Technical product information
Topic
Market
area
Brand
Transaction
No.
Level
Status
Release
date

Road wheel inspection procedure
Australia E04 Bentley rest Asia and Australia (6E04),China 723 Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive CO (6723),China 796 VW Import
Comp. Ltd (Vico), Beijing (6796),Germany E02 Bentley rest Europe (6E02),Japan E03 Bentley Japan (6E03),Korea, (South) E08
Bentley South Korea (6E08),United Arab Emirates E06 Bentley Middle East and Africa (6E06),United Kingdom E01 Bentley UK
(6E01),United States E05 Bentley USA and rest America (6E05)
Bentley
2063017/3
EH
Released for publishing
03-Oct-2023

New customer code
Object of complaint
running gear -> wheels, tyres, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
vehicle service -> service, maintenance -> repair execution
running gear -> wheels, tyres, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System -> wheel rim
running gear -> wheels, tyres, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
running gear -> wheels, tyres, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

Complaint type
Position
soiling
service: process -> with determination of concern
visual appeal / surface -> corrosion
visual appeal / surface
paint / painting

Vehicle data
All Models
Sales types
Type
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

MY
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Brand Designation Engine code Gearbox code Final drive code
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*
E
*
*
*

Documents
Document name
master.xml

INTERNAL

Technical product information
Road wheel inspection procedure

Transaction No.: 2063017/3
Release date: 03-Oct-2023

Customer statement / workshop findings
In the event a complaint is received regarding road wheel/s condition for example:
•

Scratches

•

Corrosion

•

Damage

•

Blemishes

•

Chipping

Please refer to the onward instructions

Technical background
Do not consider submitting a warranty claim for a road wheel manufacturing defect without first referencing and understanding the contents of
this document.
Any defect or concern found either outside the guidelines stated in this document or not clearly stated as acceptable to support a warranty claim,
will be the responsibility of the retailer regarding component replacement.
Any road wheels deemed as having no issues found relating to a manufacturing defect (including curbing) will have the applicable claim rejected.
NOTE: Any wheels returned for inspection with no issues found relating to a manufacturing defect will be made available for collection or return
at your expense for a period of 14 working days. After this period, the wheels will be disposed

Production change
Not applicable

Measure
Refer to the Maintenance section within Elsa Pro - Maintenance - Wheel inspection
In the event that the issue is not covered within the Maintenance section, the operative should refer to the onward
instructions
Filiform corrosion – ‘Wear and tear’

Figure 1
Filiform corrosion around the outer edge of the wheel due to curbing

Figure 2
Filiform corrosion in the middle of the rim initially caused by impact damage to the lacquer coat, such as stone chips
•

Both Figure 1 and Figure 2 do not show a manufacturing defect

and are not claimable under warranty
Filiform corrosion – Re-furbished wheels
•

Wheels that have been re-furbished are more susceptible to filiform corrosion because the surface finish has been tampered with

INTERNAL

Figure 3
The original wheel finish has a prismatic effect (Figure 3)

Figure 4
Figure 4 shows the tell tale sign of re-work as the finish is duller and no prismatic effect is visible. Re-worked wheels that show signs of corrosion
or defects cannot be claimed under warranty
Filiform corrosion – Supplier process error

Figure 5
Filiform corrosion coming from sharp edge on the spoke. In this area it is difficult for the supplier to get the specified lacquer coverage

Figure 6
Filiform corrosion coming from behind the inner wheel piece is highly unlikely to be caused by impact damage. It is therefore more likely due to
low lacquer coverage
•

Both of these could be classed as a manufacturing defect and are claimable under warranty

Chrome Wheels
Chrome wheels that are returned to Bentley Motors due to corrosion can be caused by:
•

Customer ‘wear and tear’ – stone chips, curbing, etc

•

Poor maintenance - pitting

•

Supplier process error – peeling

INTERNAL

Chrome wheels – ‘Wear and tear’

Figure 7
Marks on the rim due to curbing

Figure 8
Damage to the rim due to curbing but also damage to the spoke caused by impact damage, such as stone chips
•

Both Figure 7 and Figure 8 do not show a manufacturing defect and are not claimable under warranty

Chrome wheels - poor maintenance
•

When cleaning chrome wheels, they have to be wiped down and not just sprayed with water as there is still a film of dirt that can remain on
the wheels

•

There are a number of variables that contribute to pitted wheels, such as brake dust, salt, dust/dirt, ice/snow melting chemicals

•

Chrome wheels should never be washed while still hot from driving as they could warp or pit

Chrome wheels - poor maintenance

Figure 9
•

Pitting is not a manufacturing defect and cannot be claimed under Warranty (Figure 9)

Chrome wheels – Supplier process error
•

Aluminium alloy wheels are one of the most difficult substrates to reliably plate

•

Peeling almost always comes from improper preparation and plating, not environmental exposure (Figure 10)

INTERNAL

Figure 10
• Peeling is classed as a manufacturing defect and is claimable under warranty

INTERNAL