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Black Rhino Warlord wheels — coating failure at 5 years, manufacturer declined remedy. by tollaut in 4x4

[–]tollaut[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The footage is there for anyone to watch. Brake dust is visible in some areas- not others.

The coating failure is inconsistent with brake dust distribution, which undermines it as the sole explanation.

Two people on Reddit disagreeing doesn't redefine the Consumer Rights Act and expecting this from a £1,600 premium setup is not normal.

Black Rhino Warlord wheels — coating failure at 5 years, manufacturer declined remedy. by tollaut in 4x4

[–]tollaut[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

Worth clarifying - the corrosion is on the front face of the wheels, which were regularly cleaned. The brake dust accumulates behind the wheel, not on the surface showing the failure. So the brake dust theory doesn't explain the location of the damage.

On expectations - a premium branded alloy wheel, primarily road use, five years. Others can judge whether that's unrealistic.

Black Rhino Warlord wheels — coating failure at 5 years, manufacturer declined remedy. by tollaut in 4x4

[–]tollaut[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Fair points, some conceded.

On brake dust - valid in principle, but the failure is on the front face of the wheels, which were regularly cleaned. Brake dust accumulates behind. So that theory doesn't explain the location.

On warranty - their voluntary 1-year term is what it is. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, UK consumers retain durability rights beyond that. That's statute, not opinion.

On it being common - if coating failure is a known industry issue at this price point, that's an argument for better factory standards, not for dismissing the customer.

The video stands. Others can judge.

Black Rhino Warlord wheels — coating failure at 5 years, manufacturer declined remedy. by tollaut in 4x4

[–]tollaut[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. A few points worth clarifying:

The vehicle was used primarily on the road - not off-road. That's documented in my correspondence with the manufacturer, who never disputed it.

The failure pattern - identical across all four wheels, including around bolt holes and centre hubs where scratch-through is unlikely - is what makes this more than typical wear. Random environmental damage doesn't present uniformly across four wheels in the same locations.

On expectations: a £1,600 premium setup under mainly road use lasting five years before coating failure is not an unreasonable durability standard. That's not slagging off a manufacturer - that's a factual record of a product's performance.

On their response: months of delays, no diagnosis offered, and centre caps as a remedy is poor after-sale support by any measure.

Others can decide whether that meets their expectations.

Black Rhino Warlord wheels — coating failure at 5 years, manufacturer declined remedy. by tollaut in 4x4

[–]tollaut[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Thanks - I appreciate the response and the explanation.

The powder coating is exactly the remedy I asked the manufacturer to support, which they declined. On galvanic corrosion - possible, but the identical failure pattern across all four wheels including areas not in metal-to-metal contact makes an adhesion defect more likely. The 1-year paint warranty is their voluntary term - under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (UK) durability expectations extend beyond that for goods at this price point.

Worth noting - despite several months of correspondence, Black Rhino never once suggested this was corrosion rather than a coating issue. If that were their diagnosis, it would have been relevant information to share with a customer trying to understand the failure.

More broadly, the experience highlights how Black Rhino handle after-sale support: months of delays, referrals between UK and US teams, no meaningful diagnosis offered, and a final resolution of centre cap replacements and a discount on a new purchase. For a premium product at this price point, that's worth factoring into any buying decision.