vin67

Before explaining what had happened, I just want to say I have no one to blame but myself. I'm venting, not complaining as there is a difference. Hopefully this experience will serve as a reminder or a refresher next time we go out there and buy used parts.

Saw an ad on CL for a set of C5 wheels in great condition with tires. The ad was pretty straight forward and listed size with good info and multiple pics. Contact name and number posted and nothing really stand out or odd from the ad to made me think otherwise as you know how sometimes you can spot a questionable, weird or scam ads on CL.

So I made contact and went to his house to check it out. The wheels were inside the garage where lighting was limited and a little dusty due to sitting there. I check the tires, curb rashes and all the good stuff and we made a deal. He was in his 60/70's and had a Chevelle and also a project Buick in his garage with a newer Challenger in the drive way.

He may or may not be a member here as he had some Corvette parts, maybe one-time a Corvette owner. The Buick project has C4 suspension, he has a LT4 spare engine and other Corvette parts.

So I started to unload one wheel at a time to put into my car from the garage and he started to help me but knowing him in his 60/70's I told him politely don't worry about it, its heavy I can do it all. However, he decline and eagerly want to get the wheels to my car.

Got home getting ready to put them on my 88 C4, I lay them out to be wash, clean and wax before mounting and there I discover one of the wheel has a different color vs the rest!!

3 has the silver color but one has a very light champagne color. I looked over again to see if I was seeing right or maybe I'm color blind but sure enough its different.

Not a C5 Wheel expert but is that light champagne color factory painted from certain year or maybe it was painted by some previous owner.

Anyhow, I was a bit disappointed. I contact the seller, zero response, zero reply.

I have a feeling maybe someone did that to him and now he is just passing the buck. And now it kinda made more sense as he eagerly wanted to help me to put the wheels into my car. Sure quarterbacking now I should've brought them out to the sunlight and clean up the dust and really over them. But in that real time there was no reason to suggest or believe he was selling a off colored set of wheels.

Like I've said, yeah I blame nobody but myself. Although one thing I want to express is that things like this will eventually work itself out in the form of karma.

Ok, now vented, what's the solution?
1. leave it as is? (my 88 is just a driver)
2. buy another silver wheel?
3. go to a bodyshop and get that one rim painted to silver?
4. mount them and never wash the wheels ever? as eventually the dust and grime will all blend in sort of lol

pic 1 - all the wheels together
pic 2 - can you tell the difference? (right is the light champagne colored one)
pic 3 - light champagne color

ArmchairArchitect

My guess is there's some sort of clear-coating, clear wrap, or other coating on there that yellowed with UV rays on there.

Contact the seller and tell him you're very disappointed and would like to return them. He should have disclosed that to you.

50 ANV C5

looks like a 50th anv wheel color , lil scuffed up. but should be able to find a buyer as a spare , bad thing is the center cap is silver , anv color center caps r hard to find , sorry about ur deal

CQRT

I'd suggest just buying a matching wheel- you can find them on Craig's list or put an ad up in the Parts section of this forum.

If the gold wheel is stamped "magnesium" you can probably sell that, but one to match your set and put money back in your pocket.

Tsumi

Magnesium wheels are quite different. Thicker spokes and different style center cap.

JR-01

There are a lot of shady people out there. He knew one was a different color.

Mike98SilVert

The light champagne color rim in pic 3 is the 50th Anniversary Wheel. Since it is the same rim as the silver painted rims and since it has some scratches and need refinishing anyway, I would just have it repainted the same color as the other 3.

~Josh

Could be worse... they could all be painted black.

That aside, since the thief doesn't answer the phone, take the wheels back to his house, laid out in the driveway before you knock on the door, craigslist ad printed and wait for him (or the cops) to arrive. Have a report made, take him to small claims court for an amount worth settling for.

Call the guy out. He deserves it.

bobs77vet

sorry you had a bad experience. just take it as a lesson learned and move on.

JR-01

There is no case. The OP inspected the wheels and bought them. They belong to him now. There is no warranty or guaranty. No returns or refunds.

striper

There are services that do wheel repair and repainting. Some are even mobile. There is a company called Alloy Wheel Repair, look them up. Doesn't even cost much, maybe around $75. Get it fixed and put it behind you. If you're interested I've got a set of CCW Classics for sale with Continental Extreme Contacts. Might have a buyer but nothing definite yet.

~Josh

Under the circumstances described, covered in dust an not in the light, offered by an enthusiast that knows what he had... argued before a judge, he has quite the case.

001pewter

Would probably be way cheaper, easier, and less time consuming just to have them repainted or powder coated.

~Josh

Yeah, but also... you could make his *** pay (legally) or just roll over.

Simply saying what I'd do, which is a lot less severe now that I'm older by a bit. The thief wouldn't get off Scott-free though, believe that.

Vetteman Jack

This. That one wheel that is different is not a magnesium wheel but it is a 50th AE wheel. I'd try and sell it and find a regular C5 wheel to match the others.

Dark Sarcasm

Get em powder coated. Lemons to lemonade. Pick a cool color.

Riteaidkid84

And he would be helping the world by putting an end to this wheel set

vin67

Thanks for the info on its a 50 anniversary wheel.

Armchair - I did attempt to contact seller to get his side of the story on the wheels, ad deleted and zero response email or text. I did save his original ad on my pdf tho.

JR and Josh - Maybe in my younger dumber no responsibility age I would totally knock on his door and try to resolve the matter but like many have said, just move on. At this point of my life I just don't need trouble or landed in jail over some wheel beef. Sure younger maybe but not now.

If anyone want to swap that 50th wheel for a silver wheel straight up, I'll be up for it. Otherwise I would probably just choose one of the options I listed earlier.

I have not mount them, I did gave all of them a wash, cleaning and wax.

One thing I'm somewhat surprise is that a person in the 60/70's should have many experience in life already and know things will always catch up and come back to ya one way or another and its surprising they don't care and still doing whatever they can get away with. That's ok everyone is different.

BigBossMY03Z

It is always possible that the seller really didn't know that one was off. Maybe they have vision issues where they really couldn't see the difference? I use to sell things on Craigslist a lot, most people were nice but I had a few that were off. A friend of mine actually sold a guy some speakers once, showed him everything on them, then the guy calls 30 minutes later and realizes it had non-original drivers in it and was like "You got me". My friend said bring them back, I'll give your money back, but the guy never did so not sure why he complained. They weren't anything that expensive in the first place...

I had a guy who offered an old receiver to me which when testing it powered up but no sound. He said to just take it for free and see if I could get it working and if I could to pay and if not to just bring it back. I insisted on at least giving him some cash (about half his asking price) since he didn't know me and was letting me take something home with me. I couldn't get it working, but low and behold the guy never would respond to my calls or emails. I forgot the directions to his house and he never gave me his address so I couldn't easily just show up and bring them back either. I always hope he doesn't think I did that on purpose, but had no way to get ahold of him.

Not defending the seller, but who knows anymore why people don't respond. I'm selling one of my cars and get these people who leave voicemails and emails and I respond back and never hear anything... I like to think people aren't all as malicious as it might seem, but maybe I'm just being optimistic.

vin67

BigBoss - its possible but with all those cars he has, he is for sure in the classic/muscle car crowd and all those Corvette parts he had, I believe he knew. Having said that, when I email and text him after discovering the off color wheel, I've never accuse him knowingly or accuse him passing the buck, all I asked was to talk about why one wheel has different shade/color vs others and he ghosted. no response and the ad was still up after it was sold to me but he deleted right after i contacted him about the color difference.

From those actions is pretty clear he has zero intentions of communicating.

Another puzzling was he lives in a affluent neighborhood, nice house in a cul de sac up on a hill, has plenty of cars, doesn't look like needs the money and still pull something like this. What happened if I was a revenge kinda person and now I know where he lives? Very interesting I tell ya.