Rim Damage From Tire Install

[AlpinTXiX]

Need some help here. I got new rears put on at Discount Tire a week ago, and didn't notice the set of 4 deep grooves (into the metal of the rim, I apologize for lack of pics, will have some up tomorrow) in my right rear rim until I was cleaning my wheels yesterday. The grooves are around one of the lug nuts. It is definitely from their install as they were not there before.

Now, I am wondering what course of action to take. I have a picture take in their parking lot before the install of my damage less rim on the car. As they damaged the rim, I feel they should pay for any repair or replacement. Before I contact them, should I contact my insurance company to file a claim? I know it was a week ago, but as I have proof it wasn't damaged before I brought it in and the damage is obviously from removing lug nuts, (plus the wheel is immaculate otherwise, why would I want a replacement for a perfectly good wheel?) I think I have a decent case for them to pay for it. Any recommendations on this matter or does anyone have experience with Discount Tire or this situation?

Mods, if I should have put this in OT feel free to it drag there.

[bimmershark]

is it in the hole where the lug nut goes like on the wall of the hole? need pics to be able offer any advice on how it could of happened.. at the tires store you do have alot of guys who dont give a crap but i know at my store we are careful as hell especially when it comes to aftermarket wheels and such...and we also do high end cars everyday of the week ..

[AlpinTXiX]

Yup that's where it is. 4 deep gouges (down to the unpainted metal) I'll go snap some pics after class today. You wouldn't happen to work at a Discount Tire in Naples, would you?

[Mike93]

I'd try to talk to the manager of the store. Just be cordial and presentable...you may be surprised how receptive they may be. I had an issue at a drive through car wash years ago where a wheel was damaged (hey I was traveling and the car had to be cleaned). Granted it was the same day but they took care of me.

[bimmershark]

nope tire kingdom in naples .. it sounds like the socket probably hit the wheel as they were removing the lugs it can be a pain in the ass sometimes to avoid but it happens..def talk to the manager and see what they can do for you ..

nothing is ever 100 percent avoidable so stuff does happen , so they should be willing to help you out

[AlpinTXiX]

Just got back from Discount. They want to have a guy who runs a refinishing service out of a trailer, whom they have a deal with, fix them and go 50/50 with me on it (the rims had some previous curb rash which isn't much at all IMO), costing me $100. I told them I would get back to them on that as I couldn't commit to a date to get it done yet. Going to call the manager back tomorrow and let him know this is unacceptable (refinished rims cost $495) and offer 70/30 on a refinishing service out of Pennsylvania (get sent refinished rim, send back old rim)

Here pics of the rim before
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6095091834_445e587d17_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65940597@N08/6095091834/)

And damaged
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6095097416_dc451df933_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65940597@N08/6095097416/) http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6189/6095097542_3f1b353fdf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65940597@N08/6095097542/)http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6184/6095092040_9c253db80a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65940597@N08/6095092040/)


nope tire kingdom in naples .. it sounds like the socket probably hit the wheel as they were removing the lugs it can be a pain in the ass sometimes to avoid but it happens..def talk to the manager and see what they can do for you ..

nothing is ever 100 percent avoidable so stuff does happen , so they should be willing to help you out

I thought they had pulled the driver and bolt out before it had stopped spinning, hence the series of deep gouges. I understand that this happens, but something this bad and such little compensation on the initial offer just doesn't cut it IMO.

[bimmershark]

now is that estimate to fix just the damage to the lug hole? or for the whole wheel?

honestly if it was my wheel and they were not mint or close to it , i probably wouldnt be to upset as its hard to see unless you look for it and there is issues more noticeable on the wheel .. now i am not saying its ok the wheel got damaged but i dont think it would be at the top of my list of issues..

counter offer on the cost , just tell them it doesnt satisfy you and see if they can or will do better

[AlpinTXiX]

now is that estimate to fix just the damage to the lug hole? or for the whole wheel?

honestly if it was my wheel and they were not mint or close to it , i probably wouldnt be to upset as its hard to see unless you look for it and there is issues more noticeable on the wheel .. now i am not saying its ok the wheel got damaged but i dont think it would be at the top of my list of issues..

counter offer on the cost , just tell them it doesnt satisfy you and see if they can or will do better

It's for the whole wheel. Considering the wheel refinishings I've found online run approximately $150 and they want me to pay 50% on a guy whom they have a deal with (so they're likely not paying 50%), I just get a bad vibe from this option. There's nothing else really wrong with the car except the wheels now, so there are no issues to take priority. I'll let you know tomorrow what they say about it.

[bimmershark]

ok cool , try and ask around about the guys they use to refinish wheels to get a vibe whether they are good or not or if you have a guy try and make a counter offer with your guy to see ...

sub'ed to hear results

[Cliche Guevara]

I'd just press them a little more and go for an alotether new wheel. I'd be pretty damn surprised if they didn't go 70/30 with you on a new wheel. I've never heard of a store offering 50/50 for resurfacing when they damage a wheel. F**k that. At our store we find it's much better for business if we just replace the wheel without much fuss and yell at the idiot that did the damage lol.

[Jason5driver]

Will the new wheels be Oem, if you do go with a new set of wheels?

[bimmershark]

I'd just press them a little more and go for an alotether new wheel. I'd be pretty damn surprised if they didn't go 70/30 with you on a new wheel. I've never heard of a store offering 50/50 for resurfacing when they damage a wheel. F**k that. At our store we find it's much better for business if we just replace the wheel without much fuss and yell at the idiot that did the damage lol.


now on maybe a brand new wheel or one in perfect shape i could see wanting a new wheel...

but the wheel had pre existing scrapes an such , and considering where the damage is from the tire store a brand new wheel seems unnecessary..

now i am not saying they shouldnt be held responsible , but the wheel is not unsafe for use or anything, repairing that wheel so it pleases the op is more then enough..

[AlpinTXiX]

now on maybe a brand new wheel or one in perfect shape i could see wanting a new wheel...

but the wheel had pre existing scrapes an such , and considering where the damage is from the tire store a brand new wheel seems unnecessary..

now i am not saying they shouldnt be held responsible , but the wheel is not unsafe for use or anything, repairing that wheel so it pleases the op is more then enough..

I agree with that. A brand new one is a bit much ($650), but I'd like to get refinished OEM ones (and send in the old ones as cores, significantly reduces price to $325) with them paying full on the right one (most damaged) and myself going 50/50 on the other. Making a 50/50 (likely not 50/50 for them) deal with their somewhat sketchy wheel guy doesn't seem like enough.

Cliche, I agree with you 100%. I'm actually looking to buy new front and a new set of 4 tires for my E30 in the next few months and until this I was dead set on them as the actually purchase of the tires went well and they're competitively priced. However, this experience so far and the manager's somewhat curt attempt to lowball me and send me on my way has me thinking otherwise. Still, this hasn't been resolved yet so who knows what will happen.

[Kyle Anderson]

Honestly, I think the 50/50 offer is very generous. You're getting a whole wheel refinished. The damage they did is less than half of the damage on the wheel. That bit of curb rash looks far worse than a couple scrapes on the inside of a lug hole.

[Stück]

Wheels look like they are pretty banged up to begin with, finish is faded/dull, and those wheels are (IMO) quite ugly. Yes they made them worse, but I just don't see it as a big deal. Offering to zero out your ticket for the tire install would have been the most I would have offered being the manager there. Offering a 50/50 refinish is quite generous.

Use this opportunity to upgrade to some nicer looking and lighter wheels

[Cliche Guevara]

Cliche, I agree with you 100%. I'm actually looking to buy new front and a new set of 4 tires for my E30 in the next few months and until this I was dead set on them as the actually purchase of the tires went well and they're competitively priced. However, this experience so far and the manager's somewhat curt attempt to lowball me and send me on my way has me thinking otherwise. Still, this hasn't been resolved yet so who knows what will happen.
If there's another DT within a reasonable drive I would just head over there. We're pretty good about taking care of wheels for the most part, I've never scratched a wheel in the two years I've worked there (well, a wheel that matters lol).

[99GREENM3]

Wheels look like they are pretty banged up to begin with, finish is faded/dull, and those wheels are (IMO) quite ugly. Yes they made them worse, but I just don't see it as a big deal. Offering to zero out your ticket for the tire install would have been the most I would have offered being the manager there. Offering a 50/50 refinish is quite generous.

Use this opportunity to upgrade to some nicer looking and lighter wheels


^^ This

[AlpinTXiX]

Finally got some resolution to this. DT agreed to give me a free set of tires for my 352iX when it comes due in a month or two, and the wheels will be left as is.

The thing that caused the problem with their suggestion of a refinishing was that the guy wouldn't be able to do a good job matching the wheel color. The OEM M3 wheels (which come stock, Stück) are a finish called shadow chrome. There's a very detailed thread on m5board about how much of a PITA they are to accurately refinish and how few people can do it right. The wheel guy himself even said he probably couldn't do it.

In the end, these wheels will end up becoming the winter wheels and the $500 I was going to spend on iX tires will go towards a set of CSL reps :redspot DT reached a good solution and I'll take my business (fronts + summers all around) there in the future as they ultimately got things fixed.

[325iforlife]

id say..

1) mounting damage was unnecessary and fault of the place that mounted it... plastic prybar would never have done that, they probably used a screwdriver.

2) the lug hole is normal damage with impact wrench. unless you tell them to use breaker bar and DONT SCRACH THE RIM... its gonna happen.