Audi says "Sorry, your car isn't safe for us to test drive"

[TeaVR]

An Audi dealership picked up my car the other day, and drove it the 40 or so miles back to the dealership.

They've reported that they've found a gash in a tyre and therefore the car is unsafe to test drive.

The price they've quoted to replace the tyre is £50 more than Tyres On The Drive, but the dealership refuses to allow Tyres On The Drive fit the tyre as apparently "External contractors are not insured on site"

I feel like I'm being forced to buy an over-priced item.

Anyone else had this happen to them?

[flight147z]

For the sake of £50 I'd just let them get on with it

[Dingu]

Presumably you also have the option of an 80 mile round trip to take it somewhere yourself? Unlikely to be worth the £50 saving though.

[mmm-five]

Or you could argue that the gash is their problem, as it obviously wasn't there when it was picked up...otherwise the delivery driver would have spotted it during his pick-up check process.

[BoRED S2upid]

Can tyres on the drive not be tyres on the road just outside the Audi dealership?

[Voldemort]

Ask them how far away is the next closest dealership? Explain that you will be using that dealership going forward...

[Grumps.]

TeaVR said:

An Audi dealership picked up my car the other day, and drove it the 40 or so miles back to the dealership.

They've reported that they've found a gash in a tyre and therefore the car is unsafe to test drive.

The price they've quoted to replace the tyre is £50 more than Tyres On The Drive, but the dealership refuses to allow Tyres On The Drive fit the tyre as apparently "External contractors are not insured on site"

I feel like I'm being forced to buy an over-priced item.

Anyone else had this happen to them?

They came and collected your car 40 miles away?

Wow that is good service!

Anyway as stated it’s cheaper than pissing about sorting it yourself surely?

Maybe next time give it the once over beforehand, especially considering most cars have rubber bands for tyres so any damage could be more dangerous on the road.

[this is my username]

Why on earth would any business allow a third-party contractor on-site (with all the hassle and liability which that implies) in order to allow the contractor to undercut them on price? Apart from anything else, it could never be a "no contact" experience - someone would have to make sure that the car is in an appropriate place, greet the contractor, give them the keys, take the keys back ....

And then what happens if your car gets damaged? Tyre guy says it isn't him, garage say it wasn't them, you say "well the car was under your supervision at the time."

Like others have said, pay the £50 or go down there and take it somewhere else to get he tyre sorted.

[this is my username]

EmailAddress said:

mmm-five said:

Or you could argue that the gash is their problem, as it obviously wasn't there when it was picked up...otherwise the delivery driver would have spotted it during his pick-up check process.

This.

... and this is why any business would be mad to allow a third-party on-site to change a tyre.

[mmm-five]

Ask the dealer for a photo/video of this 'gash', as it might be something so small that it would not even trouble an MOT tester, and might simply be 'company policy' for up-selling...just as BMW would like to replace tyres at anything approaching 3mm, or if your pads/disks are half-worn.

[jdoubleu]

If it wouldn't pass an MOT then I can't really blame them for not wanting to drive it without a new tyre being fitted. £50 seems high but the alternative is surely too time consuming.

[sixor8]

Does the car not have a spare? Presumably not.

[sjc]

How about just sending them a tyre direct?

[Muzzer79]

TeaVR said:

An Audi dealership picked up my car the other day, and drove it the 40 or so miles back to the dealership.

They've reported that they've found a gash in a tyre and therefore the car is unsafe to test drive.

The price they've quoted to replace the tyre is £50 more than Tyres On The Drive, but the dealership refuses to allow Tyres On The Drive fit the tyre as apparently "External contractors are not insured on site"

I feel like I'm being forced to buy an over-priced item.

Anyone else had this happen to them?

The item isn't necessarily over-priced. Perhaps Tyres on the Drive are under priced.

It's quite logical for Audi not to allow someone else on their site to do work that is in competition to their own activity.

And you're not being forced to buy anything. You have the option to go and get your car and not have the work done.

As others have said, for the sake of £50, I'd get the tyre done and chalk it up to bad luck.

[itcaptainslow]

EmailAddress said:

mmm-five said:

Or you could argue that the gash is their problem, as it obviously wasn't there when it was picked up...otherwise the delivery driver would have spotted it during his pick-up check process.

This.

Because of course, if the cut was on the inner sidewall, the (probably mechanically unqualified) driver would have grubbed around on their hands and knees checking?

Fair point if the tyre was a slick, and the driver didn’t notice (apart from anything, it’s their licence that would get the points if stopped!), but for something like a cut in the tread, which might not be easily visible until the car is on a lift, it’s a bit harsh to “make it their problem”.

[Davie]

They'll likely be fine handing you the car back with a defective tyre once you've signed a disclaimer that rids them of blame if said tyre let's go, goes flat or you ignore until the next MOT.

Standard issue situation really. Driver can't check absolutely everything but a tyre defect has been noted, they suggest it's replaced and won't let contractors on site to undercut them.

Imagine what you'd say if they missed it or if the contractor damaged the alloy, then you kicked off blaming the dealer as it was in their care at the time etc etc.

Pay the £50 or go get your car and take it elsewhere for a tyre... but don't expect the dealer to deliver it

[Pica-Pica]

From the start of this topic we could have:
Had the dealer post a picture of the gash
Had it posted here
Had an ‘ask an MOT tester anything’
.. and got an opinion on it.
BMW often send ‘health check’ videos to their customers.

[Hammer67]

TeaVR said:

An Audi dealership picked up my car the other day, and drove it the 40 or so miles back to the dealership.

They've reported that they've found a gash in a tyre and therefore the car is unsafe to test drive.

The price they've quoted to replace the tyre is £50 more than Tyres On The Drive, but the dealership refuses to allow Tyres On The Drive fit the tyre as apparently "External contractors are not insured on site"

I feel like I'm being forced to buy an over-priced item.

Anyone else had this happen to them?

Would you go into a pub, refuse to buy a pint at £6 and then sit down and drink some tinnies you`d bought from Tescos?

[Caddyshack]

It’s £50 difference and they collected the car from you….I’d let them have the business.

[Fat hippo]

OP, looking at your current garage, you can’t worry about £50.
That wouldn’t power the C63 far…