Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[wantmye90]

A friend of mine runs a good tire store in town. He helped me get a warranty claim on my Bridgestone run flats and applied a 40% discount toward a new set of nice tires for me (saving me about $275). I asked him to make sure the best tech was assigned my car to install the new tires and that the rims not be scratched. He assured me there'd be no problem, that their machinery didn't even touch the rims. However while I watched the tech from afar, I saw him pick up a long metal lever, place one end under the tire, and pry the the starting section of tire over the rim's edge using the edge of the rim as the pivot of the lever. Then the machine was employed to do the rest.

Well when I got the car back, three of the wheels now have scratches or gouges about two to three inches in length along the edge of the rim as a result of this lever! It's not real noticeable but if you look from 3 or 4 feet away it's definately there!

And so this was very difficult for me because now, after my friend did me a favor, and because I had to call him out into the parking lot and show him how my wheels had been screwed up! He asked me what I wanted him to do and I let him know I wasn't happy and let it go - he's my friend! The wheels aren't bad enough to demand a new replacement and throw away a good friend over, but then again my car only has 10,000 miles on it and it WAS in perfect condition until this.

But now after getting home and washing the car up and the scrapes are clearly more visible, I honestly feel torn. I just paid $800 (-$275) credit for a new set of tires and practically stood on my head saying that I wanted my wheels not scratched, yet they did it any way!

What would you do?

[calvino]

wow this is hard ! is he a really good friend?? , why you don't try this http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/w...uff-repair.htm tell him to help you repair the wheel ,I'm sure he did not did it on purpose , it was an accident what are your going to do sue your friend ?? if it was any shop then ok , but is different,

[Chesmu]

agreed. friend are more important. Check put the tire repair diy if it reallly bothers you. Fact is that wheel rims are gonna get damaged just from doing their thing. YOu have a nice car... we all do.... but it's not gonna be in a show.

[wantmye90]

Originally Posted by calvino

wow this is hard ! is he a really good friend?? , why you don't try this http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/w...uff-repair.htm tell him to help you repair the wheel ,I'm sure he did not did it on purpose , it was an accident what are your going to do sue your friend ?? if it was any shop then ok , but is different,

Yes, a good friend. But hell, he works for a huge tire dealership and it wasn't his fault, just that BOZO monkey working in the bay. My friend said the mechanic had been with them for 20 years and thought he was the best - WRONG! This dealership could easily make this right monetarily but I am uncomfortable asking.

I take great care of my vehicles and I am really dissapointed.

Perhaps I can have a pro do a paint repair, however one body shop told me that the only way to repair is to powdercoat - meaning a whole rim sandblast and then powdercoat and bake. Said the rim dust corodes regular paint repairs - won't last. Is this right?

[scubajag]

What was the reason you were getting all your tires replaced. If they were worn out, how many miles did you have on them.

[wantmye90]

Originally Posted by scubajag

What was the reason you were getting all your tires replaced. If they were worn out, how many miles did you have on them.

The Bridgestone run flats were fairly well feathered at just 10,000 miles and making a horrible noise. My BMW dealership offered to replace with Pirelli rfts at no charge but I just hate the ride and noise of run flats. So I turned to my friend at tire dealership who pleaded my case to Bridgestone and got me a 40% credit towards my choise of any second set of tires. I really worked hard to get some sort of help because I didn't think it fair to have to get rid of my OEM tires after just 10,000 miles. So now,the Bridgestone 960as are awesome, but my wheels are all scratched up now!