Beaurepaires scrapped three of my wheels

[khamtran]

I'm very pissed off. I'm recently took my car into Beaurepaires South Yarra to have new tyres fitted and they scrapped 3 of my rims! It must have been from the machine they use to remove the tyre from the rim. So careless.

Anyway, I realised the next day and took the car back in. They guy told me that they would have the 3 rims repaired for me through some panel shop that also fixes rims. I'm just concerned that as the rims have a machine finish they won't be able to replicate it. If they can't repair it to the original finish I think they should replace them. Plus the car is only 18 months old.

What do you guys think I should do? Any advice would be appreciated.

Below is a photo of one of the rims. The other two have similar damage.

[ralp2dam]

...snip...

The same thing happened to my father's Audi. My advice sad though it is, take photographs before you get new tyres. You are fortunate they acknowledged causing the damage and will pay to fix it.

[Silver dub]

That's a pretty hefty mark!

After speaking to a few wheels refurbish companies myself, I have always been told that you will always see where the patch has been done as they cannot match the original machine finish.

It really is bad luck.

It might pay to jump on the phone tomorrow and speak to a couple of wheel places and get there opinion.

I've been talking to Matt Coleman at wheel solutions in richmond about my own wheels.

Give him a call and shoot him a photo and he will tell you straight out if it can be fixed or not.

I was enquiring about about re machining all the faces on a set of wheels and while they don't have the machine to do it, they did have a company that they send them off to that can but it will be pricey.

So I guess what I'm saying is if you speak to some wheel shops and if they say it cannot be done then go back to beaurepairs and talk to the guy and who knows you may end up with 3 brand new wheels in the end.

Good luck and keep us informed.

[khamtran]

Thanks for the advice Silver dub.

I will give Matt Coleman and a couple of other places a call tomorrow and see what they say.

[ATYPIC]

Thanks for the advice Silver dub.

I will give Matt Coleman and a couple of other places a call tomorrow and see what they say.

Call these guys they will be able to help you.

Wheel Repairs Melbourne

[khamtran]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I contacted Eastern Wheel Works and Advanced Alloy Repairs (I couldn't get through to Matt Coleman) and they both said that it was not possible to get the machined finish (especially since there are 10 spokes) to 100% of the original. Possibly close but not perfect.

Advanced Alloy Repairs said that Beaurepaires should definitely be replacing the wheels if they cannot get them back to 100% which I totally agree with. I don't think that is unreasonable at all given that the car is quite new.

I spoke to Beaurepaires and told them about my findings and they said that they still want to get another opinion on it first. They said that they should be able to have someone look at it this Wednesday.

Also, I've just noticed today that the 4th wheel is also slightly marked. It doesn't appear to have broken the clear coat though so some polishing should be able to fix that up. Hopefully.

Anyways, I'm hoping Beaurepaires don't make an issue of it. If they do I'm just going to make an insurance claim and let them work it out.

I'll let you know how things go.

[anthony]

Alloys are so important as far as the look of the car goes.

Most people either dont notice,or dont care.

I personally would have had a mild heart attack...

[khamtran]

Beaurepaires have booked my car into Toorak Accident Repairs for next Thursday. I'll be going with the Beaurepaires guy and we'll hear what the repairers say about the damage.

I'll let you guys know what happens.

[ltbonline]

If you take your ride to track you'll find many many stone chips marks on the wheels. That's what happened to me before so repair won't last even one track day. Good luck with the claim

[khamtran]

Took the car into Toorak Accident Repairs today and they said they can't do it but have recommended Neway Wheel Repairs in Heidelberg.

I didn't speak to Neway Wheel Repairs myself but I was there when the Beaurepaires guy spoke to them and they reckon they can get the wheels back to 98% of original finish.

I'll be taking the car in on Saturday for them to have a look.

Beaurepaires have agreed to do all 4 wheels as well. If they can get them to 98% I'll be happy as one of my wheels has slight damage from an earlier incident with a kerb.

Will let you guys know how things go.

[khamtran]

Took the car into Neway Wheel Repairs this morning and they said they could remachine and refinish all 4 wheels and that I wouldn't be able to tell. They said they've done the same wheels before and that they come out looking great.

So hopefully the wheels will get sorted next week. I'll post pics once done.

[AP]

Speak to management and demand they fix them! Other wise have your solicitor write a letter of demand, worth it for a $250.00!
Pretty bad form, but it's very common unfortunately..

[khamtran]

Beaurepaires have actually agreed to pay for the repair. It was obvious that they did the damage so they didn't try to deny it or anything.

[khamtran]

The issue now is Beaurepaires are having trouble sourcing a set of steel wheels so I can use in the meantime.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where they could go?

[JCop]

Unfortunately I can't think of a place that would stock those wheels to loan out.

The vast majority of these re-machine repairs are a two-three day job and the car is left on stands in the workshop. Perhaps VW South Yarra or your dealer has a set lying around? Most of the dealerships have spare wheels in their workshop.

On side note, just with regards to the machine-face repair, a good re-machine job will be be indistinguishable from the original factory finish.