Dunno with those tyres lol  '09 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto for the Mrs

Using the works Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Sport Van - CHROME FREE THOUGH

Searching for a nice E63 AMG or S8 V10 to replace my "wonky" TDV8

RRUK wrote:

Good news!!!

They agreed to replace all four tyres with brand new pirelli rubber. Ok so it's not the continentals but they are free!

The doc wrote:

Dunno with those tyres lol

Glad to see you still have your SOH with all that going on with your SC Happy  '09 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto for the Mrs

Using the works Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Sport Van - CHROME FREE THOUGH

Searching for a nice E63 AMG or S8 V10 to replace my "wonky" TDV8

Things NEVER go to plan do they? Well, not where Dealers are concerned. I've always said that your car is better off not going near a dealer as you end up with more problems than you started with. Today was no exception.

Got to the Dealers for 9am, in the snow, against all odds, 70 mile trip. Sit myself down with a nice coffee and try and get some work done.

The clock ticks away, and ticks away. I get the odd status report like "having trouble removing the old tyres" and "having trouble balancing the wheels as our equipment is not up to date" (What? Why the hell not?)

Anyway after 4 hours (yes, that's what I said) they say its ready and bring it round. Then it disappears again. Apparently one of the new tyres is deflating according to TPMS.

Another 30 mins goes by and it comes back. I go to look it over and nearly drive it through the glass doors in rage. Every single alloy is scratched, dinged, marked and chipped. Right down to the base metal, chips in the paint as big as ten pence pieces.

I drag the service manager out and give him what for, telling him that its the most ham fisted attempt I've ever seen. He agrees and apologises and takes the car round the back again. (Not sure what he plans to do)

Car comes back. I ask him how on earth the tyre fitter and he thought I would not notice that my lovely condition alloys are wrecked. He said he didn't know how or why it had happened and apologised again.

He offers to have the alloys professionally refurbed, all four. I agree, stating that if its crap I want a new set of wheels and tyres, I even pointed to a 2010MY Vogue SE with Mick style alloys and said take them off and give me those (Thought I'd try but knew it wouldn't fly - but he didn't poo-poo the notion of replacing like for like style)

I go to drive away and TPMS is now on again so I march back in. They take it for a drive to see if it clears and check there's no punctures. Light doesn't go off but tyre pressures ok.

I ask them to arrange for my alloys to be fixed and TPMS to be looked at by Stratstone in Nottingham to save me time and effort, he agrees. After checking the Check Control, it seems the NSF wheel sensor is trashed, probably by the ham fisted ape who did the tyres.

I let him know exactly what I thought of the monkeys who did this work and that tyre fitting is one of the most basic things they could get wrong – how was it possible? He didn’t have any answers but it cost them 5 hrs of labour and the cost of 4 wheel refurbs. If it was my garage, that person would be sacked for making such an abortion of such a simple job.

So, I drive the car home, TPMS is on all the time, tyres seem ok, then notice that they didn’t fix the rear headlining clips but DID manage to leave some black dirty fingerprints all over it. WHY WHY WHY don’t they have the sense to wear clean gloves or wash their sodding hands before touching light fabrics, what planet are they on? It’s just common sense….How many times have you got your car back and found after driving it YOUR hands are filthy cos the steering wheel has oily dirt from the mechanics not wearing gloves or protecting the wheel in anyway?

To say I am unhappy is a massive understatement. The Service Manager never once disagreed with me and was as helpful as he could be, but if it were me, I’d have made an executive decision to have the alloys done at a local specialist who can actually do it without ruining the wheels. How hard can it be?
It may have saved me £600 in tyres but it’s cost me more in aggro and time lost. I find it totally baffling that this even happens anymore now that every single car on the road has alloy wheels…and from a main dealer. Pathetic.
 Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Oh dear - really feel for you Adam.

I had the same experience with Tanvic too with a fresh set of Civic Type-R wheels a few years back.

Have you ever seen a TPMS sensor? I saw one from an audi 20" wheel not so long ago and it really isn't suprising they get broken as they are very fragile and just behind the wheel beed.

Still - look on the bright side - you won't have the brown mark on them now will you

Are they lending you a set while yours get done?

My bluetooth is playing up and the two rear lights very VERY misty with droplets running down inside so back to Marshalls for me soon too  FFRR TD6 06MY. Cairns Blue, Blue Hide. LR 7 Spoke 20" Wheels, S/C Grill and Vents. Privacy Glass and Side Steps

Mate, I really feel for you also.

Bear with it and it will all come well.

I got my SC wheels from Stratsone in MK by the way - maybe they could just give you a new set of those? '09 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto for the Mrs

Using the works Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Sport Van - CHROME FREE THOUGH

Searching for a nice E63 AMG or S8 V10 to replace my "wonky" TDV8

I'm really sorry for you. I know EXACTLY how you feel!

Part of me is expecting after they fix my brake caliper that the engine will fall out because of their 'workmanshit'- or at the Very least I'll need a new battery after 4 weeks!

I hope you get sorted as fast as possible!

wow man, what an odissey........

It reminds me of when I dropped my car to replace the alternator and it took a month and a half........

@VMPP: I know! they could have grown a new caliper from seed by now...Seems that Hatfields are trying to get an exchange caliper rather than a new one.

I would demand new wheels, end of. I had a similar situation with my main agent on a previous vehicle. Chances are they will use the cheapest refinisher out there and the finish won't be up to LR OEM standards.

I created merry hell - its your property and they treat it like that - the thought of it really winds me up. You have my sympathy adam!

Spoken directly to my local Stratstone in Nottingham, the service guys there remember me from my Range Rover Sport days (I think I have a big red mark against my name and they always treated me like a king after I went public over crap alloys design on the Sport - Land Rover stepped in. It's a long story!)

Anyway, they are having the car in for 3 days after I get back from my skiing/driving holiday to the Alps week after next. I've added a couple of things to the list for them to sort out and already they seem so much more positive and committed to getting it right.

The car will be picked up and me left with a Freeloader2. The alloys will be professionally refurbished, tyres off, then tyres refitted and new TPMS sensors. The headlining will be professionally cleaned and fixed back in place at the rear. The car will be fully valeted.

Also asked them to:

- Fix the fuel filler issue (apparently may need a new fuel filler neck, they've seen it before)
- Fix the centre rear heating, its always red hot and never blows cold (my choc bars in the cubby box keep melting! )

At the moment I am happy with this solution. As Ken has said, refurbed alloys are not a problem as long as they do a good job, they have promised they will be immaculate. IF for some reason I am not happy either immediately or in the future I will demand new wheels but hopefully it won't get to that.

I know it's a pain in the arse but I do believe things happen for a reason (other than the reason beinng stupid idiots working at Stratstone Solihull ) Nottingham always got things done and they know me and know I don't mess about. I'm happy at the moment knowing that it will get done as I have much more faith in their dealership. They even know what LTB's are and know that I know what they are too. Reassurance. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Having all the tyres replaced on mine (wrong size fitted) before I collect it tomorrow - after reading this I'll be checking the wheels VERY carefully!

Cheers
Rory

What a bunch of MoFo's!

I would demand the new alloys regardless, and I would be tempted to present them a bill for my time that they have wasted.

As for the interior stuff, I would demand a full professional valet at there cost (if you are willing to let them valet your car) or some other form of recompense.

If I get an oily interior I march straight back into the dealers and either get the Service Manager or the DP and quite literally rub there noses in it and ask them if they would like it in there cars?

And for gross misconduct, I have had technicians fired for being grossly incompetent!

And despite what I have just said, I do have good relationships with the dealers that I use, regards of which brand of motor I am. They understand I will not stand for poor quality service and treatment for premium products, and I always negotiate my labour rate, down from the standard

I cannot recommend the dealerships that I use by choice highly enough for customer service and support. And one of my best weapons for presenting a winning argument is forums like these where I can get TSB/SRA etc and access to technical info and proper real world experience and knowledge from fellow members.

Adam now I've fitted one or two tyres in my time

Would suggest the following went wrong

The tyre fitted in the first place was wrong so it will be a pig to remove for the average tyre monkey the marks are Blade and leaver marks then assister arm marks. If the monkey did not locate the alloy central to the machine because they forgot to remove the internal sticky weights you'r wheel is effectively oval (more marks)

I'm guessing it was cold so the tyres were inflexible more marks and why it was harder to balance however Pirelli Scorps are easy and ask for minimal weight provided the yellow dot is to valve

Tyre fitting is not hard but there is an art to it if you find a guy that care you will notice the difference.

As for referb do not accep painted and lacquer Insist on a chemical dip n Strip repair then Powdercoat the finish is as OEM but more durable ask for NEW TPMS valves as you believe monkey damaged them as he did not follow the correct removal process OH the leak was he forgot to tighten the hex nut (so common)

Right thats enough inside data for you