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So I managed to get three nails in one tire… Luckily, I had road hazard on this tire since I got it replaced after getting a nail at about 1.2k miles. But the tire shop screwed my wheel up pretty bad... This picture is only one section, but there’s scratches and scrapes just like this around the whole wheel. Like, how do you even do that??? I went back and told them and the manager came out to look at it and told me to call this local wheel repair company they use. He said “I am sorry but you have what is called a PVD chrome wheel and we can not repair that." Went back and told the shop and they ordered me a new wheel from the local Lexus dealer. I'm honestly surprised that I didn't have to pull teeth. They spent a while looking through camera footage so I guess they saw someone mess it up. But if I'm honest, I'm agreeing with you here @arentz07 . While this dark chrome finish looks pretty, it's a pain to deal with. I was reading through this thread the other night and washed my car the next and was shocked to see the amount of swirl marks on them. And you can't even get them repaired!
So I managed to get three nails in one tire… Luckily, I had road hazard on this tire since I got it replaced after getting a nail at about 1.2k miles. But the tire shop screwed my wheel up pretty bad... This picture is only one section, but there’s scratches and scrapes just like this around the whole wheel. Like, how do you even do that??? I went back and told them and the manager came out to look at it and told me to call this local wheel repair company they use. He said “I am sorry but you have what is called a PVD chrome wheel and we can not repair that." Went back and told the shop and they ordered me a new wheel from the local Lexus dealer. I'm honestly surprised that I didn't have to pull teeth. They spent a while looking through camera footage so I guess they saw someone mess it up. But if I'm honest, I'm agreeing with you here @arentz07 . While this dark chrome finish looks pretty, it's a pain to deal with. I was reading through this thread the other night and washed my car the next and was shocked to see the amount of swirl marks on them. And you can't even get them repaired!
I believe minor swirls could be polished out, but I've not tried it myself.
I believe minor swirls could be polished out, but I've not tried it myself.
Yeah I think I’m just willing to live with it tbh. I don’t notice it unless I get really close. I think that if you keep these wheels clean, from a decent decent distance it kinda hides most things.
No, it was the Windward Parkway location. But, as mentioned, they did end up replacing my wheel, so I've got no beef with them.
Got it. I go to the Sugarloaf one. They do all my Tire wheel stuff. The Manger there is Chris, he does my stuff himself. For just that reason, and he's a car Guy too!
Whew, just read through this thread. That was a lot of work to fix a wheel scratch.
However, I gave my car some curb rash a couple of weeks ago ... :-(
It's not too bad, and my IS isn't going to be a show car (I'm coming from owning Jaguars for which there were always plenty of shows ...), and exactly where do owners show their cars, are there Lexus Owners Clubs, so I'm not frantic about things.
I'm going to start with a sharpie, and then move to gloss black when the ink wears off.
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Angle parked in a parallel universe
I have to get my rims repaired on my 21'IS 350. The vendor says they can only replace the OEM Black Chrome rims with Black gloss rims. Should I do it? I was told the OEM rims will wear eventually and the black gloss rims will last longer, but I feel like it will change the look of the car. I have the wheel protection plan so if the gloss rims were damaged I'd get them repaired for free as well, but the whole point of me getting the plan is because I wanted the chrome rims to be repaired.
I have to get my rims repaired on my 21'IS 350. The vendor says they can only replace the OEM Black Chrome rims with Black gloss rims. Should I do it? I was told the OEM rims will wear eventually and the black gloss rims will last longer, but I feel like it will change the look of the car. I have the wheel protection plan so if the gloss rims were damaged I'd get them repaired for free as well.
I don't know about the part where they said the OEM wheels will "wear eventually". PVD chrome is pretty strong, though obviously it can be scratched by things like cheap car washes as easily as car paint. But in my experience, the wheels looked pretty good over time. Just be gentle washing them.
And yeah it's not possible to fully repair this kind of wheel without re-applying the PVD chrome finish. In that case, you may as well get a new wheel due to cost. So if you wanted to re-finish the wheels to be a traditional painted or powercoated finish, that may be a more cost-effective option.
These wheels are so sensitive. Anyone thats owns one and has breathed on it wrong will confirm. I joke to others that have them its like they chrome coated a marshmellow.
yeah, mine have many light scratches on them from the times I have washed them. you don't notice it, but I do, when I wash my car. drives me nuts. will need to think again the next car/suv I buy and the type of wheels they come with.
oh, and do NOT try to polish PVD. I tried 4 different types of "chrome" polish. they got the slight swirl scratches out, but the polish dulled the finish. I only attempted to polish a tiny section to see if it would work. So again, scratches came out, but dulled the finish.
