advice sought: New wheels dont fit car

[nerf]

Hello all

I'm after some fresh opinions on a little problem i have.

I bought some wheels on ebay for my car last week, I drove about 70 miles to pick up and they were in great condition, all the serial numbers/sizes matched so i bought them, the wheels are exactly the same as my current wheels, just better condition.

This morning I took them to be fitted at my local tyre place. It cost me £60 to have the old wheels taken off, remove tyres, tyres placed on new wheels, balanced and refitted to the car. looks great. I drive 5 yards up the road and theres an almighty banging sound from each corner. I reversed back into the tyre place and the wheels are examined to see what the problem is. clearly part of the wheels are knocking against part of the car.

After some examination the tyre guy notices the shockers 'gaiters' have been damaged from the wheels rubbing against them. I dont think the rubber gaiter would have caused that munch banging/knocking. But the only thing he could come up with was that the wheels cant be exactly the same size (although they look exactly the same, and as mentioned, all serial numbers and sizes stamped on the inside match). So, the only thing we can do is change the wheels back. Tyre guy still wants his £60 as he did the work. Not happy with that but not sure I can do anything about it.

the car now drives fine with the old wheels back on. I have booked the car in with my mechanic tomorrow morning to make sure theres no other damage been done by the new wheels, and emailed the guy i bought them from.

so far im out of pocket for the cost of the wheels £90, fuel to pick them up (at least £20), and £60 fitting this morning. thats around £170 ish. Thats without any possible damage, definately the rubber gaiters, maybe more

The guy I bought them from has agreed to refund the £90, or, I can scrap the wheels, and he would make up the difference up to £90 (probably worth £15-£20 each scrap). (if i have to return them it will cost more in petrol obviously so my loss will get even bigger!) - I told him my ideal scenario was for him to refund the £90, and i scrap them and use that money to cover a little of my loses but his view is that he does not want to pay for the tyre guy's failure to check that the wheels did fit before i drove the car.

I'll be speaking to the seller tomorrow once i know if theres any more damage to my car. (still a chance of increased losses)But in the meantime I'd be really interested in any fresh perspective/opinions you might have on the situation.....

many thanks
Nerf

[Defcon5]

What car/wheels?

So they are the same part number as your current ones? Does it have the same size wheels front and rear?

[Krikkit]

I don't follow how they can be the same, yet not fit. Are they fakes? Might be worth getting a tape measure out and checking the dimensions of the new ones.

[SV8Predator]

nerf said:

I told him my ideal scenario was for him to refund the £90, and i scrap them and use that money to cover a little of my loses

I'm struggling with this. How is this the fault of the chap who sold the wheels to you?

[eldar]

What car is it? Is the wheel size stamped somewhere on the rims? Check the offset is right (sounds like it isn't).

[Riknos]

They can't be the EXACT same wheels, jack your car off, take a wheel off, and compare them side by side, measure, check the inside for any spacers or anything, some manufacturers make different offsets of the same style wheels I believe, so could be that?

Also - are you demanding a refund from the seller but not wanting to take the wheels back? If so - it's really not his fault your wheels don't fit... Sounds a bit harsh!

[bqf]

The bit I don't get is that they are rubbing on the shocks - if they were too large they'd be fouling the wheelarches first, surely.

Strange

[Riley Blue]

Seems as though the offset is different even though the P/N is the same however without more details it's impossible to do more than guess.

[Fort Jefferson]

SV8Predator said:

nerf said:

I told him my ideal scenario was for him to refund the £90, and i scrap them and use that money to cover a little of my loses

I'm struggling with this. How is this the fault of the chap who sold the wheels to you?

And why do you think the bloke who fitted them is at fault?

[TheEnd]

Offset.

If you haven't checked the offset, then I'd start there.


"Tyre guy still wants his £60 as he did the work. Not happy with that but not sure I can do anything about it."

Maybe he should pay you for the inconvenience he's caused you?

[standardman]

Balancing weights ? Had them hitting calliper's before.

[psychoR1]

Is the tyre fouling the struts or the wheel?
If the tyre do the old tyres have much clearance?
Did the tyre fitter use clip on weights to balance - are these hitting the strut?
Have you thought about trying a spacer?

[zeduffman]

Jesus, you've managed to blame both the seller and the tyre man because the wheels you've bought don't fit your car - and you want to leave them out of pocket. Good going, sir.

[*Al*]

Seems a shame but you wouldn't be getting a refund from me! I think most people who'd sold the wheels in good faith would not refund you either.

[pimpin gimp]

I Can't see it being anybody's fault other than the OP, the tyre fitter did as he was asked, how is he supposed to notice a 10mm offset discrepancy? He was expecting the wheels to be the same, I mean, who asks for the wrong size wheel to be fitted?

Likewise it's got sod all to do with the seller, he sold wheels with the correct info, it's your fault that you didn't check that they fit your car. I think he's overstepping his obligation by offering to cover the scrapping shortfall.

[P I Staker]

As others have said, you wouldn't be getting a refund from me!

Sounds like the offset is wrong.

[Andehh]

Been in the same situation but over winter wheels. Wheels fitted but didn't clear the brakes, £20 paid for wheel swap, then back again. Spent £60 on spacers that didn't fit over the hub lip, £20 paid for the hassle of car on ramp, all wheels off, winters balanced then not fitting, old wheels back on. Finally paid £50 for the proper Spacers and then another £10 to have them all swapped over. Garage charged me fairly each & every time - as expected.

Wheels are a ballache if you don't do the *full* research. More complicated then bolt arrangement as both you & I have found out to our determent. As for being billed, fair enough. He prob looked at the p/n like you, shrugged and said 'yeah, they should fit'. He didn't supply any of it, so he doesn't really care.

Sorry to hear it OP, I know how you feel! Look out for hubcentric spacers, they should sort you out for £50.

[HustleRussell]

Fort Jefferson said:

SV8Predator said:

nerf said:

I told him my ideal scenario was for him to refund the £90, and i scrap them and use that money to cover a little of my loses

I'm struggling with this. How is this the fault of the chap who sold the wheels to you?

And why do you think the bloke who fitted them is at fault?

These.

nerf, you have bought the wrong wheels. Unless they were not as described by the seller, he is already being very generous to offer you a refund.

[seeby]

Surely all your outlay of money is in your agreement.You decided the wheels were the ones you wanted,and as advertised,so you paid for them. You accepted you petrol costs to collect them. You asked the tyre fitter to fit the new wheels,which he did ,so you paid him. How can you expect anybody but yourself to be out of pocket if the wheels are wrong.There must be a reason why the new wheels don't fit properly and any more expense to make them fit should be down to you. That's how I would see it anyway

[MoelyCrio]

Can't believe you were unhappy at having to pay the tyre guy when he ended up doing double the amount of work he was expecting!!