How Are your wheel Hubs?

[Chris5150]

Ok I dont own a Porsche nowadays, own a Merc C63,but as a previous Porsche owner I would be interested in your thoughts on this matter. My wheel hubs on the Merc have gone well rusty..see pics..now this car has the 19" AMG wheels on so you get to see alot of the hub & to be honest it looks a right dog.
I had a 997 GT3, and you saw a lot of the hub on that car, but never recall seeing any rust like this on the hub...anyone noticed any rust on Porsche hubs?...My dealer is trying to say 'they all do that, its just normal on steel hubs' but I think it needs a solution. My car is March 08 with 6k on the clock so its pretty new...poor very poor...

 

[Chris5150]

and another...

 

[Chris5150]

Sorry posted the same pic twice above...here is another one

 

[Geoff_Fields]

My 3 year old 997 shows no sign of rust on the hubs. BUT my 5 year old Citroen C5 does, which had the discs replaced only 9 months ago. So it seems that some rust and some don't.

 

[snarf]

Sorry to hear that you're having problems with your dealer's acceptance of what looks to be a clearly unacceptable level of rust. In your situation I would pursue this with Merc direct.

I'm not sure what the Porsche hub material is but I have a 2 yr old C2S with 13k miles, there are few scuff marks in the paint on the hubs but no signs of corrosion.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

If their computer says 'No' you can easily deal with the rust by sanding down and painting it with heat proof metallic aluminium coloured paint from Halfords. I've tried it previously and it works wonders.

 

[Black80XSA]

The Porsche hubs are just finished in matt grey zinc rich primer. My 987 had soem rust pathces at 4 months old. I rubber them down lightly with emery paper and resprayed them and they are still fine almost 3 years later.

My fathers BMW 5 series had similar amounts to your Merc - BMW repainted them under warranty.

Use of alloy wheel cleaners accelerates corrosion of the lightly painted wheel hubs dramatically.

 

[Chris5150]

Cheers Chaps, appreciate the comments, I think I shall take it up with Merc direct, surely the hubs should be painted at manufacture/assembly. I could go to Halfords & get the paint & do it myself, but that will be last choice, on a £60k car I expect them to do something, and only when I have exhausted Merc cust services will I be visiting halfords..but again thanks for the advice.

 

[shorthouse]

My 2011 997 GTS has quite badly rusted wheel hubs ... Anyone know if this should be covered by the original 3 year OPC warranty?

 

[ralphmusic]

My GTS did not have any rust on the hubs. I always take the approach of raising any subject with OPC with expectations of them covering the issue - don't ask don't get... Good luck.

 

[Clewsey]

My GTS hubs don't show any sign of rust but then I wash with pH neutral / natural wheel cleaners. Many of our BMW's hubs suffered quite badly but then that was BMW's lack of proper protection and I did take it to some hand-wash folk who probably use concentrated cleaners. Our latest BMW has always been washed by myself and doesn't show any rust after 1.5 years.

I'd take it up with Mercedes as you say.

 

[shorthouse]

Must be the hand car wash I always use ... []
Will approach my OPC after the festive period for their response
Alternatively I have found a number of detailers that also offer hub and wheel restoration
Merry Christmas all ... []

 

[RJKflyer]

Interesting one!

My 997.2TT at two years old is without a blemish on all four hubs.

Wife's BMW 120i hubs were as rusty as anything when we bought it a few month's old. As it too has large open wheels, I asked the BMW dealer to do something/anything which they said they could not.

As they've got older the (red) rust has stabilised to the black oxidative state and is not particularly noticeable/offensive anymore.

Else I'd have Kurusted them and sprayed VHT black"¦

 

[isysman]

I thought Mercedes were trying to raise their customer service standards? Unacceptable in my opinion to have rust like that on a £60k car. I think pressure in dealership should get the required action.

 

[shorthouse]

I am happy to give top marks to West London OPC who having seen my car last week and taken photos of the wheels, called to confirm that whilst rusty wheel hubs are not covered under the standard 3 year warranty, they would be prepared to collect my car, remove the wheels, clean and repaint the hubs and then perform a full complimentary check, wash and return. Praise where praise is due []

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: isysman

I thought Mercedes were trying to raise their customer service standards? Unacceptable in my opinion to have rust like that on a £60k car. I think pressure in dealership should get the required action.

They were indeed, especially considering this was OP five years ago.... []

I have seen warranty go both ways on wheel studs, my dealer repainted mine for me during a service- but said that it was trim and so not covered..

 

[isysman]

Haha never noticed that

ORIGINAL: garyw

ORIGINAL: isysman

I thought Mercedes were trying to raise their customer service standards? Unacceptable in my opinion to have rust like that on a £60k car. I think pressure in dealership should get the required action.

They were indeed, especially considering this was OP five years ago.... []

I have seen warranty go both ways on wheel studs, my dealer repainted mine for me during a service- but said that it was trim and so not covered..