "Yes they roll" and his response was "Then there is no issue.. We do not warrant "cosmetics"

So there ya have it..


And now to explain "why" the chrome clad wheels corrode.

If you are not aware of it, your chrome clad wheels are actually a rough cast aluminum wheel with a machined "lip" which is then clearcoated and a chrome plated cladding (think hubcap) is glued over the rim. The problem stems from the cladding fitting tightly against the lip and when the rims flex (and they do, all the time..) the chrome cladded hubcap rubs the clear off the rim lip, thereby exposing raw aluminum to salt and the environment in general.

The only "cure" would be to stop production of these rims. Or replace them with the silver finish alloy 18" rims or buy aftermarket rims.

[Bowtie-Bri]

Originally Posted by Inferno07

And now to explain "why" the chrome clad wheels corrode.

If you are not aware of it, your chrome clad wheels are actually a rough cast aluminum wheel with a machined "lip" which is then clearcoated and a chrome plated cladding (think hubcap) is glued over the rim. The problem stems from the cladding fitting tightly against the lip and when the rims flex (and they do, all the time..) the chrome cladded hubcap rubs the clear off the rim lip, thereby exposing raw aluminum to salt and the environment in general.

If this is the case, then why not make the outer diameter of the "chrome cladding" 1/32" of an in. smaller so when the rim "flexes"
the chrome cladding won't rub off the clear coat.

[Inferno07]

*shrugs* I guess that's why I'm not a paid engineer, because I make sense...

[ABSOLUTNATI]

Just had my car detailed yesterday and noticed the clearcoat bubbling up on the lips of the rims. Some spots are almost an inch and a half. The face of the rim itself still looks fine. I might just drag it out, then buy aftermarket rims later on. I'm out of the basic warranty but still have a Maximum Care and a Certified Used Warranty. Neither cover body parts and I don't think it's worth starting a battle with the dealership. Seeing that NO ONE has won that!

Correct me if I'm wrong people!!

[Bowtie-Bri]

I went to the dealer on Tues. 4-8-08 and showed the Service Manager the wheels on my wifes car. He told me they would replace them, but it was a "one time deal". We're dropping the car off 4-14 to have them replaced. The car has approx. 22,000 miles on it.