Rim Fiasco and Dealer

[Marauder57]

Well last week I took my MM in for some warranty issues and also to get an alignment done and the tires balanced.....

They found one of the tires had separated tread and replaced it.....

The cars ride felt kind of hard up front....so I checked the tire pressure in the front tires.....it was about 38psi....so I let some air out.....

When I come upon my driver side front rim. BEHOLD a GOUGE not a scratch but a gouge in my rim......it is about an inch long and 1/4 inch wide.....and seems to be almost 1/32 to 1/16 deep....it went right through the coating down into the metal....plus there was some other scratches in the area like some attachment was on the rim and did it.....anyway I was pissed but kind of prepared for it after hearing that other people had some problems like this before.....

So I go to my dealer...and point it out.....basically they are not offering a new rim (they are "grudgingling" implying they "may" have done it)...rather they are offering to send out the rim to repaired and refinished. They say it will take about 3 days and they will give me a loaner for the duration.....

My question is this...has anyone had any repairs done on rims before.....can they make it like new???? Or is this an attempt at the cheap way out? I asked specifically who is the overall determining person in the quality of the job......basically they said we will cross that bridge when we come to it. So first on the agenda is the repair?

I was just trying to get a feel if this is an actual solution or just a stop gap measure.....any input or expierience is welcomed. :depress:

[gja]

Yeah, right. Repaied my aunt-tillie.
Offer to take the wheel off and deliver it the shop THROUGH HIS FRONT WINDOW.

[Donny Carlson]

My question is this...has anyone had any repairs done on rims before.....can they make it like new???? Or is this an attempt at the cheap way out? I asked specifically who is the overall determining person in the quality of the job......basically they said we will cross that bridge when we come to it. So first on the agenda is the repair?

I was just trying to get a feel if this is an actual solution or just a stop gap measure.....any input or expierience is welcomed. :depress:Well, Sarge posted on here a few weeks back that he bought a wheel from another MM.Net member who was parting out a wrecked Marauder, and had the wheel repair with great results. Mac posted the company that did it, which won't help you much, since it's not near you and I doubt the dealer will ship the wheels to where ever this company is.

Bottom line: yes, you can have the wheels repaired, and it can be a quality job. Much depends on who does the repairs, young Padawon.:cool4:

[Marauder57]

Well supposedly they are shipping out the wheel to some shop and they guarantee 24 hour turnaround.....thus the 3 days I guess....But he did say they were shipping it.....

[Alan]

I've been needing to take my MM in for a while now. It pulls SLIGHTLY to the right. I know it's eventually going to wear my tires...but I've been too scared to take it in...because of all the rim-scratch/gouge stories!

I think what we've learned here is that if any member needs any sort of work done and it involves the wheels...bring along a digital camera and take pictures with the service manager standing beside you. Have him look at the pictures and agree to their condition. Better yet....when I take my car in...I'm going to ask him to kneel beside the wheels as I take the pictures.

Sort of "insurance" to prove the before/after rim damage question.

[Marauder57]

I would suggest that you have them look at your wheels and right that they are in good shape on your ticket......Here was my problem....car was really dirty (I know sacriledge) at the time....rain etc....so I could not really tell anything until I got up close.....funnything was the other side had a black mark just like the gouge...but it was just grease....

I had held out on an alignment as well.....but...what can you do....

[Alan]

Marauder57,

Dude! I feel your pain. I would absolutely go ape-@#% on them for doing that to my wheels.
:bounce:

[martyo]

My question is this...has anyone had any repairs done on rims before.....can they make it like new???? Or is this an attempt at the cheap way out?
The answer is yes, they can do a nice repair job. I got a bad ding in one of rims when I kissed a curb pretty good. After the repair you would not know that rim had been dinged.

[purduecmpe]

So is there any way to align these tires without getting the rims screwed up?

:pimp:

[Marauder57]

I thought supposedly there is an attachment or something that is made to keep from scratching them or something like that....someone had mentioned that some time ago.....

[CRUZTAKER]

I have no idea why the dealer cannot align these cars w/o damaging wheels.

I just got mine back from C&M performance in Avon, Ohio after having the Eibachs installed...they aligned the cat without damaging wheels.

As far as repair, yes, a good wheel refinisher can repair a wheel no problem.

[MarauderMike]

There are attaching items available for different alignment machines. My dealer after having gouged all of my rims got $1500 worth of new equipment that basically attaches the head from the alignment machine to the tire, not the rims. The dealer also replaced my rims at no charge. I believe his alignment machine is made by Hunter, if that is any help. Good luck.

[SergntMac]

I'm sorry about your disappointments with the dealers and the damage they have caused you. The good news here is, yes, rim repairs can be flawless.

The truth is, how flawless you want your rims to be depends on how much you want to invest in them, and vice-versa. I'm not talking about dealer warranty claim repairs, but custom work.

I've been collecting damaged Marauder rims from the web, and repairing them for a few months now. I'm not doing this repair work myself, I've been using the rims to shop around the variety of repair companies available to us on the web, looking for the perfect Marauder rim repairman.

I wasn't ready to announce this, but I've found him. Flawless work at reasonable prices, with some options for those of us who wish to customize. This resource does not only repair what I would consider "fatal" damage, he can make a Marauder rim look (and drive) better than new.

Of course, he's not cheap, or, fast. He's got a rep in the industry, his Harley just won "best of show" at Chicago's 2004 World of Wheels, and for the 9th year in a row. Nine...New Harley every year too.

He charges by the labor hour, and as my visits to him go up, his prices go down. When I first met him, that was 75 bucks per. It's now 60 bucks per.

If you have a real Marauder rim problem you want to fix, I can help. Drop me an e-mail at SergntMac@aol.com. I have to warn you though, after he fixes one, what are you going to do about those other three...

Okay, I can fix them too. Less than "special cases" can get refinished like new, for 107 bucks each, not including S&H. Write me if you have a concern I can help with.

[89VERT]

I've had rims repaired for my SHO and my 5 liter all with perfect results .

I agree , shop around you'll find a competent shop.

Good luck and let us know how you made out .

[Marauder57]

First off I appreciate all the info......I am going to take the car in once I get back from my trip and let them send off the wheel and see how the repair goes....Luckily it was only one.

Mac...your Rim Wizard....can he powder coat and do colors and stuff?

Can he do plaid like a kilt? (Just kidding about the plaid....)

[spotbearsd]

Here is some hard learned advice for ya:
Get everything in writting!

Tell them you authorize them to send the rim out once and ONLY once. Also, you agree to authorize the repaired under the following conditions:

1. The rim will be considered repaired and accepted only after YOUR satisfaction upon its return and after its been installed properly. (Remember, this is how it got messed up to begin with..by incompetence).

2. They provide you with a borrowed vehicle agreement or a rental car from hertz, enterprise, etc. at their expense. (The car shall be size similar to Marauder)

3. In the event the rim repair is NOT done to your personal satisfaction, they will replace the damaged rim with a factory ordered new one and install it at no charge. (most important clause, because this is your out if not happy with the results)

[rookie1]

WHOAAAAAA!!! Just a minute fellas!!!! SCREW the rim repair! Didn't you say the vehicle was in for warranty repair? Get Ford involved or at least threaten the dealer with them. You have a new car, you should have a new rim. If the service mgr was worth a ***** he'd figure out how to get another rim on warranty for you anyway.

I had a new Olds Aurora that I mistakenly drilled a pinhole into the gas tank on when installing some stereo stuff on. I went to the service mgr very humbly told him what happened, asked if he could sneak it thru warranty for me and voila new gas tank installed. The service mgrs all know how to work the system you just have to find a way to get them to do it.

Don't settle for the repair without a fight.

[spotbearsd]

I totally agree with the above statement....
but you did already leave the dealership and technically have released them from direct blame at time of vehicle pick up...so I feel if you are getting any assistance from them, your doing better than most.

Its kind of like when you valet you car and the next day when washing it at home, you notice one of the wheels is curb kissed (happened to my SAAB at a Ruth Chris's Steak House). I was SOL with that one.

I also had a valet burn some holes in the seat of a brand new Trooper in San Francisco. I didnt notice until I had left the hotel. I returned just to have the valet service deny anything. I ended up having to go after the Hotel and the best I could do was 3 free nights stay in a suite! (took the hotels offer and bought seat covers)

I had another Saab that had major rim damage on all 4 wheels. I noticed it when I picked it up. Turns out that this 50 year old Cadillac dealer had an old style car wash the moved the Caddy's on rails through it. They had just become a SAAB dealer (and selling cars with 18" wheels) and didnt realize the problem until I noticed it on my car. Turns out a handfull of other new SAAB owners came forward as well.

I bought a Honda once in the late afternoon. Inspected it in the sun and said, I'll take this one. The dealer then took the car to be prepped and hand washed while I signed my docs. I completed the paper work and took delivery of the car. It was dusk and the sun had dissapeared. I walked the car and it looked good, so I drove it home, parked it in my garage and left for a week long trip.

One week later, I got in my new car and went to breakfast. I was horrified after I got out of the car at the restuarant when I viewed the car in the direct sunlight for the first time after they washed it. It was completely covered in swirl marks and had some very deep scratches. I drove to the dealer immediately and told them I wanted another car.

The dealer refused, but said they would repair the paint in their detail shop. I knew this was not going to fix it (it was deep in the clear coat) so I came up with the letter idea saying "..if not repiared to my satisfaction, dealer agrees to unwind deal".

Needless to say, I returned and they had just slapped some wax on it and that was it. They wanted a second attempt to repair, but I said no, I was exercising my clause to "unwind this deal" and they continued to say things like "the bank owns the car now" and it would cost us "1,000 dollar to take the car back" blah blah blah.. So, I realized my only chance was to go ballistic in the showroom floor! I made a huge commotion cursing up a storm and making a lot of noise. They finally gave in and I got a new car.

I guess what Im saying here is three things. The first is to get everything in writting. The second is to always walk you car when you drop it off with the service advisor BEFORE service work is to be performed. Be sure to point out every exisiting blemish and make him see the complete condition of you car prior to the service. Lastly, always inspect it BEFORE you drive off the lot.

I wish you luck. I have heard good things about some rim refinishing shops.

[Marauder57]

Well I don't take the car in until Monday of next week. They have their own internal loaner cars....so I will get another Grand Marquis like last time....so all the old ladies can wink at me at the stop lights.....

I will get the repair done and see how it goes....but if it is not good I will get a new rim out of the deal......It was Friday and I was being nice......I wanted to see what they would offer...and I will give them the benefit of the doubt to try and fix it......

Wel will see once it gets back......I just hope it does not get ugly....

"Mr. McGee don't make me angry; you would not like me when I'm angry." - David Banner

[Dave Compson]

Long story short... I had alot of problems with a svt dealer scratching all four of my rims. They did the right thing and sent all four of my rims out and had them chromed. They look good. No scratches, nice and shiny. I feel there are shops out there that can do nice work.

[Marauder57]

Well just got a call from the dealer...they got the rim back and while the scratch is gone...the wheel is not shiny or up to snuff per the Service guy.....so now they are getting me a new rim....which they hope to have tomorrow......So we will see......

[Dave Compson]

Thats good to hear, but its too bad they scratched it in the first place.

[Marauder57]

Thats good to hear, but its too bad they scratched it in the first place.

Yeah well I am trying to focus on the positive (not sure what that is)....at least I have a loaner car...nice 2003 Gold Grand Marquis.....I am getting winks from all the old ladies at the stoplights...... :shake:

[Dave Compson]

The dealer gave me a focus. So, the only people winking at me were the ricers.