F1 Autocentre Monkeys

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Type_R

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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EGBB
Thought I should share this experience of unbelievable incompetence demonstrated maximally by F1 autocentre monkeys in Harrow yesterday.

Basically my rear passenger side tyre got a puncture on Sunday night (pretty bad gash in the side wall as I hit a sharp kerb).

Anyways, the RAC man came within 20 minutes and put the space saver on the car. He used his torque wrench in conjunction with my Mcgard locking key. He had the old wheel off in 2 minutes and put the spare on.

So I ordered a new set of tyres (needed 2 new ones on the front anyway) as close to work as possible (so as not to drive on the space saver for any distance) and found F1 to be fairly competitive on prices.

They called me when the tyre came in and I took the car in. Firstly they put it on their lift and decided to use their portable drill to try and remove the wheel bolts (not on the space saver but on the front drivers wheel!). None of them would budge so they decided to use a 'more powerful wheel gun' which had no effect. This guy then decides to put the Mcgard key in the locking nut and run the gun on 'full power' as he watches smoke pouring out of the bolt hole. Finally he decides power tools will not do and gets a torque wrench. Guess what, now the locking key wont fit the locks!

He then tells me that the locking key wont fit the locks, implying that I had not got the right key! Anyway when they finally let me have a look at the key it was evident they had broken it from the inside (pics included below!). They then offered the 'air chisel' experience which could potentially 'damage the wheels.' I suggested they had caused enough damage already and left promptly. To be fair the monkey apologised when I told him that I was leaving.

Have ordered a new key from Mcgard should be here tomorrow (at the grand price of €16 + €17 (next day delivery) from Germany! I am thinking of sending the invoice to F1 autocentres HQ and seeing what comes of it.

I always go to Calthorpe Tyres in Olton where Dan does an awesome job and always removes/tightens the bolts by hand, so I was amazed that the bolts were on so tight. Then I remembered that the car had new pads fitted in October, by VW - that explains everything!

McGard have informed me that if I can return the old key to them they will send me a new one for free under warranty (but its costing about £20 to get the old one back to Germany!), and I can't wait 2 weeks for that to happen!

P.S. I feel it is my duty to change the other bolts on the car (5 yrs old now and getting rusty - the bolts not the car!). VW want £3.50 per bolt! Anyone know of anywhere else I can get them cheaper?

mcgard.jpg
 
lordrobs said:
Hang on, back up a sec... you called the RAC to change a wheel? :p
Click to expand...

You think that's bad? If I needed a wheel changing I'd need to call my GF, get her to come round, then get her to phone RAC and say she was driving and get them to change it for her as she has RAC cover and I don't!

:D
 
To be fair if I hadn't called the RAC I would probably still be in the car park trying to unscrew the wheel bolts! Plus didn't fancy being outside, in the car park, after a 13 hour shift of anaesthetising people, changing my wheel.

If a monkey can change his own wheel, which they probably can, where does that leave the chavs of F1 autocentre in Harrow.
 
Lol, this is why I always use a breaker bar to loosen the nuts on the wheels i'll be removing before I lift the wheels off the ground or jack it up. Guns are great, but should never be used with any lockers.
 
Theres one of these around the corner from me, took it there because it was close but regretted it straight away. Bunch of idiots, 3 of them went to my school and were not the brighest sparks lets say. Always give you a quote for tyres and brakes pads/discs regardless of how they are and the management seems scummy as hell.
 
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