Dyslexic Tyre Fitter?

[Mark V GTD]

To the OP; make certain you check your wheel very carefully for damage before you leave the dealer's premises after the tyre has been correctly re-fitted.

Sadly that will not be enough - its already been used on the road by the OP so he will need to have the wheels inspected by the dealer and agreed that they are in perfect condition before they are let loose on it. At the same time get the whole car inspected to agree its in pristine condition as its not unknown for damage to cills to be inflicted by lifts, oily marks on seats inflicted etc.

[Dully]

All sorted in the end and I also managed to blag a full set of VW rubber mats and a boot liner for my inconvenience.

Those wheels are so difficult to work with without causing any sort of slight cosmetic damage.

I was in the workshop watching the technician, the equipment looked a cut above your normal kiwkfit gear, wheel was protected with rubber like shroud during removal and replacement, no damage to the rim edge at all, but ........ After wipe down there was the slightest of a very small mark on one of the spoke faces, nothing you could even feel with your nail but it was there (was it there before is hard to tell), took wheel over to the paint shop and this disappeared with a quick 30 second buff with a plain dry polishing pad.

Wheel was then spun to balance with the existing weights still on as I did not want them taken off for no reason, result was it only needed one small one adding and they had black ones to use so it's invisible.

All the work was recorded for any future issues that may or may not develop in that area, I was also told that if in the next few weeks I am not happy with anything then they will replace the wheel and tyre. To be honest if they do that then it would mean them ordering new and having again to get a tyre on without damage and it would have to be an identical tyre to the rest so I am calling it quits at the moment as it looks like new.

Interestingly they went through the PDI sheet with me, the guy who did it has been with them years and is a right stickler for attention to detail, although there is no specific check that the tyres are the right way round, they do reset the pressures from transport settings so he has been staring at it at sometime! It seems to have been the talk of the dealership and from now on they will be checking for future hiccups.

[p3asa]

I've got 2 wheels waiting to have their tyres changed and I'm dreading it.
I don't think I've ever used anywhere that hasn't inflicted any sort of damage.

In fact I've been that p!ssed off with it I've researched the equipment to do it myself but I don't have the space.

There is definitely a market out there for tyre fitters that can do the job without damage.

Maybe we need a website "Rate my tyre fitter" That might make them more aware, as right now they don't give a dam.

[Fabio Bignose]

For all Irish drivers, ive been using a good guy who works for Modern tyres out of VW Deansgrange, Pottery Road.

He orders in the black weights for me as well.

Hes fitted several sets for me and so far so good.

[Mike J]

My experience.
I used to drive Landrover 110's offroad for 70% of the time.
Because of the rough terain the rims were fitted with the highest quality tyres available and these were omni directional.
Following a regular service I tried to ploughed through a long section of axle deep mud, somewhere I would normally sail through, and instead came to a wheel spinning halt, a quick reverse got me out and I tried again, still no progress, out again and yes the wheels had been refitted with the treads the wrong way round.

Immediatly back to the service centre where it was discovered their new mechanic (this was in pre 'technician' days) was responsible for the mistake.
His punishment was to watched by the whole team while he pressure washed the whole of the underside, before being allowed to change the wheels around.
He then had to clear around 1m3 of mud off the washing area.

As for the OP
IMO the dealer is responsible 100%.
I would have insisted on a new wheel and tyre regardless of mileage, no messing.
If they had refused I would have gone direct to Germany with names, job titles and English (and German translation) statements of what was said between both parties.
Dealers are paid by the manufacturers, a decent sum for EVERY vehicle they sell inorder for them to recify any problems without incuring a loss, the sum was £300/car (Vauxhall) in the late '70's btw.
The dealers try and keep this money to increase their profits and why they have well developed avoidance techniques.


ALWAYS COMPLAIN BIGTIME.
After an annoying problem with a washing machine and the supplier refusing to replace the machine or compensate me, I told them to be at their showrooms on Sunday morning as I would be there with the machine AND the local tv and radio so they could watch me smash the machine to pieces with a sledgehammer!!!
Result - a new machine delivered that day plus financial compensation for the damaged clothes.

My motto:-
When a gentle push doesn't work, a hard kick in the family jewels usually results in a prompt solution.

 

[phazer]

I've got 2 wheels waiting to have their tyres changed and I'm dreading it.
I don't think I've ever used anywhere that hasn't inflicted any sort of damage.

In fact I've been that p!ssed off with it I've researched the equipment to do it myself but I don't have the space.

There is definitely a market out there for tyre fitters that can do the job without damage.

Maybe we need a website "Rate my tyre fitter" That might make them more aware, as right now they don't give a dam.

I know how you feel! I've just had two sorted on the GTD at Costco. Asked politely for them to be careful and I wa told they always are (with a smile). I said thanks, I know you must hear it a lot but they did a top job and zero marks - at all. Very happy.

The manager did tell me they get a lot of big Bentleys and similar in so are used to dealing with expensive diamond cut wheels.