Boss Wheel non Warranty

[EricD]

I bought a set of 20'' Boss 304 wheels that I have been trying to get replaced due to defective chrome. I first went to the Canadian distributor and a manager by the name of Brian gave the wheels a cursory look and said he would warranty the worst 2. I got the B.S. they were on B.O. Not good enough. I contacted Ernie Boehm at American Eagle and he wanted me to ship the wheels to him for inspection at my expense . The installer and retailer of the wheels spoke to Ernie and he agreed pictures would be OK. After waiting for weeks for a reply I enquired what's going on. I got shuffle and was told to go back to the distributor. Said he could't do anything from the pictures. These wheels were on for the summer last year and had not seen winter. I find later that there is no real warranty on
aftermarket wheels. The wheels have 6000 KM on them and should last longer than that. :banghead: If I ever figure out how to post the pictures from my album others could judge for themself.

[claudem56]

I had the same chrome pitting problem on my 20" Boss 304 wheels after only one season.
I brought them back to where I bought them (Cheap Thrills in Milton) and got them replaced at no charge.
I have to say it did take a while to get the new set and I think they were on B/O.

I guess the only thing is I hope this set lasts longer.

Claude

[EricD]

The pitting is one thing, but the fact that what looks like the alum. casting showing through the chrome. there is pictures on the album under Eric,s Pictures.

[hemicanucksfan]

that sucks eric. hopefully they man up soon.

[SLAKKER]

I guess people should seriously consider purchasing the Boss 304 wheels - I bought these ones new in April and within a week I had staining on them that would not come out -- I have tried everything from never dull - various polish's wax's/clay bar etc......
so I also returned to where I purchased him and they sent me to the distributor who provided me with some Boss wheel polish --- got home and that 2 did not get it out - so I guess I just have to live with it also --- not fun paying almost $2000.00 for some rims and getting crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.lxforums.com/board/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=4873http://www.lxforums.com/board/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=4874

[mopar-nut]

I guess people should seriously consider purchasing the Boss 304 wheels - I bought these ones new in April and within a week I had staining on them that would not come out -- I have tried everything from never dull - various polish's wax's/clay bar etc......
so I also returned to where I purchased him and they sent me to the distributor who provided me with some Boss wheel polish --- got home and that 2 did not get it out - so I guess I just have to live with it also --- not fun paying almost $2000.00 for some rims and getting crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.lxforums.com/board/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=4873http://www.lxforums.com/board/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=4874

I've got Boss329's and they did the same thing. I used Mother's Billett Polish and alot of elbow grease and they actually removed almost all of the stains and water spots.

[EricD]

If all the folks who have had a bad experience with their Boss wheels could post on here, maybe American Eagle will pay attention to their end users. Or, go bankrupt and look for a government hand-out.

[SLAKKER]

Tried that -- with all the elbow grease -- and they didnt come out!
they got better but this is like everytime it rains -- but the original stains will not come out with anything ---


I've got Boss329's and they did the same thing. I used Mother's Billett Polish and alot of elbow grease and they actually removed almost all of the stains and water spots.

[pmpn8ez]

machined lip rims almost always do that if you dont stay on top of cleaning, buffing and sealing them ALL the time.......

more than likely the brake dust, soot, etc seeped into the poreous surface......

also give the mothers power ball a try on them......

P.S......you paid 2,000 dollars for 20" Boss rims???

[Nightshade]

Swing by my place tomorrow. I have the day off and only have an appointment at 12 or so... I have some stuff that I got at the BAP spring fling.. seems to work well... Flitz pre-clean spray and the flitz polish.. works out pretty good.. need to put wheel wax on after though to keep them from getting dirty so quick and to seal it..



I guess people should seriously consider purchasing the Boss 304 wheels - I bought these ones new in April and within a week I had staining on them that would not come out -- I have tried everything from never dull - various polish's wax's/clay bar etc......
so I also returned to where I purchased him and they sent me to the distributor who provided me with some Boss wheel polish --- got home and that 2 did not get it out - so I guess I just have to live with it also --- not fun paying almost $2000.00 for some rims and getting crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nightshade]

machined lip rims almost always do that if you dont stay on top of cleaning, buffing and sealing them ALL the time.......

more than likely the brake dust, soot, etc seeped into the poreous surface......

also give the mothers power ball a try on them......

P.S......you paid 2,000 dollars for 20" Boss rims???

that was rims and rubber..

[402 Motoring]

Boss wheels that have painted centers have raw aluminum lips.....they not clearcoated. The photo that Slaker showed is exactly what happens to uncleared aluminum. That is not a defect in the wheel.

[SLAKKER]

Hey Joe -- I will take you up on that offer but I will have to make it another time because I am working tomorrow -- i will have to buy a powerball also!!
thanks for the offer!
Paul:thumbs_u:

Swing by my place tomorrow. I have the day off and only have an appointment at 12 or so... I have some stuff that I got at the BAP spring fling.. seems to work well... Flitz pre-clean spray and the flitz polish.. works out pretty good.. need to put wheel wax on after though to keep them from getting dirty so quick and to seal it..

[SLAKKER]

the price was 1700.00 for rims tires install --- does anyone know if chrome ones are so hard to keep clean also??? just for future ref!!
really too much effort for these lips!!!!!!




machined lip rims almost always do that if you dont stay on top of cleaning, buffing and sealing them ALL the time.......

more than likely the brake dust, soot, etc seeped into the poreous surface......

also give the mothers power ball a try on them......

P.S......you paid 2,000 dollars for 20" Boss rims???

[Hypnotiq]

What you see in my signature are Boss 324 and the rear left one has pitted before and i had to buy a new one. Ill NEVER buy boss product again.

[89grand]

My wheels have a machined lip, but I think they are cleared as well, and they look perfect. Very easy to clean and they don't require any maintenance other than regular cleaning.

If the Boss wheels are uncleared, that sucks.

[EricD]

The Boss 304 wheels are chrome on aluminum. I get tiny flakes of aluminum on a polishing rag.

[RossE]

My wheels have a machined lip, but I think they are cleared as well, and they look perfect. Very easy to clean and they don't require any maintenance other than regular cleaning.

If the Boss wheels are uncleared, that sucks.

The AR Torque Thrusts are cleared... Just hope that it doesn't start to peel like mine has. Been waiting on a replacement rim since June 2008!!! Every month I get a different story as to why the rims hasn't been replaced.

Hope you have better luck getting your Boss rim replaced...

[EricD]

It seems when your dealing with people who don't have the best interests of the consumer or the long term future of the parent company, all you will get is buck passing.

[Hypnotiq]

Even noticed a club member of ours has the same issue as you guys!
http://www.midwestmoparboyz.com/uploads/1/0/1/1/1011218/3422463.jpg?600x449

you can't really tell from the pics but ive seen them.

[mopar-nut]

Tried that -- with all the elbow grease -- and they didnt come out!
they got better but this is like everytime it rains -- but the original stains will not come out with anything ---

That sucks. But if get out what you can, after cleaning use some car wax on them to protect them from the elements it's cut's down on the spotting.

[JayR04]

I guess people should seriously consider purchasing the Boss 304 wheels - I bought these ones new in April and within a week I had staining on them that would not come out -- I have tried everything from never dull - various polish's wax's/clay bar etc......
so I also returned to where I purchased him and they sent me to the distributor who provided me with some Boss wheel polish --- got home and that 2 did not get it out - so I guess I just have to live with it also --- not fun paying almost $2000.00 for some rims and getting crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.lxforums.com/board/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=4873http://www.lxforums.com/board/picture.php?albumid=325&pictureid=4874
My wheels look like this too. Thought maybe the car wash did something wrong but now I know Boss wheels are garbage.

[Aceman74]

Thats why they are $150 a wheel, I'm a distributor for this crap. I have 22's on my Silverado and they look just like this, but you get what you pay for. The tires cost me more than the wheels did, they are throw aways.

[SLAKKER]

they loooooook soo good and clean at the tire shop though when they are new !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not good when your OCD kicks in and you can't get the stains off!!!!!!!

[Nightshade]

they loooooook soo good and clean at the tire shop though when they are new !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not good when your OCD kicks in and you can't get the stains off!!!!!!!

Flitz dude.. it works.. Flitz and a flitz power ball thingy.. connect to a drill and the wheels are shiny again. throw on some wheel wax to seal them.. then you just need to make sure you wax them when you wash the car. :)

[JayR04]

Flitz dude.. it works.. Flitz and a flitz power ball thingy.. connect to a drill and the wheels are shiny again. throw on some wheel wax to seal them.. then you just need to make sure you wax them when you wash the car. :)
I'll try this next week. Thanks.

[bigal470]

looks like you can use some 2000 sand paper and a powerball with some flitz

[SLAKKER]

Joe where the H$LL do you get flitz??????
I wanna bet you it wont take them out!!!
how much????

[pmpn8ez]

that was rims and rubber..

gotcha....you were scarring me there for a sec!

[EricD]

Aceman74 I wish they had only been $150 ea. I wouldn't be so dissappointed in the quality. The 304's are over $300 in Canada. Maybe a mass email complaint to ernieboehm@earthlink.net He is apparrently the one who makes the warranty decisions for American Eagle.

[Booper]

I know a little something about aluminum rims and chrome plating as I melt alloys down for foundries and diecasters and in basic terms, aluminum HATES chrome. In order for an aluminum rim to be chromed properly it first needs to be copper plated, (copper & aluminum get along better) and then NICKEL plated, and finally a very VERY fine layer of chrome goes on. 99% of the shine you see in a chrome rim is actually the nickel.

Cheap chrome rim manufacturers DO NOT do the triple chrome process, and chrome plate DIRECTLY onto the aluminum cast rim which allows for intergranular corrosion. Once the moisture gets underneath that chrome layer is will oxidize and bubble up the chrome. Also the process by which the raw casting is treated prior to being plated plays a huge roll in whether you get a few months or a few seasons out of your rims.

This is the reason why car manufacturers are now going with the chrome plated plastic clad covers for their rims, there is no risk of the chrome reacting on plastic. I knew a guy that was in the plating industry for years and he used to say "I would never buy chrome rims without a lifetime warranty, and if I sold em I wouldn't offer ANY."

If your chrome is coming off in sheets i'ts nothing you have done wrong, its a cheap rim made at a cheap price in a factory somewhere in China where the quality control is zero.



Ben

[300spartans]

My Boss wheels are exactly the same on the lip. Tried some metal polish today and not much difference.

[Aceman74]

Aceman74 I wish they had only been $150 ea. I wouldn't be so dissappointed in the quality. The 304's are over $300 in Canada. Maybe a mass email complaint to ernieboehm@earthlink.net He is apparrently the one who makes the warranty decisions for American Eagle.
Oh yeah that Canada exchange rate and the duties. They are nice wheels, I looked in to them too. You actually need to get some polishing rouge and a wheel attachment for a die grinder. I got mine to polish up. Check Standard Abrasives for some polishing wheels.

[EricD]

Still waiting on American Eagle to come good on there defective wheels.

[EricD]

Still waiting

[H3733]

$hitty...
I'll never buy wheels with any chrome even if they look great. My 4G wheels are worth like 1300 or less after one year...
Even high end chrome peels. Why do they even make chrome wheels. there are just so many issues with it. HRE, i forged, Aicona it doesn't matter they all peal. Maybe I'm in the wrong area for chrome i don't know...
Good luck man.

[SLAKKER]

I think you will be waiting and waiting!!!!
never again will I buy anything with the chrome/stainless etc..... lip on them !!!!!
crap

[sound&security]

Boss wheels that have painted centers have raw aluminum lips.....they not clearcoated. The photo that Slaker showed is exactly what happens to uncleared aluminum. That is not a defect in the wheel.
x2-every time a uncleared aluminum wheel gets wet and left to dry on its own-IT WILL have to be repolished.
the longer you let the stains sit on the alumiun chances are they wont polish out by hand and really bad stains have to be wet sanded and high speed buffed out. sad but true-thats why a sold my Asanta's AND GOT PAINTED VIPERS. less work to maintain them

[sound&security]

I think you will be waiting and waiting!!!!
never again will I buy anything with the chrome/stainless etc..... lip on them !!!!!
crap
CHROMED lips are not a problem unless you dont care for them at all and let them pit.
alum lips uncleared is the real nightmare to keep up with.

[xlr8tr]

I know a little something about aluminum rims and chrome plating as I melt alloys down for foundries and diecasters and in basic terms, aluminum HATES chrome. In order for an aluminum rim to be chromed properly it first needs to be copper plated, (copper & aluminum get along better) and then NICKEL plated, and finally a very VERY fine layer of chrome goes on. 99% of the shine you see in a chrome rim is actually the nickel.

Cheap chrome rim manufacturers DO NOT do the triple chrome process, and chrome plate DIRECTLY onto the aluminum cast rim which allows for intergranular corrosion. Once the moisture gets underneath that chrome layer is will oxidize and bubble up the chrome. Also the process by which the raw casting is treated prior to being plated plays a huge roll in whether you get a few months or a few seasons out of your rims.

This is the reason why car manufacturers are now going with the chrome plated plastic clad covers for their rims, there is no risk of the chrome reacting on plastic. I knew a guy that was in the plating industry for years and he used to say "I would never buy chrome rims without a lifetime warranty, and if I sold em I wouldn't offer ANY."

If your chrome is coming off in sheets i'ts nothing you have done wrong, its a cheap rim made at a cheap price in a factory somewhere in China where the quality control is zero.



Ben


Sounds like exactly what happened to my 304's... is it possible to do a clearcoat over chrome?

[EricD]

I'm still waiting for my replacement Boss 304 wheels I was promised. It's going on 7 months now.:sad:

[SLAKKER]

that sucks!!!!!!!
like the guy above you said -- I wonder if we could spray some clearcoat on the aluminum lip/rim and that might protect it better?????

[JayR04]

I might eventually get the lips painted flat black and the spokes silver.

[EricD]

Still waiting for my replacement wheels from American Eagle. Eight months now to replace a couple of Boss 304's. I guess their hoping I die of old age and go away.

[lowryder99]

Guys if you try using some 2000grit and wet sand the lips the stains will come out. I have been there and done that before with boss wheels. You really need to stay on top of keeping the lips clean and polishing them. A good wheel sealent helps too once they are actually clean. I do detailing on the side and have brought many boss wheels and other misc raw aluminum lips back to life...even after the owners told me they tried for months!

[EricD]

lowryder99 I'm not complaining about staining, I have chrome bubbling and pitting.

[lowryder99]

lowryder99 I'm not complaining about staining, I have chrome bubbling and pitting.

Oh yikes!!! Well that's no friggen good then and no detailing in the world will fix that lol!

From what I have seen poor chrome jobs no matter how well maintainted will still turn to crap even with the most car crazy owner.

I think I am done with chrome wheels myself, I love the look when they are shining and rolling but once you get a flaw it's game over...whether it's a nick, scratch, pitt etc..etc..

[EricD]

Just an update on the lousy after sales service from American Eagle. It's been 9 months now that the warranty replacement wheels I was promised have been on "back-order". Happy New Year