Alloy scratched with tyre change

Firestar_3x · 4 Dec 2018 at 15:51

Hopefully you can turn around to the fitter and say well BC don't agree with your conclusion and have agreed that you caused the damage, hopefully you can tell him in person and see if he manages to squirm his way out of it.

FTM · 4 Dec 2018 at 15:59

only place that has never damaged my wheels is my local kwik fit

last time I used black circles the fitters gouged both front wheels

luck of the draw innit

robj20 · 4 Dec 2018 at 16:02

Good service by black circles, I always use them.

The Wheel Specialist are very good, BMW won't have some magic place they use.

Kaeo · 4 Dec 2018 at 18:44

You can't really go wrong with the wheel specialist, they're very good. Used them a few times. They are very expensive, however, but as you aren't paying...

lordrobs · 4 Dec 2018 at 19:30

That is a great response! I'm going back to Blackcircles next time I need tyres. I tried shopping around and going direct last time and ended up at Halfords Autocentre due to price. I had;

A nearly 2 hour wait because "we haven't got the thing to balance your wheels here." To be fair they are that super rare 4x100 fitment
A centre cap put on wonky which ended up bending it slightly
Poor balancing with a slight shake at 60

pioneer2000 · 5 Dec 2018 at 07:58

The garage that have damaged mine are claiming that it must have been old damage (despite my partner explaining to them that I’m crazy and filmed the wheel before taking the car in that morning).

Quite frustrating that nobody takes pride in their work anymore and simply lies when pulled up on it.

mattyg · 5 Dec 2018 at 08:16

FTM said:
only place that has never damaged my wheels is my local kwik fit

last time I used black circles the fitters gouged both front wheels

luck of the draw innit

Eh? do BC use kwikFit?

200sols · 5 Dec 2018 at 08:31

pioneer2000 said:
Quite frustrating that nobody takes pride in their work anymore and simply lies when pulled up on it.

Its always happened, just in the past you would not have heard about it on a forum.

Janesy B · 5 Dec 2018 at 08:51

Blackcircles just told me to speak to the garage when they butchered my wheels and they offered a repair... even though the bloke said the damage was partially caused because of a previous repair which was nonsense.

I've seen the machines and how they do it, it just requires some patience but the usual tyre centre monkey doesn't seem to be capable of that.

Semple · 5 Dec 2018 at 08:57

lordrobs said:
That is a great response! I'm going back to Blackcircles next time I need tyres. I tried shopping around and going direct last time and ended up at Halfords Autocentre due to price. I had;

A nearly 2 hour wait because "we haven't got the thing to balance your wheels here." To be fair they are that super rare 4x100 fitment

A centre cap put on wonky which ended up bending it slightly

Poor balancing with a slight shake at 60

BC are only a supplier, you've still got to find a decent fitter on their site.

Frankly I don't see how the garage can argue their way out of it, if it was a small mark then they could argue possible kerb damage etc. But a perfect circular scratch most of the way round the wheel is not going to happen from a kerb.

BinnsY · 5 Dec 2018 at 09:10

DereksDontRun said:
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.

I've used the wheel specialist twice as well, once on a Toyota Yaris and again on an MX-5. Both times they did a superb job and I would be surprised if you get anywhere better.

FTM · 5 Dec 2018 at 09:27

mattyg said:
Eh? do BC use kwikFit?

no

I have use Black circles and a local fitter

I have also used kwik fit (just last sunday when I drove over a bloomin screw) sometimes they are just convenient

lordrobs · 5 Dec 2018 at 09:33

Semple said:
BC are only a supplier, you've still got to find a decent fitter on their site.

Frankly I don't see how the garage can argue their way out of it, if it was a small mark then they could argue possible kerb damage etc. But a perfect circular scratch most of the way round the wheel is not going to happen from a kerb.

Yeah but it means that I can select the best local fitter (of those offered) irrespective of what they normally charge for tyres and fitting. It is also reassuring to see that they will back the customer when things go wrong.

MrRockliffe · 5 Dec 2018 at 09:37

DereksDontRun said:
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.

You pay a lot for the privilege, but all it takes is one plonker to come and scratch your car

Howard · 5 Dec 2018 at 09:49

Janesy B said:
Blackcircles just told me to speak to the garage when they butchered my wheels and they offered a repair... even though the bloke said the damage was partially caused because of a previous repair which was nonsense.

I've seen the machines and how they do it, it just requires some patience but the usual tyre centre monkey doesn't seem to be capable of that.

This is why, IMHO, it's worth finding a nice local place that you trust, and just sticking with them. I've been using a little "out of a shed" place for years and years, as have many of my friends and family. It's Martin's Tyres in Woking, if anyone knows it. Their reputation on forums and review sites is pretty much unmarked, as are my wheels every time I use them. Sure, they're a half-hour drive from where I live, and it may cost a few quid more than some race-to-the-bottom Black Circles offering, but I'm absolutely fine with this.

I went elsewhere a couple of times in recent years for convenience sake and had issues (only with wheel balancing, fortunately, and not physical damage), and I regret doing so!

Adam · 5 Dec 2018 at 10:54

I used blackcircles and could choose which garage I used based on reviews. It might be worth leaving a review for the garage once everything is concluded?

If I remember rightly a lot of the documentation I signed when the wheels were fitted was blackcircles branded rather than the garage itself. Was that the case with this garage? I'm wondering if they need to have a signed document before blackcircles release their payment or something which might explain why they were so eager to get it done.

Phemo · 5 Dec 2018 at 12:19

Howard said:
This is why, IMHO, it's worth finding a nice local place that you trust, and just sticking with them.

I went elsewhere a couple of times in recent years for convenience sake and had issues (only with wheel balancing, fortunately, and not physical damage), and I regret doing so!

Absolutely. I usually always use the same place to get my tyres done but a couple of years back I was up in Basingstoke and decided to get all 4 of my tyres done at F1. After a while they came out to inform me that they managed to crack one of my alloys. Wish I'd got a picture of it but it was completely destroyed, no idea how they managed it. Car didn't have a spare wheel either but I did have one in my garage at home (Portsmouth) so had to get a lift back home to grab it then get back up. Ballache.

When I'd got back home with my spare fitted I noticed that they'd also managed to fit the wheels the wrong way. That car had directional wheels so the left and right sides were different - they'd got it all wrong. Idiots, but at least they admitted fault and ordered a brand new alloy from BMW without question.