Alloy damaged again!

[littlebrooklyn]

Don't you just hate it went you get your car serviced, they damage your alloy, which okay has already been kerbed by yourself, but then they deny they did it

 

[television]

That has been hit by a wheel brace or similar

 

[mercmadjim]

I would be furious.

 

[Splatt]

That is a strange wound. It is not a scrape as you would expect from a kerb or stationary object but a very heavy direct impact from a tool or bar. Have you had a really close look at the bodywork around particularly the wheel arch over ?
I twice had damage to a car by a main dealer and in both cases it was caused by the handle of a trolley jack. An argument ensued but in both cases they repaired the damage.
There has to be a case for insisting the service supervisor walks the vehicle and notes any defects on booking it in as they do with rental cars.

 

[jberks]

Their denial is worth nothing. I'd approach them and suggest they go halves on the repair. (I've just been quoted £55 a piece for a full strip and refurb job so there are are some very good deals out there at the moment). Be reasonable and agree that it had some kerbing damage before so you're not expecting them to cough up 100% but they did cause the other issue.
And the end of the day if they still deny it, use the "are you calling me a liar" joker along with the "this is going to damage our relationship" - something they can't afford at the moment. After all, at worst all its going to cost them is the profit on the service.

Mine came back from a service. 2 weeks later I took it in for new tyres and the fitter called me over to point out that I had a locking wheelbolt missing. I called the dealer and they had a hunt round and then told me sorry, they didn't have it in a so thats the end of it type of way. I explained that the last people to remove it were them, and asked the pointed question "what are you going to do then?". After a few 'I'm not going to let this drop' phone calls I got a new set FOC.

Go back and talk to them.

 

[vijilants]

After I had mine refurbished, if it ever goes into any garage, I always ask them to inspect the alloys before I hand them the keys, as this has happened to me previously with MB and they eventually agreed to refurb the alloy.

That way there is no arguement.

 

[Rory]

One of mine was gouged (but not *that* deep!) by a tyre fitter- I reckoned he'd walked into something while carrying it. I was totally gutted, particularly as my wheels were completely unmarked and I'd agonised over where to take it, and I thought I'd found a good place.

The company just shrugged and said to get it refurbed - as the car was only 18mths old and MB don't warrant refurbed wheels I left it. I wanted a new wheel but that was never going to happen.

 

[hawk20]

This is such a difficult issue. Really we need all cars inspected as they go in, and all marks recorded, and again when leaving. But we'd need to pay something for having that done.

So easy to not notice nicks and scratches in normal use, especially if we use car washes. But when collecting after a service I must admit I do tend to check.

So many companies and individuals seem prepared to lie/tell fibs these days, that it is very difficult to tell if the customer is trying it on, or just mistake, or whether the dealer is doing the same.

 

[television]

The dent and burr show it to have been hit by a round object like a bar

 

[hawk20]

The dent and burr show it to have been hit by a round object like a bar

It certainly looks like a heck of a knock. Not seen one like that before.

 

[television]

It certainly looks like a heck of a knock. Not seen one like that before.

It is easily done with a wheel brace, how do I know, been there and done it

 

[littlebrooklyn]

After an argument they have offered to pay half for the refurb, but it means my other half taking another day off work and wandering around for a few hours while they do it.

I think our main bone of contention is their insistence that the damage was already there as my other half had told them he had kerbed one alloy but even I can see there is no way that mark could be attributed to the alloy being kerbed.

We also cleaned the alloys the day before the car was serviced and would definately have noticed that kind of damage as my other half is extremely fussy about checking the car all the time for signs of damage.

Kind of puts us off using them again, which is a great shame as apart from that they did the job for a good price.

 

[ALFIEBEARD]

It is easily done with a wheel brace, how do I know, been there and done it[/QUOT

Here we go again, Mercedes Main Dealers
NICE WHITE OVERALLS AND A TIN OF TYRE BLACK SHOULD CURE IT,

Alfie B

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Don't you just hate it went you get your car serviced, they damage your alloy, which okay has already been kerbed by yourself, but then they deny they did it

IIRC Lyn, the car is 2 years old and has done less than 6,000 miles.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=349729#post349729

Did they actually remove the wheel to do this damage (if so, why?), or just save the trouble and clout it anyway?

As others have said, make it obvious that you intend to follow this through. I would have though that, given the age of the car and the cost of a refurb, a decent dealer would refurb the wheel for you as a gesture of good will. After all, if I borrowed your car and did this, I certainly would make it good, plus apology, plus flowers! :Oops:

Feel free to share my thoughts with the dealers.

 

[Splatt]

It`s a horrible thought but if the wheel was seized on the hub, which can quite often happen, did the mechanic (gorilla) whack it with the brace handle to free it.

 

[Rory]

Here we go again, Mercedes Main Dealers
NICE WHITE OVERALLS AND A TIN OF TYRE BLACK SHOULD CURE IT,

A few years ago a Mercedes dealership exploded brake fluid over a business acquaintances car (something about the pressure bleeding tank being overpressurised).

OK, he'd have been mad about it anyway, but he said that what annoyed him most was that they tried to cover it up by keeping his car for an extra day and botching the paint repair. He asked to see the dealer principal and was told he was busy so he marched into his office - dealer principal claimed to know nothing of what had happened and he ended up with his car being replaced with a new one for a negligible cost.

 

[jberks]

After an argument they have offered to pay half for the refurb, but it means my other half taking another day off work and wandering around for a few hours while they do it.

Not really. All dealers collect and return and will supply a loan car on request. In other words they will do it at your convenience, not theirs. Get them to pick it up from work or do what the Mrs does. They (Land Rover in her case but Merc do it too) drop her off a nice loaner - usually a 4L V8 Range Rover sport - in the evening and take hers away. Then return the following evening with hers, fixed, nicely valetted and swap them back over. Merc have collected mine from work a few times and brought it back in time for me to go home.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Not really. All dealers collect and return and will supply a loan car on request. Merc have collected mine from work a few times and brought it back in time for me to go home.

Quite right and proper too. Indy's provide this level of collection/service (although probably not a loan car too), so a dealer has no reason to expect to do less, especially in rectifying such a problem.

 

[coxyhog]

You're in the same neck of the woods as me I think.Merc Watford use Chips Away to refurb their wheels.The guy's number is 07780701921.He charges £50 (or £55?) per wheel.You can bet MB Watford will add to that.If I was you I'd get him to do it & present the dealer with the bill.
I've used him & have no complaints - he'll come to your house - all the equipment is in his van.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

You're in the same neck of the woods as me I think.Merc Watford use Chips Away to refurb their wheels.The guy's number is 07780701921.He charges £50 (or £55?) per wheel.You can bet MB Watford will add to that.If I was you I'd get him to do it & present the dealer with the bill.
I've used him & have no complaints - he'll come to your house - all the equipment is in his van.

I've used Chips Away and they were excellent. Convenient, speedy and well priced. Worth cutting out the middle man.