Tyre Fitter Damaged Nogaro Repair & VW Lease Return Inspection

[Derv_Driver]

Just wondering how strict the VW Lease Return Inspection is from anyone with past experience?

Unfortunatly I had a puncture repair done today and the tyre fitter managed to cause a number of light scratches to the silver spoke face area of my 18" Nogaro alloy. He also managed to take a chunk out of the lacquer on the rim I guess with the tyre lever about 1/2 inch or so now missing. The actual aluminium seems to of avoided any damage to the machined face.

I think the scratches might buff out but the rim will need some additional lacquer if this is possible.

The tyre company has offered to remove the wheel and tyre and drop the rim in at some body shop to be repaired. I'm wondering if this is feasible or if I should just come clean to VW and try and get them to repair it if possible so as to give me some come back in 2 years when the car goes back.

What are others experience with slight wheel damage upon return? Will they shaft me or do they let some pass with minimal penalty?

Any advice appreciated. I'm really annoyed it's been damaged considering how careful I am whilst driving to avoid kerbs etc.

[remlapeel]

I took an actual chunk out of my alloy on my MK6 and left it for the return (company car so didn't have to pay this way). VWFS charged me £36 for a refurb on that wheel. The problem is can you leave it for another 2 years damaged then have to pay for a repair without any benefit?

[Derv_Driver]

Oh, that doesn't sound to bad in terms of price. Was wondering if a refurb would pass on return to be honest so think that answers it. Thought I might get a bill running into hundreds or something crazy.

It will need something doing to stop the aluminium corroding and causing more lacquer blistering.  Wonder if I should let them fix it or try and get some sort of approved refurb via the local VW dealer who arranged the lease.

[Schuey]

It will count as damage & not fair wear & tear hence it would be chargeable, probably £70 per wheel or so for a few wheel scuffs leading upto wheel replacement at MRRP if it deteriorates more so possibly £300 or more.

To minimise this, try and keep your wheels in the same location on the car this does help limit damage to front wheels only, unfortunately tyre fitters don't care what order they refit when doing one or more wheels & that's why so many are returned with 4 scuffed wheels. Also before tyre changes highlight the wheel condition to the fitter, they usually take a lot more care!

Your lease company will rarely fix these defects prior to resale (auction) but still charge you for repairs, so you maybe better off doing a good tidy up prior to return but make sure the repairs are to manufacturer standard, keep receipts to prove any repair work in case of a dispute on return. 

Fair wear & tear is explained here:

http://www.bvrla.co.uk/advice/guidance/returning-your-leased-vehicle

Hope this helps.

 

[Mark V GTD]

Scuffs up to 50mm long on the circumference of an alloy ARE considered to be within the bounds of 'fair wear and tear' according to BVRLA guidelines which lease companies must subscribe to:

http://www.vwfs.co.uk/content/sites/vwcorporate/vwfs_co_uk/en/home/financing_your_vehicle.html

[Gnasher]

I had a similair experience with tyre fitters.

I simply blobbed some lacquer (from my paint stick for the car) on the chip  and (after a week) got some 2500 grit wet and dry and smoothed it out. After that I got some G3 cutting compound which took the scratches out of the face of the wheel and also restored the shine to the smoothed blob of lacquer.

[monkeyhanger]

The tyre fitter has offered to rectify. Unless they're going to have you doing hundreds of miles on your space saver in the time it takes them to put right, not sure why you wouldn't take them up on it.

[Derv_Driver]

Tyre Garrage  have refurbed the wheel for me. I can see where the repair has been done as there is a kind of twist on the machined face on the rim edge but I'm obviously looking for it. My original post was to get an idea how strict VWFS on return.

I had them put this refurbished wheel on the NSF just in case I have a coming together with a Kurb later