Anyone experience this?

chevyboy01438 · 07-31-2018, 05:12 PM

My wife surprised me with the American Authorities window louvers. I love the looks, but the quality is horrible. I've emailed them, but just waiting for a response. Anyone else have to go through this?

ChangerOfWays · 07-31-2018, 05:38 PM

Every set of AA louvers I've seen, including mine, are this way. I would think by this time it is a well known issue to American Authority... not sure why they haven't fixed it. Someone else here contacted them and got a replacement, with the exact same issues. Before ordering mine, I emailed them to ask about the issue and was told "the latest batch came out of the molds much cleaner" - not the case, and they look exactly like yours.

I'm hoping to just them fixed (or atleast get the rough spots cleaned up) when I take them to get painted - but that is another matter entirely. I've contacted several body shops locally, but they aren't interested in doing aftermarket parts - they only do warranty body work/painting for insurance and dealerships. The one place I found that entertained the idea said it would be $600 per piece I wanted painted (in my case, the louvers and two quarter window scoops), because they needed a "special chemical" to paint ABS plastic (I'm not an auto painter, but that price and reasoning sound like bs). Still looking for someplace...

chevyboy01438 · 07-31-2018, 05:46 PM

I really wish I would have done research before telling my wife I liked them. I had no idea she was going to surprise me with it. This really sucks.

redcoats1976 · 07-31-2018, 06:06 PM

its just an adhesion promoter,can probably be had at an auto supply shop in your town.sand,paint with the adhesion promoter,then paint.if youre going with matte black you can probably hang them from a beam with coat hangers and rattlecan them (but use quality paint).we used the adhesion promoter whenever repainting GTO grilles and other stuff made of plastic at the shop i used to work at.youll have to coat them lightly 2-3 times for best results.

chevyboy01438 · 07-31-2018, 06:16 PM

Body shop down the road said they wanted $150 just to prep them, then another $450 to paint. Dah, these louvers are going to cost me near $800. To think I was saving up for their ZL1 bumper, NOPE.

1hprush · 07-31-2018, 06:50 PM

I can't speak for the quality of the louvers, however I recently have had some email correspondence with them and they seem like a stand up company. Good Luck.

chevyboy01438 · 07-31-2018, 07:00 PM

I've emailed them with pictures. Just waiting for a response.

Gunkk · 07-31-2018, 10:14 PM

Butchered.

MarkC · 08-02-2018, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChangerOfWays

Every set of AA louvers I've seen, including mine, are this way. I would think by this time it is a well known issue to American Authority... not sure why they haven't fixed it. Someone else here contacted them and got a replacement, with the exact same issues. Before ordering mine, I emailed them to ask about the issue and was told "the latest batch came out of the molds much cleaner" - not the case, and they look exactly like yours.

I'm hoping to just them fixed (or atleast get the rough spots cleaned up) when I take them to get painted - but that is another matter entirely. I've contacted several body shops locally, but they aren't interested in doing aftermarket parts - they only do warranty body work/painting for insurance and dealerships. The one place I found that entertained the idea said it would be $600 per piece I wanted painted (in my case, the louvers and two quarter window scoops), because they needed a "special chemical" to paint ABS plastic (I'm not an auto painter, but that price and reasoning sound like bs). Still looking for someplace...

Clean it up with sandpaper and paint it yourself for $60

https://repaintsupply.com/

SEM 39133, Flexible Primer Surfacer $12.50

SprayMax 3680061, 2K Urethane Clear Coat, Aerosol $15.66

and 1 can of whatever matches your paint code from the RPO sticker for $22

Sheriff37 · 08-02-2018, 01:15 PM

Mine had the same issues, but from a distance they aren't noticeable. Try and do the sanding yourself, if you can do it then it'll cut the cost of prep considerably.

Bradl1982 · 08-02-2018, 01:25 PM

Nope, my wife knows better than to buy me things like window louvers or caliper covers.

NYJets12 · 08-02-2018, 01:31 PM

Can’t you get a refund and buy from someone else

kropscamaro16 · 08-02-2018, 01:58 PM

probably made in china just like other "bodykit" brands lol goodluck there is a reason why they are cheap sometimes

07-31-2018, 05:12 PM	#1
chevyboy01438 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Iowa Posts: 536	Anyone experience this? My wife surprised me with the American Authorities window louvers. I love the looks, but the quality is horrible. I've emailed them, but just waiting for a response. Anyone else have to go through this? Attached Images __________________ Mod List: Perma-Grin, Darkened tail lights, ZL1 3rd break light, JW Motorsports LED side markers, American Authorities Window Louver, American Authority ZL1 bumper, 11/30/17 \| Club F1FTY

07-31-2018, 05:46 PM	#3
chevyboy01438 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Iowa Posts: 536	I really wish I would have done research before telling my wife I liked them. I had no idea she was going to surprise me with it. This really sucks. __________________ Mod List: Perma-Grin, Darkened tail lights, ZL1 3rd break light, JW Motorsports LED side markers, American Authorities Window Louver, American Authority ZL1 bumper, 11/30/17 \| Club F1FTY

07-31-2018, 06:16 PM	#5
chevyboy01438 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Iowa Posts: 536	Body shop down the road said they wanted $150 just to prep them, then another $450 to paint. Dah, these louvers are going to cost me near $800. To think I was saving up for their ZL1 bumper, NOPE. __________________ Mod List: Perma-Grin, Darkened tail lights, ZL1 3rd break light, JW Motorsports LED side markers, American Authorities Window Louver, American Authority ZL1 bumper, 11/30/17 \| Club F1FTY

07-31-2018, 07:00 PM	#7
chevyboy01438 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Iowa Posts: 536	I've emailed them with pictures. Just waiting for a response. __________________ Mod List: Perma-Grin, Darkened tail lights, ZL1 3rd break light, JW Motorsports LED side markers, American Authorities Window Louver, American Authority ZL1 bumper, 11/30/17 \| Club F1FTY

08-02-2018, 01:58 PM	#13
kropscamaro16 Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 909 Posts: 9,817	probably made in china just like other "bodykit" brands lol goodluck there is a reason why they are cheap sometimes __________________ 16 1SS NIGHTFALL GRAY METALLIC WITH NPP #BECAUSERACECAR #SAVETHEMANUALS

07-31-2018, 05:38 PM	#2
ChangerOfWays Drives: 2017 2LT RS Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 97	Every set of AA louvers I've seen, including mine, are this way. I would think by this time it is a well known issue to American Authority... not sure why they haven't fixed it. Someone else here contacted them and got a replacement, with the exact same issues. Before ordering mine, I emailed them to ask about the issue and was told "the latest batch came out of the molds much cleaner" - not the case, and they look exactly like yours. I'm hoping to just them fixed (or atleast get the rough spots cleaned up) when I take them to get painted - but that is another matter entirely. I've contacted several body shops locally, but they aren't interested in doing aftermarket parts - they only do warranty body work/painting for insurance and dealerships. The one place I found that entertained the idea said it would be $600 per piece I wanted painted (in my case, the louvers and two quarter window scoops), because they needed a "special chemical" to paint ABS plastic (I'm not an auto painter, but that price and reasoning sound like bs). Still looking for someplace...

07-31-2018, 06:06 PM	#4
redcoats1976 Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: central florida Posts: 4,915	its just an adhesion promoter,can probably be had at an auto supply shop in your town.sand,paint with the adhesion promoter,then paint.if youre going with matte black you can probably hang them from a beam with coat hangers and rattlecan them (but use quality paint).we used the adhesion promoter whenever repainting GTO grilles and other stuff made of plastic at the shop i used to work at.youll have to coat them lightly 2-3 times for best results.

07-31-2018, 06:50 PM	#6
1hprush 2018 ZL1 1LE Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Westfield, IN Posts: 1,010	I can't speak for the quality of the louvers, however I recently have had some email correspondence with them and they seem like a stand up company. Good Luck.

07-31-2018, 10:14 PM	#8
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,978 View My Garage	Butchered.

08-02-2018, 01:15 PM	#10
Sheriff37 Do it for Dale Drives: '16 NFGray V6 M6 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Central Texas Posts: 159	Mine had the same issues, but from a distance they aren't noticeable. Try and do the sanding yourself, if you can do it then it'll cut the cost of prep considerably.

08-02-2018, 01:25 PM	#11
Bradl1982 Drives: 17 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belleville, IL Posts: 205	Nope, my wife knows better than to buy me things like window louvers or caliper covers.

08-02-2018, 01:31 PM	#12
NYJets12 Drives: 2018 1LT Camaro Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: PA Posts: 781	Can’t you get a refund and buy from someone else

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