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?
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?
