Alloy scratched with tyre change

[DereksDontRun]

Yesterday I had my 4 tyres changed through Black Circles at a local garage.

I was shown to my car in their carpark - it was at 16:50 and dark, with no lighting. They had just washed the wheels and were still covered with traces of soap suds. With no light, I tried to use my phone's torch to see, but just couldn't. I even asked again if there's any damage and all ok, and they said no damage despite struggling with the low profile tyres, but there were no marks. I was in a rush to get to an appointment and they were in a rush to close. It was dark and I was handed a form to sign saying the work was done, so I signed...

for ref the form says "I confirm that I have been offered the opportunity to inspect my vehicle post fitting and that the work undertaken has fully met my satisfaction.
Full T&C are available at www.blackcircles.com/terms
please note that signing this section limits our ability to progress any subsequent complaints"

Now... As you can guess from the title, in the light of day, today I can see scratched on all 4 alloys.

They all look like this:

Spoiler: big image

With about 1mm wide scrape around the lip that I can feel with my nail, about 5-10mm from the edge. Presumably from their fitting machine.

I checked all the 4 wheels with them when I dropped the car off, and they agreed there were no marks, and the form says that. But, am I realistically screwed as I've signed saying I accept their work, despite not being able to check it (and them wrongly reassuring there's no damage)?

The garage wasn't open today, so I'm going to phone them on monday to have a chat and ask them to look at them. I'm not going to go heavy handed, but equally I'd like to know my legal rights if they've damaged them and presented them back without an inspection lamp/light to check the work (or light to read the small print on the form I'm signing)? Yes, I'm kicking myself for signing anything, but being in a rush and no decent lighting made it difficult not to.

 

[DereksDontRun]

Not sure why the age of the car matters, but it's a 16 plate M135i

I'm sure on silver alloys they would practically go unnoticed, but they are visible on the gunmetal. Yeah, I know, it's not the end of the world, and **** happens, but it's like a small door ding - you know it's there and focuses your attention anytime you approach the car but most others don't understand the annoyance.

I would likewise be fuming at the damage, but honestly?

There's no way in hell I would have signed anything if I thought there was a single mark - if you're implying I signed knowing the damage. As I said in the original post - from the limited light, and in the limited time I had, they all looked fine, so I signed. It was only today, in the sunlight, that I saw the scratches.

 

[DereksDontRun]

whether lease or not, it doesn't matter - the car is/was immaculate and now all alloys are scratched. sure, only a little, but still blemishes and arguments for a reduction in value when it's time to sell (trade in or complete the lease).

 

[DereksDontRun]

They were closed over the weekend so phoned them 1st thing this morning to mention (calmly) that there's some scratches to the alloys and if anyone can be there over lunch and I'll pop in for them to have a look - just to ensure they're not all out over lunch...

Dropped in and the manager popped out. Before I could open my mouth, he was straight away saying I've signed the form, left the premises and the paperwork has gone back to Black Circles so officially they don't need to do anything.

I explained that the light was poor, with soap suds on the alloys, so I couldn't see the detail and without being offered an inspection lamp I had to rely on my p-poor phone's torch (and he joked about seeing me on the cctv footage when he checked after my phone call). At the time I commented I couldn't see properly, so I asked his employee if they were damaged (I asked him 2-3 times at separate times during our chat, once in front of the receptionist as a witness) - so I felt that despite signing the form, I did so in good faith of his employee's statement. While even signing it, I said to him that I'm taking it on his word. Realistically - either the employee knew they were damaged and lied or he honestly missed the damage, while handling them in the fully lit interior of the garage - so how on earth and I meant to spot it in the unlit car park?!?

The manager said that I shouldn't have signed the form if there wasn't sufficient light to inspect, and I said there wasn't sufficient light to read the small print on the form, so I wasn't expecting it to be waive all my rights, and I was being pressured by his employee to sign it as they were wanting to close for the weekend. He said that he wouldn't have signed it if there wasn't enough light and he wasn't happy, so I asked if I would have been able to leave with my car without signing it, which he said no, so I asked how I'm meant to examine the car in daylight while also being able to get home and use it over the weekend. (no comment from him)

I then said that I'm not kicking and screaming in the way some people would, and he claimed he appreciated that, so he took some photos and said their head office will have to decide whether anything can be done. He didn't admit the marks were from his equipment, but also didn't say they weren't - just said that they use plastic guards so there shouldn't be marks. But he did agree they weren't mentioned in the inspection form prior to the work, so were new.

He said that the head office will take a couple days to get back to me, but also kept suggesting that as I signed the form, they don't need to... Guess I'll wait for a couple days and phone them when I don't hear anything...

At the time of fitting, I asked if there was any warranty/come-back and the employee said that the tyres are supplied through Black Circles and to deal with them for any problems with them, but to come back to them for any fitting issues. So, I don't think they can just wash their hands and say it's in the hands of BC.

(sorry for the essay)

 

[DereksDontRun]

cheers for the comments about going to BC directly - it's already in my to do list, as their satisfaction survey email arrived this afternoon... I was looking through their website this morning and couldn't find anything about damage and fitting problems...

Bloody cars... honestly think I'll never get one brand new again as the stress and frustration of keeping it clean, scratch-free, parked well away from others etc seems to outweigh the enjoyment atm.

 

[DereksDontRun]

That was my point before everyone jumped on me for the lolz, owning a nice car should be fun.

Don't worry about little cosmetic issues and just enjoy driving it and being in it. I get being proud of it but how often do you stare at your own car?

no, I don't "stare" at it, but I'm proud of it. I like it, the way it looks as much as the way it drives. Walking through my work car park, I probably do look at it, and if I see some bird-mess or dirt on it, then I'll probably clean it off. I'm happy (or mad) enough to spend about 3 hours the odd weekend to wash, wax and polish it. There's no swirl marks, no dents, no scratches to the paint and i'm happy with that. Yes, I'm possibly a little OCD with it, to the degree the gf refuses to drive it (in case she hurts it, as it's my pride and joy, as she says). It's only done 13.4k miles and I (was) happy to change the Pilot Supersport tyres, not because they were near the legal limit (approx 2.5mm tread left on the rears) but because I could notice the grip diminishing and it's worth the expense (in my mind) to have good rubber on all corners prior to winter. So, yeah, cosmetic issues do worry - not just my OCD but also when it comes to resale - surely you can command a better price when it's obviously looked after and near pristine.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a show car, and I regularly chuck (carefully) a mountain bike in the back (on a tarp) and I'm happy to drive in my muddy gear (while sat on a towel). Yes, I'm sure you're laughing, but if it was someone else's car then I'd be even more careful and precious with it.

 

[DereksDontRun]

I've used BC before and been happy - but I guess it's the luck of the draw with the local fitter, for their competence and customer skills.

don't want to name and shame yet, as I'm giving them until the weekend to get back to me - as I agreed with them (for their "head office" feedback).

I've also raised a formal complaint with BC and listed what's happened and the situation thus far.

Coincidentally I'm heading into BMW this evening, so I'll ask for their refurb contacts to get a repair quote.

 

[DereksDontRun]

I dont mean to be condescending, but are you 100% sure those marks are not dried tyre soap?

Definitely deep scratches down to the wheel primer? If so I struggle to understand how any clown could do such a huge amount of damage.

Or maybe even the sealent they use, ive had that leave a white line around my wheels

yup, down through the paint. It's been raining all weekend, and I've rubbed/checked the marks many times, so positive they're through the paint:

Spoiler: through to primer, or metal?

To continue the tale...

Emailed BC last night with photos and this morning they replied "Looking at the pictures you have forwarded I agree that this damage has been caused during the fitting process." no argument about prior photos, just instant admittance. They've asked me to get a quote at my desired refurb place and to forward to them for approval - they recommended https://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/

I've emailed back to say I'll ask BMW for an approved place, in the hope I can retain any paint/alloy warranty and be in touch.

So far the service from BC has been a million miles better than the fitter, whom I'm still expecting a call any moment to say "tough luck." I hope BC question the fitter about this damage and how they could have caused it and expect people to evaluate the job in an unlit area.