c3nthusiast

Long story short.

Dealership curbed my 2 left side rims (20" wheels) in September. I notified my service advisor. He told me to bring it in and he would fix them. Left the car for a few days and nothing was done. I told him don't pay the wheels repair place because they didn't do anything. A few weeks past and never heard anything bacl from him so I wrote the service advisor. This is what his response was:

I spoke to xxxxxx regarding your wheels. The opinion of those who reviewed the damage believes that it did not occur at our facility. The reason for the opinion is that both wheels on the left side of the vehicle were scratched. While damage can occur in our shop it would be extremely unusual for both wheels to get damaged due to the shop, equipment and parking lot configuration. We do not have any curbs that we park against that could damage wheels in the fashion that they are damaged.

Further, it was noted during the visit in question that the right front wheel is bent, which supports nature of the 20 inch low profile wheel is susceptible to damage for a variety of reasons. Although xxxxxx offered to repair out of sense of customer satisfaction, he also made it clear that the dealership would not replace the wheels. At this time I am unwilling to comply with your request.

Should you like to have further discussion regarding this matter, I would be happy to meet with you and look at the wheels myself.

What should I do? I am very meticulous about my car. I have been buying custom wheels for over 20 years. I have never curbed a wheel.

Sportstick

Chalk it up to experience and move on...their response is at least as credible as your assertion of blame. Take individual responsibility for having no evidence and offer up your personal contribution to tort reform. Next time, have them note the RO with the condition of the car/wheels, and then do a walkaround when you return before leaving the lot. Don't try to pass your costs along to others like some extreme socialist!


And....yes, I am still "drinking the Kool-Aid."

Azn_C300

I take pics around my car and closeups of the wheels and lip whenever I take my car for any service. Live and learn. You can always try escalating it up to MB Corporate and see if anything can be done.

hutch300

Go in for a calm face to face and say you want it fixed. As much as he likes to say it wasn't them, dealers are not know for their honesty. So I would press the issue, even if they don't want to they will pay for it, or at least thats what my dealer does.

hutch300

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/07/v...ough-customer/

Toyota but it gives the impression...being a dealer doesn't automatically make them honest. Then again customers are not always either.

Derspeed

And be very conspicuous. I like it when my service writer has that, "awe sh*t that guy" look on his face.

c3nthusiast

Small claims court here I come.

GHAZAN

sue for the full amount of the wheel...repaired wheels never look the same unless they are chromed....any polished, machined finished wheel will not look the part

Derspeed

I had one of my rear wheels refinished and it looks exaclty like OE. The machining and paint are perfect. The idiots did leave a little blem on the inner barrel though.

noka

Have you considered whether your case (evidence that the dealer damaged the wheels) is as good as or better than their case that they were not responsible? Are you 100% certain you didn't accidentally scrape them? Anyway, good luck if you decide to persue it.

(I edited my original post to be more in line with what I intended to say.)

GHAZAN

^ don't listen to this guy. worth losing what 35$ claim fee or his time for couple hundred dollars or more? What else is small claims for

Sportstick

The downsides are minimal, other than the complete loss of the relationship with that service department, which may or may not matter any longer. However, Small Claims Court is for plaintiffs who can demonstrate even a reasonable chance of providing a preponderance of evidence (>50%) to support their claim. Nothing we've read above comes close to that. No written notes of vehicle condition at service arrival, no record of damage identification on-site at service pick-up, and the dealer letter is actually more persuasive about parking along a curb, as both wheels on the same side are damaged. But, one can always try.

noka

I was only suggesting that you should be as certain as possible that you are a) right and b) have a good case.

noka

That's what I meant.

GHAZAN

no expert, just come up with better comments then...."have you considered the costs of losing" and whatever else you edited. BTW I don't think anyone would want a relationship with that dealership for the parties involved or those that weren't and now know what may happen.

noka

I agree, I could have chosen better wording. By "cost" I wasn't necessarily meaning $$, which admittedly might be relatively low, but also the cost of a bad relationship with possibly a decent dealer. I don't think it's been established that the dealer did anything wrong and they deserve their day in court as well, I guess (if it should come to that).