UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

I was wondering if I could run something by you guys, and maybe get some input from you.

I bought my Polo GTi about 18 months ago. When I bought it the BBS alloys were severely corroded in exactly the same way that many of you seem to have, or have had problems with.

I was lucky enough at the time to get VW to replace them on warranty. This may have had something to do with the fact that I would not buy the car unless they changed them.

18 months on and the corrosion is back. I, like many of you, clean my car at least every week, and I always concentrate on getting the wheels nice. I only ever use soapy water and I always rince well.

So, I approach my local VW dealer. When I ask, they tell me that the alloys have a 3 year manufacturers warranty. Then I tell him that The wheels were replaced on warranty 18 months ago, and he tells me in this case, then, the warranty is for 12 months and I'm out of luck .

I am currently dealing with VW customer care, because I don't think it is reasonable to expect anybody to spend £1000 every 18 months for new wheels.

I was just wondering then, exactly how many of you have this problem? What are your experiences? If we all shout loud enough will something get done. If I am stitched up by VW, as I am sure many of you have been, what do people think about writing to BBS together, or even Watchdog if it is still going!?

Sorry for the long post, but I'm really mad about this . It is almost as bad as the pedal box problems they denied for so long.

Cheers guys,

Chris

I bought my GTI and the alloys were spotless.

2 weeks later, I notice corrosion on the outer rim on 1 wheel. The following week the same corrosion starts to appear on 2 other wheels.

I wash the car and wheels once a week, and leather down if its been raining.

There is obviously a manufacturing fault with the BBS alloys. By exchanging the alloys (under warranty or not) this demonstrates that VW recognise there is a fault/problem. If your replacement wheels suffer the same corrosion, (even outside what VW claim is only 12 months warranty), they must surely be breaking their contract. They are knowingly selling a product that they know will corrode after 12 months, and before 3 years.

This is discrimination, becasue if you or I paid £1000 for the same wheels, we would get 3 years warranty.

If you think about it, if we paid £1000 for a new set of alloys, would this entitle us to a new set every 3 years?

Persoanlly I would go back to your local VW dealer and casually drop into converstion, about how the local paper, and trading standards would like to hear about your problem.

Failing that, a letter to BBS and VW themselves could be an option, and send your VW dealer a photocopy of the letter.

I'm gagging for a pint, and my cab is here, so best of luck.

Sounds like a good idea because every GTi you see has wheel corrision The wheels are just not suitable for the UK climate (salt on the roads in the winter).
I wish I had asked the dealer to swap them for a set of 16V style alloys when I bought the car new.
Refurbed BBS dont look to hot either because no one is prepaired to split the wheels and put them back together. and if you have them powdercoated you get bubbling in the joint.