Dealer scratched wheels - what would you do?

[KT88]

Meh, none issue. Said bring it back, we'll refinish 'em.

[gk1]

Depends how deep. Maybe have someone polish them to see if they can reduce it to where it is acceptable to you. I haven't had much luck with refinished wheels...never comes out right unless you are in CA and have access to the best of the best.
I'm sure the dealer will outsource any repairs looking for cheap cost not quality work. What is "good enough" for them and 90% of non-enthusiast owners may not be good enough for you.
Another option is demand a new wheel...they may say they need to be offered opportunity to repair first but maybe you can have them put it in writting that if the repair is unsatisfactory to you then they will replace the wheel.

[MacFady]

Obviously some scratches, but posting some pictures without the wheels being filthy dirty would help see what's what. Some of that looks like it could easily fixed with some 2000 grit sandpaper, polish etc., some of it not. If they are refinishing I would ask them to do them all, the paints not going to match otherwise. On a side note, how do you know how much happened at the dealership, the wheels pictured don't appear to be something you pay much attention to otherwise.

[KT88]

Yeah, yeah, I know I didn't clean the wheels up to suit forum standards. The wheels are filthy dirty, as I stated, 1) they were driven several hundred miles in the rain and then sat untouched for over two weeks 2) the dealer squirted tire gel everywhere, including the wheels, so that is where the caked dust is coming from 3) I have purposely not touched the wheels as I wanted NO chance that dealer could blame me and 4) and how do I know what the dealer did??? I know ever square mm of my cars and THAT is wheel machine damage, nothing else and 4) shot below of what my wheels typically look like after Sonax Full Effect Plus and Adam's VRT... as if I have to prove my worth around here anyway ... sheesh. Thank you so much for your help, kindness and compassion.

[PKmode]

The problem is, the dealer will call one of these wheel refinishers that work out of their van in the parking lot. He will break the bead on the tire and not even remove it, prep the wheel and paint it. It will be quick and look good but will NOT have the same durability as the OEM finish.

[KT88]

I appreciate the help. I'll investigate further and if that is the case (he did say "refinish" though) I'd rather wait and get them fully repainted and clear-coated somewhere like Ye Olde Wheel Shoppe and see if they'll give me a credit for their cost. I don't expect a new wheel, they are two years old and do have a (very) few scratches here and there.

The problem is, the dealer will call one of these wheel refinishers that work out of their van in the parking lot. He will break the bead on the tire and not even remove it, prep the wheel and paint it. It will be quick and look good but will NOT have the same durability as the OEM finish.

[yeuchau]

same thing happen to me few years back by MB dealer, but since it's an aftermarket wheel, they just found a shop to get a qoute of that wheel and gave me the full refund on the cost of one wheel.

[Silent Drone]

I did this to mine two years ago. Worse than yours imo. The dealer had a wheel guy who fixed it, including doing some painting of that flat shark fin surface. It looks great and has held up well. Cost was $180. I would think yours could be repaired and wouldn't overthink it beyond that.




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[antoff83]

my dealer scratched one of my wheels when they swapping my tires. They told me bring it back we will have a guy to refinish and will look like new again. Well he did refinish but after few months paint starts to peel. Took it to dealer again but had service mgr look up the rim. He said the repair guy did terrible job and this wont be fixed now and ordered me a brand new rim

[PKmode]

I did this to mine two years ago. Worse than yours imo. The dealer had a wheel guy who fixed it, including doing some painting of that flat shark fin surface. It looks great and has held up well.

I question this as the area you are referring to isn't even painted, rather a lack there of. That area is "diamond cut" and then cleared over. That cut process refers to sticking the wheel on a lathe and cutting the metal to final shape before clear coating. The process leaves a unique finish resulting in the two tone appearance. There are wheel refinishers capable but typically none of the guys in a van will have a lathe in their van.

[Winterk80]

I'd be upset, but aside from the one gouge they look very light. Are the scratches even noticeable if the wheel is clean ? If you can live with him maybe some sort of settlement with the dealer would be best

[Silent Drone]

I question this as the area you are referring to isn't even painted, rather a lack there of. That area is "diamond cut" and then cleared over. That cut process refers to sticking the wheel on a lathe and cutting the metal to final shape before clear coating. The process leaves a unique finish resulting in the two tone appearance. There are wheel refinishers capable but typically none of the guys in a van will have a lathe in their van.

You are right about the diamond cut process. Mine was repaired and it involved some resurfacing by hand and applying a paint to match the diamond cut areas on the rest of the wheel. When it was done I could tell it was painted but only just barely. Now that it's been years and the tires rotated many times I'd have to really hunt to find the repair. Although it wasn't restored to perfectly new condition I was quite happy and satisfied. I damaged it myself and the repair is a big improvement. I don't know of the guy had a van or what, but he did an excellent job and the dealer did me good service by referring it to him.


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[Bayman48]

I had purchased the audi wheel repair insurance or whatever its called, and so i bought my wheel in to be repaired for curb rash...so they refinished it for sure, but they did not apply a clear coat...i asked them about it and said its all we do, if you want it clearcoated back an xtra $200....buyer beware, if i had known that, i would have skipped...but since i have never gone through owner ship without scuffing the rims...thought it would be worth it...i have 7 tires left in my warranty, i have more rashes...but not sure i want to have them do it and not clear coat it.