Andy Gough

I've just taken my 8 into the dealers to have the discs changed under warranty.

When I got home, I was cleaning the car when I noticed a ding on the wheel where the rocket scientist who changed the wheel has smacked it with his airgun I preume, as its adjacent to thelocking wheel nut.

I can see ally underneath the gold paint. What should I do, cos I'm a bit annoyed.

I wouldn't mind, but when I take the wheels off, i wrap tape around the socket to stop it scratching. There again, it IS my car, not some punters.

stevem2k

Have a calm, polite chat with the service manager before you go off into one, you never know.


Steve

richs2891

Thats very carless of said dealer / mechanic, Have a word with the dealer / manager if you feel strongly about this then, but dont go in shouting the odds.
You will most likely get a better response if you go in a calm and constructive manner then ranting and raving at them.

Richard

Beat me to it Steve !!

[Edited by rsarjantson - 7/17/2003 3:22:16 PM]

Andy Gough

I've had a chat with service manager who suggested I take the car in to show them.

Fine, I said, but it's over 100 miles there and back, and with the M6 roadworks it's about a 3 hour drive.

Seemed less than keen to get of HIS lardy **** and visit me. No apologies, wants a photo.

What are they on?

I would'nt mind, but I booked the car in, arrived on time, yet it took 1 3/4 hours to swap 2 discs. It's only a 20 minute job, (19 minutes 59 seconds if you don't mind dinging a wheel!

ROBO

Just ask for the address of his boss and write a constructive letter to him with photos.
I have had to go down this route before and it does pay off.
The manager of the garage is only the manager at the end of the day, go to the big guy.
Good Luck

Fizz

iTrader: (1)

Also give them a deadline to rectify the problem / issue.

Treacle

There are companies that specialize in alloy wheel refurbishment. 50 Quid a wheel I think. Just run a search for them . You could suggest this to the dealer if they can't repair them for you . You may have to prove that the damage was done prior to them fitting the discs . This could prove difficult. Good luck.

JoeyDeacon

In my experience most dealerships will not admit responsibility for any damage that you find on a car once you have got home. Obviously damage happens to cars while they are at the dealership all the time and who examines every inch of their car every time they have something done to it.

This happened to a car of mine, when I went to pick it up the car had been parked so that the passenger side of the car was parked really close to a wall. I just got into the car and drove it home and noticed the damage first thing the next morning. Took the car back and they denied it could have possibly happened their and said it was my fault and my problem.

Good luck in getting them to admit they did it!

Andy Gough

I'm even more pi$$ed now. I've looked at the other side and it has an identical ding on it.!!!!!!

Gosh, i'm so happy.

Johnny50

I'd go straight back to the garage.
No need for this at all.

Surely the technician would've known he had done this.

Very poor.

jjones

you seriously put tape around the socket????

drb5

iTrader: (4)

you can in fact by sockets which have a plastic sheath around it especially for removing alloy's without damaging the wheel itself. i have them anyway and i would have expected a dealer to have them too! especially one that work's with alloy's near enough every day! sorry about that m8. i'm about as concensious about me wheels as you are, well at least when they're in mint condition anyway's.

specialx

having worked at a main dealer for 3 years i picked up alot of info on what to do/not to do, 1, main dealers are franchised outfits 2.you can shout as mush as you want NOTHING will happen its just a job to them!
3, the way to scare a main dealer is to tell them you are contacting subaru UK direct this will get more of a reaction as the more compliants a dealer gets in AFTERSALES increases the chance of them having the franchise pulled off them!!!(I have seen this done with a vauxhall dealer.
4,DO NOT SHOUT!! if you do they will send you around the houses just for a laugh!! 5,talk to the main boss NOT the service manager as the service manager will obviously keep poor work reports to himself. GOOD LUCK!!!! ps was this the 1st service?? if so it was obviously there fault as you wouldn't have took the wheels of yet for any reason!!!!

techno_brat

iTrader: (5)

Ive got similer problems but this was my fault does any know any really good specialists or the paint code to repair them myself

Andy Gough

Don't worry, when I get mad I don't shout, I just get even....

Except you never get anything for the mider and hassle.

I should have known better really, this is the dealer that tried to let me collect my car from new with an amazing rattle from the back that turned out to need new boot tension rods, hich are those rods that go from one side to the other underneath the parcel shelf. I had to go home Sccobyless that day.

The mechanic (?) that did the PDI probably had the radio turned up so loud on the road test he couldn't hear the rattle, or probably the rev limiter either.

Let down or what!

RichiW

I do exactly the same thing, i also put the standard alloys back on when she goes in for servicing.I dont trust anyone with my car!

Tony1

Since the advent of digital cameras, I have regularly taken "shots" of my car before a service/mot, so that I can prove that any work has been done, or indeed, prove that any work they shouldn't have done, was done! The photos are dated and timed!!! Equally, a "dob" of paint on "certain" nuts helps to get things done properly.
A recent "short" across a loose starter motor nut, left me with an expensive repair. However, the arcing point from motor to nut - established by the burn marks, proved that the nut was NOT fully tightened when the arcing occurred. The paint mark ofcourse, did align, but not when the arcing points did!!!
Paint and effort are cheap.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

I agree with above, sounds like a word in the General Managers shell like may be called for. Hope you get it sorted!

Andy Gough

Why the hell should you have the hassle?

I appreciate that they are not going to hand the car back and say, 'oh, sorry sir we have fckud 2 of your £400 wheels, never mind, we weill replace them and give you a £100 for the aggro', but they must hold their handsup when nicked.

Poo. And I thought BMW dealers were taking the pi$$.

P1555ED

Took P1 to dealers to have warranty work done on window scratches, when got back , big scuff on wing mirror. Taken paint off to plastic!! Wife went mad, but then again how do you prove it? Even tho' it wasn't there before, as car is wrapped in cotton wool.
It's like service history with your main dealer stamped book.... nobody would be interested in buying your car without it. But does the dealer take as much care as you would??....... I doubt it!

scoobyboy

i dont think writing to anyone about the garage is going to do a thing as there are currently no dealers in the uk who have been offered a draft contract to renew with subaru. some thing is happening, i think subaru maybe thinking of doing away with i.m all together bit off topic i know but no dealer is going to worry about your wheels at the minute

Steve Lawson

I think the reason you will find that you have no contracts Scoobyboy is that Subaru are probably trying to sort out the block exemption stuff that is going on.
The BMW dealership I worked at previously had the contracted "taken away" then renewed once they had met the required standard and all BMW dealers went through this.I now work for Toyota/Lexus GB and they are in the middle of doing exactly the same thing.Only this is most Importers/Manufacturers are finding this a good excuse to winkle out the crap dealers .
Anyway back to the point of this I would have a word with the Service Manager first and if you get no joy go to the top.Usually find you get a better response that way.

Good luck

Steve