(No idea where the XI in the title came from, but i couldn't find a way to edit thw title.) Anyone else having the problem of 18" chrome peeling? I bought the car a few weeks ago and thought maybe it was a trait of the rims, but I do not see other posts about it. The flaking is starting where spoke meets the outside of the wheel. Could I be the only one?

 

I don't have the chrome 18 inchers. Mine are probably painted a silver color. But all have minor curb rash, the previous owner wasn't too careful how they parked.

 

One rim has curb rash, and some flaking as a result, but the real damage is coming from the back edge of the spoke.

 

That looks scary. You said damage. The base wheel casting is okay, and it's just the chrome peeling?

 

Definitely not a careful driver (prev owner).


As a chemist, that looks to me like something very nasty (chemically) got on there, prob w this spike almost parallel to the ground, and went unnoticed while it ate through the chrome coating to the base material, and then started eating at that, sitting in that little inner ledge, until noticed and cleaned up.


Maybe a brake bleeding accident? Though most people test drive right after, but it may have been long enough to do the damage.


Anyway, my point is that I don't believe this falls into the category of "generic chrome finish flaking". Something

 

I havent inspected the wheel all that carefully. I'm out of town till next week, then I'll pull the wheel off and inspect.
With regards to chemicals, who knows. It's just the front 2 wheels, but it's possible, that the rear ris have minor flaking. I'll keep ya posted. I'm replacing the outer tie rods and possibly more next week.

 

Some chemicals can remove chrome coating by weakening the bond between it and the underlying aluminum... Sometimes, brake fluid is mentioned as having traits such as that, so I'm not surprised... As far as fixing the coating, there are companies that can fix the chrome on a wheel, but it's usually pricy... As an alternative, you could coat em with plasti-dip and have a good looking(if done correctly) finish that might look better than peeling chrome...

 

I didn't realize it was more than that single spot on a single wheel.


I now doubt brake fluid as a culprit for the sole reason that no one would be stupid enough to trash their chrome wheels TWICE without noticing.


Bones is right. It's usually the bonding between the chrome and the surface that is attacked, leading to flaking.