- Joined
- 14 September 2006
- Messages
- 1,725
Update: Unbelievable
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Update: 09/28/2006 (Thursday)
After speaking to the GM of the dealership, the service worker called me back relaying a message from the service director. They said they will not replace the one wheel, but they will refinish the wheel (using the same guy that painted the wheels while they were still on the car). I asked if I could just get it done at a shop I choose, and they agreed to wrtie me a check after I send them an estimate. So now my question is, what is the ABSOLUTE BEST wheel repair shop in the OC/LA area?
I did a search, and I found advance wheel repair in anaheim, but are there anymore options? Thanks!
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Update: 09/23/2006
I went back for the center cap today (Saturday, 09/23/2006 at approximately 5:00 PM.)
I had an appointment to bring in my car with the damaged center cap removed so that we could swap for a new one. I was told by the service worker to come back today to swap.
When I arrived, he inspected my center cap briefly (the damaged one) and went to the service director's (I should note that I just found out that I have been dealing with the service director and not the service manager--I apologize for any misunderstanding.) office. He came back out, and informed me that they will not be swapping the center caps (and that the service director has physically taken back the new one he ordered).
Well, I am pretty upset at this point for 2 reasons:
1. We made an appointment to swap today, and not only did they not swap the cap, but they could not even call me to tell me not to waste a trip coming in (also wasted some time removing the rim to remove the old cap).
2. Left with more damage they are unwilling to fix.
I wasted some time talking to the service manager (yes, the real service manager, and not the director as he was not in today) and the service worker who has been helping me. Basically they told me they can't do anything, and that I would have to talk to the service director. After 20 minutes or so, I left without anything but the advice to document everything from this point on. So i hope I can use this thread to keep you updated and document my progress.
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Update: 09/22/2006
Cliff Notes:
Dealer declines to replace passenger front wheel
Dealer declines to fix steering wheel pulling to right after their alignment
Dealer refuses to work on my car anymore--period.
I am in shock. Need some support.
Long version:
I got home from the dealer at approximately 5:15 PM on this Friday.
I brought the car in, to talk to the service manager about replacing just one of the wheels. I decided to just get the passenger front replaced since that one had the worst mismatch in the paint (and the damage was actually on the surface of the wheel). The others on the outside edge, although still there, are minor enough to let slide I guess .
Anyways, I talked to a service worker. He goes and talks to the service manager. He comes back out after 3 minutes, and tells me they are not going to replace the wheel. OK. I will try with the general manager.
So I bring up the fact that my steering wheel is pulling to the right ever since they did the alignment. The worker says he will talk to the service manager about it. In the mean time, I go to the front desk to ask for the general manager (as suggested). The receptionist said he is out for the day.
So I go and try to see the service manager myself. He is not to be found in his office. I go back to the service worker, and he said that they "will not be working on my car anymore."
I am pretty shocked when I hear this. I told them that they damaged the wheels, and that their alignment caused the steering wheel to pull to the right (which is common after a wheel alignment). He just says he doesn't know what to tell me and that he can't do anything about it.
So I get home and call the client services number to open a case, and they are closed until monday. Gen. manager won't be in until Monday.
The only thing the dealership did is order a new center cap for my driver side rear wheel. I am going to go in tomorrow to swap it with the damaged one. However, there is also damage on the wheel itself. See above pics for damage.
****updated with a few quick pictures on last post****
I will try to get better shots over the weekend. These were just some quick shots before the sun set.
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Original Post: 09/13/2006
Well, I hate to start off on a sour note, but I could sure use some feedback from the pros on the board. I'll give the long story, and leave cliff notes for those who are pressed on time at the end.
Clif Notes:
Dealer damaged rims
Tried to fix but the job is poor in my opinion.
To make me perfectly happy, they would have to buy new rims for me and take my old ones (to sell or do whatever they do). I have not asked for this. I just said I will think about what I am going to do.
What do you think?
Long story:
I took my car in for service at a dealership, and the dealership managed to damage my wheels. These are the OEM 2002+ painted wheels.
Basically, they told me to come down and meet with their (outsorced) rim repair guy for an initial consultation. I thought it would be a professional, but in my opinion, he was not. He just came in a pick-up truck with a shell, with an air compressor/airbrush paintgun in the back with some sandpaper and clear coat that came out of a spray paint can (it looked like i could buy it at pep boys).
So I was assured it would be an initial consultation and that we would then decide what to do. So we made an appointment in the morning. I show up at the appointment time, and when I show up, they are not ready. He tells me to come back at over 4 hours later. Fine. I am pretty upset that they can't even keep the appt, but I just said "ok" and tell them to call me when they are ready. They call me, interrupting my lunch, and tell me to come down in 10 minutes. Fine, I will put up with it and show up. When I do get there, they pressure me to take the car to the back and to let them fix it--even though it was supposed to just be an initial consultation. I haven't really decided what to do with the rims yet. So I give in, because I am pressed for time, and decide to let the guy try on a small spot.
Well, this guy is very unprofessional. First, they are spraying outdoors. It is windy, and as he is spraying, I can see the spray coming onto the side of my car. I tell them to stop, and they say that it will be fine. I demand to have some plastic to protect my paint and everyone looks upset at me. Am I crazy? Who paints outdoors in the wind?
So the first spot looks decent, so I let him try the other spots. This time I am not really paying attention. They have guys telling me to go back out front since it is an insurance liability to have a customer back in the service dept. So he finishes, and I bring the car back out.
I notice right away, and so does the repair guy, that the job does not match. However, he said I should not be so scrupulous. I think otherwise. He gets them to pay the bill, and I bring up the mismatch with the service manager.
Basically, they tell me I should wait for the paint to cure (wait 3 days) and then see what happens. They say if it is not right, they are going to take the wheel off, and sand down and repaint the whole thing. I doubt they can get it right.
My question to you is:
What should I do? Can I ask for new wheels? I understand they are expensive, but my wheels were flawless when I brought the car in. My car only has about 8000 miles and is a 2004. Your feedback is appreciated.
Will this "patch-job" hold up over time? I don't want this chipping away over time leaving me helpless (I doubt the dealer would fix it monhts/years later). Maybe someone with wheel repair experience can describe a "top-notch" job.
************************************************************************************************
Update: 09/28/2006 (Thursday)
After speaking to the GM of the dealership, the service worker called me back relaying a message from the service director. They said they will not replace the one wheel, but they will refinish the wheel (using the same guy that painted the wheels while they were still on the car). I asked if I could just get it done at a shop I choose, and they agreed to wrtie me a check after I send them an estimate. So now my question is, what is the ABSOLUTE BEST wheel repair shop in the OC/LA area?
I did a search, and I found advance wheel repair in anaheim, but are there anymore options? Thanks!
************************************************************************************************
Update: 09/23/2006
I went back for the center cap today (Saturday, 09/23/2006 at approximately 5:00 PM.)
I had an appointment to bring in my car with the damaged center cap removed so that we could swap for a new one. I was told by the service worker to come back today to swap.
When I arrived, he inspected my center cap briefly (the damaged one) and went to the service director's (I should note that I just found out that I have been dealing with the service director and not the service manager--I apologize for any misunderstanding.) office. He came back out, and informed me that they will not be swapping the center caps (and that the service director has physically taken back the new one he ordered).
Well, I am pretty upset at this point for 2 reasons:
1. We made an appointment to swap today, and not only did they not swap the cap, but they could not even call me to tell me not to waste a trip coming in (also wasted some time removing the rim to remove the old cap).
2. Left with more damage they are unwilling to fix.
I wasted some time talking to the service manager (yes, the real service manager, and not the director as he was not in today) and the service worker who has been helping me. Basically they told me they can't do anything, and that I would have to talk to the service director. After 20 minutes or so, I left without anything but the advice to document everything from this point on. So i hope I can use this thread to keep you updated and document my progress.
************************************************************************************************
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Update: 09/22/2006
Cliff Notes:
Dealer declines to replace passenger front wheel
Dealer declines to fix steering wheel pulling to right after their alignment
Dealer refuses to work on my car anymore--period.
I am in shock. Need some support.
Long version:
I got home from the dealer at approximately 5:15 PM on this Friday.
I brought the car in, to talk to the service manager about replacing just one of the wheels. I decided to just get the passenger front replaced since that one had the worst mismatch in the paint (and the damage was actually on the surface of the wheel). The others on the outside edge, although still there, are minor enough to let slide I guess .
Anyways, I talked to a service worker. He goes and talks to the service manager. He comes back out after 3 minutes, and tells me they are not going to replace the wheel. OK. I will try with the general manager.
So I bring up the fact that my steering wheel is pulling to the right ever since they did the alignment. The worker says he will talk to the service manager about it. In the mean time, I go to the front desk to ask for the general manager (as suggested). The receptionist said he is out for the day.
So I go and try to see the service manager myself. He is not to be found in his office. I go back to the service worker, and he said that they "will not be working on my car anymore."
I am pretty shocked when I hear this. I told them that they damaged the wheels, and that their alignment caused the steering wheel to pull to the right (which is common after a wheel alignment). He just says he doesn't know what to tell me and that he can't do anything about it.
So I get home and call the client services number to open a case, and they are closed until monday. Gen. manager won't be in until Monday.
The only thing the dealership did is order a new center cap for my driver side rear wheel. I am going to go in tomorrow to swap it with the damaged one. However, there is also damage on the wheel itself. See above pics for damage.
****updated with a few quick pictures on last post****
I will try to get better shots over the weekend. These were just some quick shots before the sun set.
*************************************************************************************************
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Original Post: 09/13/2006
Well, I hate to start off on a sour note, but I could sure use some feedback from the pros on the board. I'll give the long story, and leave cliff notes for those who are pressed on time at the end.
Clif Notes:
Dealer damaged rims
Tried to fix but the job is poor in my opinion.
To make me perfectly happy, they would have to buy new rims for me and take my old ones (to sell or do whatever they do). I have not asked for this. I just said I will think about what I am going to do.
What do you think?
Long story:
I took my car in for service at a dealership, and the dealership managed to damage my wheels. These are the OEM 2002+ painted wheels.
Basically, they told me to come down and meet with their (outsorced) rim repair guy for an initial consultation. I thought it would be a professional, but in my opinion, he was not. He just came in a pick-up truck with a shell, with an air compressor/airbrush paintgun in the back with some sandpaper and clear coat that came out of a spray paint can (it looked like i could buy it at pep boys).
So I was assured it would be an initial consultation and that we would then decide what to do. So we made an appointment in the morning. I show up at the appointment time, and when I show up, they are not ready. He tells me to come back at over 4 hours later. Fine. I am pretty upset that they can't even keep the appt, but I just said "ok" and tell them to call me when they are ready. They call me, interrupting my lunch, and tell me to come down in 10 minutes. Fine, I will put up with it and show up. When I do get there, they pressure me to take the car to the back and to let them fix it--even though it was supposed to just be an initial consultation. I haven't really decided what to do with the rims yet. So I give in, because I am pressed for time, and decide to let the guy try on a small spot.
Well, this guy is very unprofessional. First, they are spraying outdoors. It is windy, and as he is spraying, I can see the spray coming onto the side of my car. I tell them to stop, and they say that it will be fine. I demand to have some plastic to protect my paint and everyone looks upset at me. Am I crazy? Who paints outdoors in the wind?
So the first spot looks decent, so I let him try the other spots. This time I am not really paying attention. They have guys telling me to go back out front since it is an insurance liability to have a customer back in the service dept. So he finishes, and I bring the car back out.
I notice right away, and so does the repair guy, that the job does not match. However, he said I should not be so scrupulous. I think otherwise. He gets them to pay the bill, and I bring up the mismatch with the service manager.
Basically, they tell me I should wait for the paint to cure (wait 3 days) and then see what happens. They say if it is not right, they are going to take the wheel off, and sand down and repaint the whole thing. I doubt they can get it right.
My question to you is:
What should I do? Can I ask for new wheels? I understand they are expensive, but my wheels were flawless when I brought the car in. My car only has about 8000 miles and is a 2004. Your feedback is appreciated.
Will this "patch-job" hold up over time? I don't want this chipping away over time leaving me helpless (I doubt the dealer would fix it monhts/years later). Maybe someone with wheel repair experience can describe a "top-notch" job.
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