Kwik-Fit Damaged my wheels!
Discussion
I lease my car through the business - a KIA EV6 GT. Only had it since January.
Recently there was an issue where the acoustic foam in them became detached which sent all four wheels out of balance and rendered the car undriveable above 50mph.
The lease company (ALD) specify Kwik-Fit so I took my car to them. They agreed to removed the tyres to investigate and the foam just fell out. So a very nice lad refitted all the tyres very carefully and without damage - all good.
I contacted Michelin who said as it was a clear manufacturing fault the tyres could be replaced under warranty.
So back to Kwik-Fit. This time they managed to scratch all four wheels - they are 21" diamond cut. Wasn't best pleased.
It is 'only' a lease car but I fully intend to purchase it at the end of the lease.
As we all know a damaged diamond-cut wheel is soon going to get worse, especially come the winter.
The branch manager asked me to pop in. Had a look and offered to refurb them all. Now, in the past, when I've had diamond-cut wheels refurbished, they haven't lasted very long so I wasn't happy with that. So I was passed up to their Operations Manager. He said the same thing, but also said he could only see that one of the wheels was damaged by them!! I have to say that got me a little cross.
A refurbed wheel is never going to be as good as new despite what they say. Diamond-Cut wheels can only be recut so many times so if I happen to kerb one at some point, I've already lost one 'life'.
Anyway, they are point blank refusing to replace the wheels. What would you do?
Recently there was an issue where the acoustic foam in them became detached which sent all four wheels out of balance and rendered the car undriveable above 50mph.
The lease company (ALD) specify Kwik-Fit so I took my car to them. They agreed to removed the tyres to investigate and the foam just fell out. So a very nice lad refitted all the tyres very carefully and without damage - all good.
I contacted Michelin who said as it was a clear manufacturing fault the tyres could be replaced under warranty.
So back to Kwik-Fit. This time they managed to scratch all four wheels - they are 21" diamond cut. Wasn't best pleased.
It is 'only' a lease car but I fully intend to purchase it at the end of the lease.
As we all know a damaged diamond-cut wheel is soon going to get worse, especially come the winter.
The branch manager asked me to pop in. Had a look and offered to refurb them all. Now, in the past, when I've had diamond-cut wheels refurbished, they haven't lasted very long so I wasn't happy with that. So I was passed up to their Operations Manager. He said the same thing, but also said he could only see that one of the wheels was damaged by them!! I have to say that got me a little cross.
A refurbed wheel is never going to be as good as new despite what they say. Diamond-Cut wheels can only be recut so many times so if I happen to kerb one at some point, I've already lost one 'life'.
Anyway, they are point blank refusing to replace the wheels. What would you do?
Edited by RossP on Wednesday 9th August 14:40
ds.RossP said:
aponting389 said:
Get them refurbed and notify the lease company that any problems with the wheels when the car is returned are not your problems
I would normally but I intend to buy the car at the end of the lease.
Seriously though, I think a refurb of the wheels is the most you will get out of Kwik-Fit. Annoying, I know.
RossP said:
I lease my car through the business - a KIA EV6 GT. Only had it since January.
Recently there was an issue where the acoustic foam in them became detached which sent all four wheels out of balance and rendered the car undriveable above 50mph.
The lease company (ALD) specify Kwik-Fit so I took my car to them. They agreed to removed the tyres to investigate and the foam just fell out. So a very nice lad refitted all the tyres very carefully and without damage - all good.
I contacted Michelin who said as it was a clear manufacturing fault the tyres could be replaced under warranty.
So back to Kwik-Fit. This time they managed to scratch all four wheels - they are 21" diamond cut. Wasn't best pleased.
It is 'only' a lease car but I fully intend to purchase it at the end of the lease.
As we all know a damaged diamond-cut wheel is soon going to get worse, especially come the winter.
The branch manager asked me to pop in. Had a look and offered to refurb them all. Now, in the past, when I've had diamond-cut wheels refurbished, they haven't lasted very long so I wasn't happy with that. So I was passed up to their Operations Manager. He said the same thing, but also said he could only see that one of the wheels was damaged by them!! I have to say that got me a little cross.
A refurbed wheel is never going to be as good as new despite what they say. Diamond-Cut wheels can only be recut so many times so if I happen to kerb one at some point, I've already lost one 'life'.
Anyway, they are point blank refusing to replace the wheels. What would you do?
I totally get your frustration in regards to the fact that because they're diamond cut, you've lost one "life" as you say......Recently there was an issue where the acoustic foam in them became detached which sent all four wheels out of balance and rendered the car undriveable above 50mph.
The lease company (ALD) specify Kwik-Fit so I took my car to them. They agreed to removed the tyres to investigate and the foam just fell out. So a very nice lad refitted all the tyres very carefully and without damage - all good.
I contacted Michelin who said as it was a clear manufacturing fault the tyres could be replaced under warranty.
So back to Kwik-Fit. This time they managed to scratch all four wheels - they are 21" diamond cut. Wasn't best pleased.
It is 'only' a lease car but I fully intend to purchase it at the end of the lease.
As we all know a damaged diamond-cut wheel is soon going to get worse, especially come the winter.
The branch manager asked me to pop in. Had a look and offered to refurb them all. Now, in the past, when I've had diamond-cut wheels refurbished, they haven't lasted very long so I wasn't happy with that. So I was passed up to their Operations Manager. He said the same thing, but also said he could only see that one of the wheels was damaged by them!! I have to say that got me a little cross.
A refurbed wheel is never going to be as good as new despite what they say. Diamond-Cut wheels can only be recut so many times so if I happen to kerb one at some point, I've already lost one 'life'.
Anyway, they are point blank refusing to replace the wheels. What would you do?
Edited by RossP on Wednesday 9th August 14:40
However what if they'd scratched a wing? Would you expect them to replace the whole car as if you get it painted it'll always be "repaired" and not as new? (just offering another perspective not having a dig).
Appreciate you had to take it to Kwik-Fit as per the lease company's instructions but they are the last place I'd be taking wheels to if I was worried about them being damaged. It shouldn't be expected, but unfortunately, they don't have a great rep.
Personally, I'd take them up on the refurb option. You're right that diamond-cut wheels only have a certain life, so at some stage depending on how long you want to keep the car, they're going to need to be done again or possibly just resprayed. Perhaps insist on choosing the company to do it and go for one of the better-known ones (Lespons etc) that way you know you'll get the longest life out of it.
Seeing how quickly most, sorry all, diamond cut/laquered wheels go scabby, if you can get someone good to do the refurb work you might end up with a better lasting finish than OE would have been.
There's several fairly new cars in our works car park with diamond cut wheels, the wheels on several look like they belong in a skip, mine are OE finish normally painted alloys currently 15 years old which look brand new in comparison.
There's several fairly new cars in our works car park with diamond cut wheels, the wheels on several look like they belong in a skip, mine are OE finish normally painted alloys currently 15 years old which look brand new in comparison.
It's annoying OP and I get where you're coming from, but i'd say there is absolutely no chance of them buying you a brand new set of wheels.
Diamond cut alloys are so ridiculously unfit for purpose you will have needed to refurb/replace them after a few years of winter use anyway so from that perspective it might not be such a bitter pill to swallow.
Also first time i've even heard of 'acoustic foam' in tyres!
Diamond cut alloys are so ridiculously unfit for purpose you will have needed to refurb/replace them after a few years of winter use anyway so from that perspective it might not be such a bitter pill to swallow.
Also first time i've even heard of 'acoustic foam' in tyres!
I just had a look and surprisingly they are only £300 each!
https://www.kiapartsuk.com/kia-ev6-alloy-wheel--ca...
https://www.kiapartsuk.com/kia-ev6-alloy-wheel--ca...
RossP said:
I just had a look and surprisingly they are only £300 each!
https://www.kiapartsuk.com/kia-ev6-alloy-wheel--ca...
That is surprisingly cheap!https://www.kiapartsuk.com/kia-ev6-alloy-wheel--ca...
Paid over £600 for an 18” wheel from Volvo a few years back and it still grates me! When I moaned on here I was told I got off lightly and people were posting their examples and some were over a grand. For one wheel!
Op, get them refurbed as normally they deny all knowledge of causing any damage. You’ll get nowhere fast waiting for them to replace.
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