Audi PCP coming to an end. Is it worth fixing the alloys?
Audi PCP coming to an end. Is it worth fixing the alloys?
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Discussion

Coltnet

Original Poster:

6 posts

65 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
Hi, I’m not sure if I’m posting this in the right place so apologies if not. Just after some advice.
My PCP Audi A3 is due to go back soon and I’m wondering if it’s worth repairing my 18” diamond cut alloys or just letting them bill me for it? Audi quoted me £110 per wheel to fix so I’m assuming that is high. But with the lock down I’m going to find it a pain to get done.
It’s with VWFS so my question is, is it worth doing it? I can’t see how much they charge per wheel. One of mine is particularly bad. I saw a previous thread like this but was quite old and not VWFS. Does anyone have any idea of thoughts or current costings? Thanks

Tazio77

224 posts

279 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
VWFS charged me £35 for one marked up alloy on a Skoda Superb

anonymous-user

71 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
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Diamond cut is usually quite a bit more expensive compared to a normal wheel. That's probably almost the going rate but as you say, I can't see that many refurb places being open.

fatboy b

9,651 posts

233 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
If you’ve already paid half of the purchase-price in deposit and PCP, just VT (voluntary terminate) the agreement before it ends. As long as the car has been maintained satisfactorily then they generally just accept it.

Mandat

4,309 posts

255 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
fatboy b said:
If you’ve already paid half of the purchase-price in deposit and PCP, just VT (voluntary terminate) the agreement before it ends. As long as the car has been maintained satisfactorily then they generally just accept it.
Do damaged wheels constitute satisfactory maintenance?

Auto810graphy

1,608 posts

109 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
Return it as is.

If they do pick up on the damage they will charge you less than you would pay, normally £35 plus VAT.

Coltnet

Original Poster:

6 posts

65 months

Thursday 23rd April 2020
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Thanks for all the help. I think I probably will just leave it. Wondering if it’s worth checking with VWFS though as to their exact charges first. If they’d tell me?

UnderSteerD

282 posts

199 months

Thursday 23rd April 2020
quotequote all
Auto810graphy said:
Return it as is.

If they do pick up on the damage they will charge you less than you would pay, normally £35 plus VAT.
Is it not the case that they can only charge the VAT if they actually fix them? Otherwise they're charging VAT on what is essentially a fine?

anonymous-user

71 months

Thursday 23rd April 2020
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Surely it's academic at the moment, as there is nowhere you can take the car to get them refurbished anyway?

Coltnet

Original Poster:

6 posts

65 months

Thursday 23rd April 2020
quotequote all
stickleback123 said:
Surely it's academic at the moment, as there is nowhere you can take the car to get them refurbished anyway?
Well yes, there is that too. Perhaps a mobile sole trader where social distancing can still be kept? I don’t know. My contract isn’t up until later in the year but I need to get rid early as I’m getting a company car. So I could possibly wait and see if restrictions change etc first. But assuming I could get them fixed...

fatboy b

9,651 posts

233 months

Friday 24th April 2020
quotequote all
Mandat said:
fatboy b said:
If you’ve already paid half of the purchase-price in deposit and PCP, just VT (voluntary terminate) the agreement before it ends. As long as the car has been maintained satisfactorily then they generally just accept it.
Do damaged wheels constitute satisfactory maintenance?
No, they constitute fair wear and tear.

hepy

1,350 posts

157 months

Friday 24th April 2020
quotequote all
Your leasing company will be able to tell you exactly what they charge for various levels of damage.

Ours was £50 per wheel, but I thought 3 were damaged, and the inspector said only two were a problem.

Pretty sure it's always cheaper to return than repair.

P.S. Diamond cut wheel are a PITA!

Dog Star

17,046 posts

185 months

Friday 24th April 2020
quotequote all
Definitely NOT worth fixing. Even if you got charged full retail (which you won’t ) you would still be better off due to having the time and hassle of getting it done.

Order66

6,739 posts

266 months

Friday 24th April 2020
quotequote all
stickleback123 said:
Surely it's academic at the moment, as there is nowhere you can take the car to get them refurbished anyway?
Lots of places still working - pick up the phone.

Many of these are one or 2 man outfits with fairly sizeable workshops where they can maintain distance, so perfectly legal for them to keep operating.

fatboy b

9,651 posts

233 months

Friday 24th April 2020
quotequote all
hepy said:
Your leasing company will be able to tell you exactly what they charge for various levels of damage.

Ours was £50 per wheel, but I thought 3 were damaged, and the inspector said only two were a problem.

Pretty sure it's always cheaper to return than repair.

P.S. Diamond cut wheel are a PITA!
Only it’s not a lease, but a PCP.

Coltnet

Original Poster:

6 posts

65 months

Sunday 26th April 2020
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Found someone still working and he said to hand it back as is. He can’t do diamond cut alloys so wasn’t going to lose money by telling me. I’ve tried to get in touch with VWFS and have filled out online forms but no one has got back to me yet. Their call centres understandably seem to not very manned at this time. Nothing online about pricing unfortunately.

Coltnet

Original Poster:

6 posts

65 months

Wednesday 20th May 2020
quotequote all
Just thought I’d up date in case anyone was wondering. So today my car went. Of all four wheels that had scuffing they said only one was chargeable. At £36 +vat, which I think is a bargain considering just how bad it was and the fact it is diamond cut. So happy I waited and didn’t get repaired myself as I’d have done all four and it would have cost loads! Thanks for the advice!

Dog Star

17,046 posts

185 months

Wednesday 20th May 2020
quotequote all
Coltnet said:
Just thought I’d up date in case anyone was wondering. So today my car went. Of all four wheels that had scuffing they said only one was chargeable. At £36 +vat, which I think is a bargain considering just how bad it was and the fact it is diamond cut. So happy I waited and didn’t get repaired myself as I’d have done all four and it would have cost loads! Thanks for the advice!
So despite us telling you not to get them done you were going to have all four done anyway? For real!?

Vocht

1,634 posts

181 months

Wednesday 20th May 2020
quotequote all
I had a pretty chunky curb mark on my diamond cut Golf R wheel when I handed it back to VWFS. I think from memory they class any damage under 50mm as acceptable. Anything over and they may charge.

My damage was over but they still didn't charge. It was either laziness or good will on their end.

As mentioned, the charges generally are very reasonable anyway, circa £35 per wheel. If I was in your position I'd just hand them back. It's less hassle than dealing with an unknown refurb company who may bodge the job and most likely cheaper anyway.


Edit* Missed your update before I replied!

Coltnet

Original Poster:

6 posts

65 months

Wednesday 20th May 2020
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Coltnet said:
Just thought I’d up date in case anyone was wondering. So today my car went. Of all four wheels that had scuffing they said only one was chargeable. At £36 +vat, which I think is a bargain considering just how bad it was and the fact it is diamond cut. So happy I waited and didn’t get repaired myself as I’d have done all four and it would have cost loads! Thanks for the advice!
So despite us telling you not to get them done you were going to have all four done anyway? For real!?
No, I meant prior to the advice. The advice is why I came on here in the first place. Advice was taken, thanks.