Aero inserts on 21 rims

[hydbob]

They were unable to polish it out on my car, I’m now waiting for corporate to decide what to do.

Interesting...because I this will potentially affect 2,000 + wheels...that is an expensive mistake in design!

 

[Paladin732]

Interesting...because I this will potentially affect 2,000 + wheels...that is an expensive mistake in design!

Agreed. I expect them to solve it, I’ll push on a resolution next week when Chris (SA) is back.

 

[Bill55]

I was told this week there would be no fix provided for the damage to the underlying rim. I have asked that the inserts getting looser over time be documented as I am concerned as they continue to wear they may be susceptible to flying off at highway speeds and causing damage to othe vehicles, or in a worse case cause someone to take evasive action and lose control.

 

[PhotoEye]

Official or informal advice?

 

[Paladin732]

I was told this week there would be no fix provided for the damage to the underlying rim. I have asked that the inserts getting looser over time be documented as I am concerned as they continue to wear they may be susceptible to flying off at highway speeds and causing damage to othe vehicles, or in a worse case cause someone to take evasive action and lose control.

That’s absolutely unacceptable. We paid an extra $30,000 for the DE and this is clearly a design flaw.

Was this official or unofficial you have been told?

 

[PhotoEye]

That’s absolutely unacceptable. We paid an extra $30,000 for the DE and this is clearly a design flaw.

Was this official or unofficial you have been told?

I can't imagine this was not found during road testing. So, ..........

 

[Bill55]

Official or informal advice?

Official.

 

[Bill55]

The service center understands my concerns and is working with me to document my concerns. Resolution is at a higher level. Cost of the 21” rim without inserts was quoted to me at $1600 each. I have asked if they could be provided at a discount if I was willing to participate in the cost of a solution. I have not received an answer. It is my assessment this design will not perform well over time. I am relying on Lucid’s assessment the rims and inserts are performing as expected. I will continue to provide feedback.

 

[PhotoEye]

The service center understands my concerns and is working with me to document my concerns. Resolution is at a higher level. Cost of the 21” rim without inserts was quoted to me at $1600 each. I have asked if they could be provided at a discount if I was willing to participate in the cost of a solution. I have not received an answer. It is my assessment this design will not perform well over time. I am relying on Lucid’s assessment the rims and inserts are performing as expected. I will continue to provide feedback.

If memory serves me right, there is only 1 transcient and 2 fixed differences between the DE and a fully loaded AGT: launch release, Eureka Gold color, and 21" Aero wheels. Those wheels set the DE apart from all other trims -- period.

Purchase a replacement set of wheels because of a design problem? Really?

 

[Bill55]

I don’t want to drive around with a car that could have parts fly off, and I don’t want to drive around in a car with scratched rims.

I agree (we) should not have to pay for a fix. I am concerned enough to offer to participate in the cost of a solution to advance a fix.

 

[PhotoEye]

I don’t want to drive around with a car that could have parts fly off, and I don’t want to drive around in a car with scratched rims.

I agree (we) should not have to pay for a fix. I am concerned enough to offer to participate in the cost of a solution to advance a fix.

Replacing the wheels without understanding the root cause(s) of the scoring means you have to forego using the Aero inserts. Otherwise, the new wheels will also suffer the same fate.

The potential wheel replacement -- cost free or not -- is not a solution.

 

[Bill55]

Replacing the wheels without understanding the root cause(s) of the scoring means you have to forego using the Aero inserts. Otherwise, the new wheels will also suffer the same fate.

The potential wheel replacement -- cost free or not -- is not a solution.

I was asking for the GT 21” rims. I am willing to forgo any exclusivity of the rim for the DE to resolve my concerns. I understand that solution might be viewed as inadequate by others. I am providing my assessment of the issue, and what solution I am requesting. My rims are already damaged and I am concerned the inserts will, over time, come off while the car is in motion. Neither of which is acceptable.

 

[PhotoEye]

I was asking for the GT 21” rims. I am willing to forgo any exclusivity of the rim for the DE to resolve my concerns. I understand that solution might be viewed as inadequate by others. I am providing my assessment of the issue, and what solution I am requesting. My rims are already damaged and I am concerned the inserts will, over time, come off while the car is in motion. Neither of which is acceptable.

So, you're looking at putting the AGT 21" wheels on your DE? If so, is it known whether that wheel has similar scoring issues?

 

[Bill55]

That rim does not have any “inserts”.

 

[PhotoEye]

That rim does not have any “inserts”. View attachment 1489

 

[hydbob]

So they can't fix it or won't fix it? Refinishing that black part can't be THAT expensive can it?

 

[PhotoEye]

Well, they might make that offer to DE owners as a complimentary switch (I don't believe they can resolve the Aero insert problem cost-effectively). That would leave only the Eureka Gold DE owners with the sole truly unique trim!

 

[PhotoEye]

So they can't fix it or won't fix it? Refinishing that black part can't be THAT expensive can it?

But, the problem would return as soon as the inserts were used again. :-(

 

[Bill55]

My first response from Lucid was they won’t fix it. The problem is without the inserts the car does not provide the promised range. The inserts were a bad choice. If they offer to fix the rims, but then require that you not use the inserts, the care has reduced range, in my opinion if you keep the inserts, the appearance is fine, but will the inserts stay in place over time given they are getting loose after a couple thousand miles?

 

[PhotoEye]

My first response from Lucid was they won’t fix it. The problem is without the inserts the car does not provide the promised range. The inserts were a bad choice. If they offer to fix the rims, but then require that you not use the inserts, the care has reduced range, in my opinion if you keep the inserts, the appearance is fine, but will the inserts stay in place over time given they are getting loose after a couple thousand miles?

I believe the cause of the scoring is also contributing to the loosening of the inserts, as a secondary effect.

In an earlier post, I suggested the design of the inserts may have created an intense low pressure condition (akin to a vacuum) that actually sucks in fine road grit in the gap between the insert edge and the wheel rim. That grit strikes against the wheel surface at a high enough velocity to score it, with some bouncing off the wheel onto the inside rim of some inserts (where some scraping has been seen). That buffeting action could then push against the inside of the insert with enough force to loosen one or more of the three clips holding each insert.

The "movement" of the inserts, some have described, is in-and-out (suggesting loose clips) rather than parallel to the wheel (which is improbable, given how and where the clips are molded to the insert). That's why I do not believe insert movement is causing the scratches.

I would welcome Lucid's engineering analysis and conclusion about this (if we ever get to hear it).