Pitted Wheels

[prash]

Three of us are having issues with the wheels pitting on our smart cars. I have taken it to the dealer...they tried to buff them out...contacted smart, and have not been able to get them to even call me back. They keep saying they are escalating the issue whenever I call them but NEVER call me back to give me any information or updates even though I have asked them to do so. I first complained in early July. Anyone else had this issue and gotten any resolution?

Maybe smart will see this and do something.

[HerrZ]

year of vehicle? mfg date? maybe a bad lot of rims?

[prash]

All three were early models...picked up by the summer of 2008.

[louis bolieu]

Mine are pitted also. North Florida, 26,000 miles.
Louis

[John_H]

Alloys bought in May 2008: painted, not pitted. 20k miles.

[Suze]

My front wheels are pitted - looks like permanent brake dust.
mfg 11/07, 23,500 miles.

[Godfather]

That is indeed what causes it. If you don't clean them constantly, it won't come off, and somehow reacts with the wheels.

[Bum-bling-B]

That's what I was just about to say Godfather. I've seen wheels pit of they aren't cleaned regularly and the brake dust is left on.

[rushfan]

Unfortunately, they need a good cleaning real often to prevent this. I clean mine on my cars about twice a week average-extra work, but so far wife's mercedes has 41K on it, and wheels still look almost new. Our smart wheels are still too new, but I would think the same treatment would help hold the "pittedness" at bay....
Maybe one of those brake dust shields that I see advertised here and there would help. Anyone have/try one of those?
Brian

[John_H]

I like my brake dust shields (kleenwheels) a lot but then I also have painted wheels and EBC pads, first greenstuff and now redstuff. I hated cleaning my Z4's wheels!

Even if the shields are only "needed" on the front, I use them front and back for a uniform look.