Whiteworm

[Talk-torque]

Yes, I hate diamond cut wheels, just for this reason. They really should be protected better, after all the experience of corrosion that we and VW have had over various models through the years. I had all four wheels changed by VW on my Mk5, after 2 years and about 30K miles. They also had to replace the centre caps. My dealer was very helpful and never questioned the need for them to be replaced.

The Titanium paint finished wheels on my Audi TT were still as good as new after 4 years and 45K miles.

[GTD1414]

Fully understand your point Santiagos look great but are a bit of a pain,
 The two wheels went to an approved vw repairer, but the wheel that has the whiteworm was not one of them. Years ago I had a Honda type r 04 plate (Great car) which at three year old  had corrrossion on all 4 alloys, Honda replaced them all no bother.

I had the same (Type R 53 plate) it was a known issue so all 4 replaced. IIRC the newer wheels they supplied were a slightly different shade of grey so they had to replace all 4 even if issue was with 1 or 2.
Funny you mentioned that, as it was only about a week ago I read somewhere they had only painted the outsides of the wheels (to save money) hence the corrosion/bubbling of paint on the inside of the spokes.

[Ibdrew]

As expected I got knocked back by jct600 they said the corrosion was a result of stone chips damaging the lacquer and then moisture penatration, on all but one of the corrosion spots I could neither see or feel any damage to the lacquer but they just not interested, with tail between my legs I set of to another dealership nearby only to told exactly the same thing, despite insisting there was no damage to the lacquer they just said sorry but they could not help.
Being a bit cynical but I get the impression that they weren't interested because it would cost them money.

[Pinky1959]

I would take close up photos and e mail them to VW head office and ask how their dealers can state there is damage .And ask what their solution is and when you can expect new wheels .
Be a pain to VW and you never know it may help .

[joe6]

Had the diamond cut wheels on my MK6 for 7 years now and no whiteworm. The wheels get checked each wash and any slight marks on the lacquer such as stone marks get treated as necessary with a lacquer coat to prevent water ingress. Only had to do this a few times in the 7 years and the wheels still look pristine. Damaged alloys get more corrosion from winter salt because of the chemical reaction than the old steel wheels so more likely to show up at the end of the winter if not sealed promptly.

Have picked up from the Leon forum that one wheel refurb company is using vinyl to give the diamond cut look and much cheaper to repair if stone damaged or curbed.

Worth trying Pinky 1959 suggestion. Good luck.

[SRGTD]

Had the diamond cut wheels on my MK6 for 7 years now and no whiteworm. The wheels get checked each wash and any slight marks on the lacquer such as stone marks get treated as necessary with a lacquer coat to prevent water ingress. Only had to do this a few times in the 7 years and the wheels still look pristine. Damaged alloys get more corrosion from winter salt because of the chemical reaction than the old steel wheels so more likely to show up at the end of the winter if not sealed promptly.

Have picked up from the Leon forum that one wheel refurb company is using vinyl to give the diamond cut look and much cheaper to repair if stone damaged or curbed.

Worth trying Pinky 1959 suggestion. Good luck.

I looked after the diamond cut alloys on my mk6 like you do Joe - touched in any small marks with clear lacquer, regular sealing and waxing and two of them succumbed to whiteworm after around two and a half years. They were replaced under warranty, but it took quite a few weeks and seven 'new' wheels rejected before I got two that were in factory fresh condition.

The whiteworm on my wheels started around the centre caps. I suspect it might've been down to the actions of the dealer six months earlier - they replaced the centre caps (they'd developed whiteworm!) on two wheels under warranty when my car was in for it's second service. I suspect the dealer may have damaged the lacquer around the edge of the centre bore in the wheel by prising the centre caps off - any damage to the lacquer would've been hidden by the new centre caps once they were fitted.

In the light of dieselgate, VW will no doubt be looking to reduce costs in all areas, so may now be taking a firmer line on warranty claims and this seems to be what the OP is experiencing.

To the OP; agree you should pursue this as Pinky1959 has suggested - customers with genuine warranty claims shouldn't be disadvantaged because of the dieselgate costs VW are facing.

[Jedclam]

I had 2 wheels changed last month on my GTD (standard Nagaros), which was about 3 weeks before the warranty was up, no problem, just showed the dealer, there was some worming on the rear wheels, very minor on the edge of the rims, and they were changed within a few days. Cant fault that at all.

[Exonian]

In most Euro markets where they salt the roads in winter you fit winter wheels which won't be polished.
In Southern Europe I guess it doesn't make much difference in winter unless you live in the mountains.
Which leaves the UK which just has 95% rain, 3% frost and an odd warm sunny day during the 'summer' and an odd day or two of snow unless you live somewhere a bit high up (geographically or topographically).
So nearly all manufacturers who import cars to the UK seem to have polished wheels as all year round wear and therefore nearly all manufacturers must get hammered with warranty claims from those that can be bothered to claim (which probably isn't a huge proportion of owners in reality judging by the state of the average car you see on the roads and the plethora of places you can go so you don't have to put your own sponge/mitt over your paintwork and whose owners wouldn't notice a bit of milky whiteness amongst the scratches and scuffs).
If you go on German aftermarket wheel supplier websites they state whether the wheels are suited for winter use, and guess what - yep, no polished designs...

[Jim_mk7.5]

I'm going to be doing mine with Platinum Wheels when it arrives.... http://carboncollective.com/product/platinum-wheels-coating/

[Sandtrap]

I had mine powder coated anthracite