Here are a few pics, also the repair guy said he could not repair them, as I expected. When I told this to the tire shop he started talking about re-chrome and I shut him down and told him to thing of some else because I was not going to be happy with re-chromed wheels.

 

I just had new skins put on and picked up two serious nicks. I will let you know what happens. Dont think you can get new mounts without some type of defects. There are not any no touch wheel changes

 

Just do a core swap on some rechromed OEMs. Couple of different places offer them for $1300 for all four.

That is really your only option. I mean you can do repros for the same price or a little less or you can wait a month and have those wheels rechromed.

I do not think they are gonna shell out $5,000 for a set a wheels.

 

I gotta change this avatar. It was funny for about a minute.

 

Why would I want rechomed or reproduction, that was not what I took them, can't accept less that I started with just does not seem right.

 

100%. Part of their job as professionals is to take responsibility for any mistakes that they make. If a buddy helped you with it in his garage, this same standard would not apply, but as a business that represents as a professional tire place, it does apply...end of story.

If they will not take care of it, small claims court is made for this type of thing.

 

No, I agree with you. I just don't think they are gonna shell out for new OEMs.

I think they are legally and morally responsible to put you where you were before you contracted for the job. But I have tried this argument before.

It's the same when an insurance company tries to arrive at a figure for a cherry car that's been totaled. The insurance is not obligated to buy you a new car - technically they need to put you where you were before the wreck. But that's impossible. So it turns out to be a negotiation.

However, some would argue that the wheels have depreciated since you purchased them and since OEM replacements are out of the question, it's matter of arriving at a dollar figure to determine the value of the wheel.

As I suggested earlier, I would settle for a set of CHROMED OEM wheels under a core arrangement. These are stock wheels that companies like Ecklers and House of Wheels have had rechromed at the place in California. Either that or find a set of OEM take-offs where people have opted for different wheels.

You're in a difficult spot and I can totally relate. It seems like every time I get screwed by a business, I never, ever get made right.

And you know what? I never hire a lawyer. Maybe that's my problem.

Refuse to settle, come out of pocket for some rims and then sue the s**t out of 'em.

That's about all I can think of. GL and let us know how it turns out.

 

If they scratched a fender, would you expect them to buy you a new car?

A properly repainted fender should look and perform the same as the original.
A properly rechromed wheel should look and perform the same as the original.

A friend has the exchange chromed GM wheels on his C6; 6 years/36k miles and they look brand new.

I don't think a judge or jury would give you anything except a rechrome.

 

Now, now Jim, while I agree with you and tampa to some extent, let's just recall that there was a fella on here who, when he took his 14K mile car into the dealer for an oil change, they blew up the motor. He said he was entitled to a new car, I said he wasn't. He got some kind of "new" car, whether he came out of pocket w. thousands or not, he never said, but alluded to the fact that it was "free." I doubt it, but I was roundly and soundly "critiqued" for my opinion. Most respondents said he was entitled to a new car. So, maybe this fellow is "entitled" to new, original, expensive (on a relative basis to reproduction wheels), wheels. Maybe? What the hey---maybe $10K for his aggravation, too! j/k on that last one....

 

I recall that thread, and recall thinking "Wow, he really got lucky."


There seem to be three different ways to look at this:

What is he entitled to under law?

What would make the car as close to previous condition as possible?

What would an honest and responsible business do for him?

If the shop will give him new GM wheels (and keep his old ones to sell/trade), that would be the best possible outcome. Those wheels would probably be a little nicer than his originals, but he's had to put up with some serious aggrevation here. I'd call it fair to all.

If only life was that fair...

Either way, we all hope it works out well for him. There are a tremendous number of morons out there, working on cars.

 

AO, I lost the engine at 15,000 miles on the first and last Toyota I ever bought (wife's Minivan). Excessive blowback. Can you believe that crap?

And it happened in Liberty City in downtown Miami of all places.

I got a new engine, but not a new Toyota. I probably got the better end of the deal.

And I honestly can say I did not hate the car because it was a Toyota or a minivan. I just hated it because it was a POS, no matter who made it. Freakin' Sienna.

 

Also, I think the man is due some compensation for the aggravation and headache of dealing with this.

Sadly, courts don't see damages that way.

 

One last thing: I would swap my stock polished for rechromed OEMs in a New York minute. I mean OEM rechromed are what the ****-retentive types do when they get fed up with the pitting that occurs over time.

I would not think that rechroming affects the engineering of the wheel, but then I know as much about metallurgy as I do about the law, which evidently is not much.

 

tampa, but you were right three threads ago: you gotta change that avatar. it's really getting old....

 

Hey, here is my take and a update.
I am not expecting to "gain" anything from this. I started with completely unblemished GM OEM "forged" chromed wheels and that is exactly what I would expect to have in return.
We, myself and the installer have determined a few facts.
1. He stracthed the wheels, proof is that he did it a second time during the process of trying to fiqure out how he could have
done it the first time.
2. The wheels can't be "repaired" or polished back to orginal condition.
That leaves us with three options as I see it.
1. Rechome the wheels
2. Purchase reproduction wheels
3. Purchase replacement OEM Wheels
All three have plus and minus associated with them.
1. Rechrome, expensive, time consuming, not available in Oklahoma will have to be shipped to Califorina to be done. When done the wheels will not be identical to the wheels I have now as the barrel's will be chromed but not polished so will have some pitting, where as now they are painted gray.
2. Reproduction Wheels, a option that is viaiable but leave's me with something less than I started with. Like it or not "cast" wheels are not the same as "forged" wheels
3. New OEM Wheels, Very expensive for the installer but the ideal answer from a return to as is state.

So what I have done is offer to take a set of after maket wheels from WCC that cost about 1800.00 a set, not exact replicas of the "gumbys" I have on the car, they are cast but I will accept them as a settlement, and I keep my orginal wheels, because damaged or not in 20 years if I sell the car it will be worth more with the orginal wheels to go with it.

The installer has been some what difficult to deal with, I have to call him he does not call me or return my calls which is trying my patience. If pressed I will stand my ground and demand to be made whole again to the full extent I was when I went in to his shop and I believe I have case for this. I hope tomorrow the installer will call me back and we can work the details of my offer.

Sorry for my spelling I should have stayed awake more often in school.

I also saw all the post's about the "oil change to new car" and have my dougths, it seemed to me a replacement engine was all the was required but glad it worked out, I would love to know all the details.

Thanks for all the advice and wisdom it keeps me grounded and sane, after all they are just wheels. Thanks

 

I'd say you are correct in your alternatives. From what you say, however, I do hope the installer doesn't suddenly turn "reluctant" to go along with any option. That would make it into a potentially long settlement process involving the justice system. Good luck with it.

And yes, a repaired engine is all that truly was called for....

 

Don't know if you did this or not, but everyone needs to talk with their tire installers about scratching the rims beforehand. They CAN be done without damaging the finish. I'm on my third set with no damages on my chrome wheels. I could not believe how many installers I questioned who would not do my tires. Accidents can happen, but the installer should take responsibility for those.

 

Thot the smoking Thai baby would get a few more comments.

 

I agree, discount tire assured me no scratches and there were not any.

 

I'm thinking you need to present this guy with the LOWEST COST option you can come up with and still be happy. You need a place that chromes wheels...but I don't know if they will accept your wheels as cores (because they are already plated). If you need excellent core wheels to start with, have them buy a set of take-off polished Gumbys from House of Wheels ($999).

Here is a place that will chrome plate them for under $700.

So core wheels ($999) + chrome plating ($700) - selling your scratched Gumbys ($500) = $1200.

OEM chrome Gumby's are chrome underneath the barrel paint...but the factory doesn't spend any time finishing the barrels because they are painted over. So it's chrome, but kind of rough. Chances are the rechromed wheels will actually be better than the factory chrome (which some people have had issues with).


...Or simply have them buy my Gumbys for sale for only $900 (shameless plug!)