Paint peeling from steel wheels (3 year old Duster)

[Clintpistol17]

Hi all

I’ll soon be buying a Duster. I’ve chosen a 2022 plate Essential. The dealer sent a video when it first came in and then another after they’d cleaned it up. In the second video I noticed some paint has come off the steel wheels, which I presume happened while they were washing it.

I’ve had a read around and have heard others have experienced the same. However, whilst looking for Dusters to buy there were many that were older with more miles, and the wheels still looked immaculate.

Does anyone know why some wheels are affected and others not?

Also…

- How much of a problem is it? Presumably they’re more vulnerable to corrosion without paint, but in the real world how long would it be before it is an actual practical problem?

- How difficult is it to have them repainted with a job that will last. The dealer said that if they had them repainted, the paint would soon come off again.

Any thoughts or help very much appreciated.

Many thanks

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

Steel wheels will get chipped paint and will rust cosmetically.
They do not rust to the extent that they aren't safe or roadworthy unless they have been sitting buried in mud for decades.
They are easy to rub down and repaint with aerosol cans and if you take time and effort this is likely to stay looking good for several years.
You could take them to an alloy wheel refurbishment business and have them done professionally but it's probably going to cost as much as having alloys done.
Get the dealer to repaint them as part of the deal if it's a sticking point for you.

[Huzzah]

The paints failing on our Duster steelies too, no idea why. I reckon the ones you've seen that look okay have been refurbed.

[Matt_T]

Don't worry about it. Just buy the car if it is what you want.

[sherman]

Get the dealership to get the wheels powder coated or get the dealership to give you £200 off the sale price so you can get it done yourself.

[Benni]

I discovered that under some of the more "luxury" versions of DACIA plastic wheel covers
they have hidden nice steelies, had mine blasted and coated, like the result.

stoopid tire fitters put lead on the outside, had to change that to inside lead strips.

[J4CKO]

People run cars with wheels with virtually no paint left, they will be fine physically for a long time. Depends whether you are bothered cosmetically.

Failing that, if they get unisghtly, pay to get them refurbished or have a go yourself, all you need is sandpaper, primer, paint, masking take, newspaper and some elbow grease.

[andy43]

J4CKO said:

People run cars with wheels with virtually no paint left, they will be fine physically for a long time. Depends whether you are bothered cosmetically.

Failing that, if they get unisghtly, pay to get them refurbished or have a go yourself, all you need is sandpaper, primer, paint, masking take, newspaper and some elbow grease.

I wouldn’t advise using elbow grease as it’ll stop the paint sticking.
Thankyouverymuchimhereallweek

[Clintpistol17]

Many thanks for the replies.

The dealer has now offered to get the wheels painted. I pressed them as to how (and whether it would be powder coated), and they said it would be a “two pack paint”. He also said the firm who would do it recommend black as it has a built in lacquer and so is more hardwearing (silver apparently is just a thin coat).

I know nothing about such things so wondered if anyone could comment please on whether that sounds like it will be a good or rubbish job?

Thanks again for the help

[paintman]

If he's talking about the wheelsilver you get in a rattle can that would be the cheapest option. Probably the shortest life.

Solid black will be 'topcoat' & is the colour coat with hardener added (the 2 components) & is shiny from the gun. (Might help you to understand if you think of the paint on white commercial vans).

Metallic silver (the sparkly effect) involves a metallic basecoat (the colour coat) with a clear lacquer (clear & hardener) over the top & will be more work, the most paint & most expensive.

Last two of the three would be the longest lasting.

[Huzzah]

paintman said:

If he's talking about the wheelsilver you get in a rattle can that would be the cheapest option. Probably the shortest life.

Solid black will be 'topcoat' & is the colour coat with hardener added (the 2 components) & is shiny from the gun. (Might help you to understand if you think of the paint on white commercial vans).

Metallic silver (the sparkly effect) involves a metallic basecoat (the colour coat) with a clear lacquer (clear & hardener) over the top & will be more work, the most paint & most expensive.

Last two of the three would be the longest lasting.

Wouldn't a powder coat be more durable?

[grumpynuts]

This is why these cars are cheap,they are built using the bare minimum of materials.If they have skrimpt on the wheel paint,what else have they cut back on.Buy something better.

[Matt_T]

I suspect that most Renault & Nissan wheels will be the same BCD. If it was me, I'd ask the dealer for £100 off and then go to a scrap yard and buy some nice Renault or Nissan Qashqai alloys.
Then you can have a winter tyre set up on the old steelies and a summer tyre set up on the Renault/Nissan alloys.

Edited by Matt_T on Tuesday 18th March 11:27

[Clintpistol17]

Thanks for all the replies.

Just to update and for the benefit of any future readers... The dealer agreed in the end to knock the money off (£200) instead of having the work done. My concern was that whoever was going to do it would do a quick cheap job, maybe not even removing the existing paint first. From years of home decorating, I know well that a coat of paint is only as good as what is beneath it!

I'm not too bothered about looks. It's mostly tractors, quad bikes, mud, and other brown squidgy stuff on the roads around here. Perhaps I'll leave them for now and let nature and time strip a bit more of the paint off. When the time comes, I can get them done properly or have a stab at it myself. I don't imagine it will be that often that the wheels will be clean enough to see what colour they are anyway!

Thanks again, you've all been a great help

Edited by Clintpistol17 on Tuesday 18th March 14:13

[Clintpistol17]

Thought I'd follow up with some close up photos now we have the car.

One of the back wheels is showing a little bit of rust on the outside, alongside the peeling paint. Both back wheels are rustier still on the inside.

Does it all look par for the course given the car's age and its "built to a price" ethos? It's a 3 year old Duster with 18k miles.

Also, does anyone know... When you get wheels repainted / powder coated, do they tend do the whole wheel or just the outside visible part?

Cheers

Edited by Clintpistol17 on Saturday 22 March 17:13

[sherman]

Powder coating is the whole wheel.
Here is my recent before and after.

[url]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/62971/20250322624997[/url
]

[Sheepshanks]

I had some unused steel wheels off an Ibiza sat in boxes in the corner of the (dry) garage for a few years. When I chucked them out I was amazed how rusty they'd gone, just from sitting there,

[Clintpistol17]

Thank you both for the replies and info.

@sherman - nice job there. In the original photo was that the paint from new,or had you had them done previously?

[sherman]

Clintpistol17 said:

Thank you both for the replies and info.

@sherman - nice job there. In the original photo was that the paint from new,or had you had them done previously?

That was from new and slightly kerbed.
4 wheels same day turnaround was £240.
Dropped the car off at 7am got it backat 3pm all done.

[The Rotrex Kid]

FWIW Dacia were paying for these to be refurbished under warranty when I was there. Worth seeing if you can get your dealer to try and submit a warranty claim!