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[StogyBear]

I just got these wheels installed and noticed the paint is flaking. Less than 1 day old. Has anyone else had this happen to them? How did you deal with it? I bought it from a shop on ebay.. wonder if there's protection from eBay?

[Throatpunch]

Were they used? Looks like a worn used set resprayed to look new for sale

[StogyBear]

They are supposed to be a brand new set that I waited months to arrive. It was new in the box from Avant Garde through an ebay store. The tire shop (which I think is partly at fault) also said it looks resprayed.

[Throatpunch]

Im guessing not - are they even an authorized reseller? Contact avant garde and explain the seller you bought it from for authenticity

[MPizza]

i just got a set of these, no issues like that. contact the seller for sure

[StogyBear]

The ebay store is blaming the tire shop for using the wrong socket. The tire shop is blaming avant garde for a paint defect. I'll reach out to AG to confirm authenticity. In the meantime, anyone have advice on how to not get screwed here? The credit card company doesn't offer protection for wheels. I really don't want to get lawyers involved for this.

[Throatpunch]

Originally Posted by StogyBear

The ebay store is blaming the tire shop for using the wrong socket. The tire shop is blaming avant garde for a paint defect. I'll reach out to AG to confirm authenticity. In the meantime, anyone have advice on how to not get screwed here? The credit card company doesn't offer protection for wheels. I really don't want to get lawyers involved for this.

Not financially worth lawyers. You’ll spent $500-1000 on legal fees to get like $1400 back. Check with AG And if they are claiming new and they are used or maybe not even AG Wheels report it to ebay

[Throatpunch]

Was the boxes sealed and brand new?

[randrews15]

That looks like improper and installation by the tech. Likely a non-marring socket was used and hit the lug bolt holes. The other mark maybe from the tire machine from a lazy tech. It's hard to find people that will care for your car like you do.

[Throatpunch]

Originally Posted by randrews15

That looks like improper and installation by the tech. Likely a non-marring socket was used and hit the lug bolt holes. The other mark maybe from the tire machine from a lazy tech. It's hard to find people that will care for your car like you do.

Youre right but i see layers of non sanded paint/primer. It really shouldn't peel/chip like that

I bought a set of powdercoated wheels before and there was zero prep so when i chipped it and i could chip more away and see an unprepped silver wheel

[StogyBear]

According to AG, they use a multi step painting process for hyper silver, which is why you see few layers chipping off. I've read about this before so they're not lying. Their paint is still way too flimsy to chip like that, but at the same time it wouldn't chip had the shop not wrecked it with an air gun.

I'll see what ebay says, but I might just take the shop to small claims. The shop owner is not responding to my texts anymore so it seems like it's my only course of action at this point.

[ETM3]

I just got a new set of these as well. Same batch I waited months for. Direct from AG. I already expected chipping. Avant garde rims are known to chip very easily. Hell I just removed the red AG stickers on them and a whole piece flaked off. Already planning to powercoat them before mounting. These rims have to be mounted and taken care of extremely carefully and even then they will chip. That’s the price you pay for these replicas.

[StogyBear]

@ETM3 That's wild. The fact that each layer peels separately tells me there's something seriously wrong with their painting process. My guess would be that they wait too long between coats and chemical adhesion is lost. They could also be using really cheap paints, but I can't imagine cheap paint being that bad. APEX wheels cost the same and they have much more durable paint, although way more orange peel.

[Lukaszsok7]

Same thing happened to mine they started peeling as soon as you touch the paint with anything. I even ceramic coated mine when i got them brand new. Beautiful hyper silver color but garbage paint. I attached a pic of it starting to peel, but it got much worse at random places.

[SilverSlug]

I'm literally about to buy a set of these.

Does AG have authorized shops that will install these properly, so they can be held accountable for warranty claims?

Is this happening to anyone else?

[SalimM3]

I just bought a set maybe 5 months ago from Vibe motorsports who is a forum vendor.
Wheels were perfect, took the wheels to Firestone tires and got the tires mounted no problem. Brought them home and bolted them up without issue. I have installed and uninstalled the wheels about 50 times since then for suspension install and spacer fittings dialing in the fitment and have had zero issues with the finish. Not saying it doesnt happen but I have hit the face with a socket or two and its held up fine so far.

[tdott]

I had a set before, the finish from AG is pretty crap and gets torn up very easily.

There is a reason the OEM version are more highly desired and values back that up also.

[kerrit]

AG paint is definitely crap, my set years ago had similar issues.

[StogyBear]

Originally Posted by AdM1nsarEas$

Name the shop that's screwing you over so that people can avoid it

It's a small tire shop in Lafayette ca. Doubt anyone else is taking their car there lol

[StogyBear]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Does AG have authorized shops that will install these properly, so they can be held accountable to warranty claims?

Is this happening to anyone else?

I'm literally about to buy a set of these.

I think any other mid tier shop would handle these fine, but just keep in mind it's not durable paint. At some point they will get damaged from normal use. The fact that the paint separates layer by layer means it was improperly painted.

[EnVe46]

Same thing happened to mine. Rock chipped it on my first commute out. Paint started flaking instantly.

[BayE30]

Seen this issue with AG359 in this same color multiple times...