I don't know if axle is the proper term, but where you bolt on the rims is what I am referring too. Because the spokes are far apart you can see through the rims and see the axle. On my car it looks as if the axle had black paint on it but that has mostly come off now and surface rust has appeared. The dealer said this was normal. What do you guys think?

 

Well, I'm not a guy, but I can tell you that's the brake rotor you are seeing and it's normal. When you wash your car or go through a puddle you a little rust forms on the rotor and brake friction takes it off while you drive. Not a problem.

Dreams garnet fire/graphite leather 6MT 2003.5 premium/aero/winter hyperground kit

 

Yeah after further inspection, it is indeed the rotor but the front rotors are painted black (not where the actual pads touch but where you bolt the wheels on) Why would the back rotors be different in appearance from the fronts? The rust behind the rims doesn't look very good at all! Are all the cars like this?

 

Brake rotors are generally made out of cast iron, for all cars. Iron rusts. It's perfectly normal. The surface that's used for braking is kept free of rust by friction from the brake pads. Painting them helps for awhile, but it eventually wears off.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter