Update: as you can see from the pic, I got to keep both sets of wheels. At first the service manager wasn't going to let me, but I explained my side of it all, and eventually convinced him ("so let me confirm your general managers phone number") and now I just have to decide which set should be track wheels, and which set should be daily-driven wheels.



-------------------------------

So I get my new Falken Azenis in the other day and start to ask myself where I should take them to be mounted. I've seen the guys at the tire shops prying tires off wheels and it looks like if they're not careful, they could really damage and scrape them. The place I would have taken them to, already damaged the front left fender on my roommates SI this week when installing some suspension. So they were out of the question. So I call my Acura dealer yesterday and ask how much it costs to mount and balance and what kind of guarantees they provide. I explain that I have never taken the car to any shop of any kind since I have bought it, (a month ago from BlackDragon) and it is in MINT condition and I want it to stay that way after I bring it to them. I must have talked to the service manager about this for like 10 minutes. She assured me that everything would be fine and that I should inspect the car before and after the mounting of the new tires.

I show up at Acura a good 3 hours later when they are done, and first of all let me say that the Falken Azenis look so nice on the car compared to the 195-width Bridgestones. I go pay the bill and then realize I hadn't looked at the wheels closely. So I go outside and kneel down. First wheel, has eraser-head size scratchs, all the way through the gunmetal and clear-coat, right on one of the spokes. Next wheel, same thing, plus a nice gash on the edge of the wheel and a scratch in one of the lug holes. Third wheel, same thing, even bigger scratch, and then the last wheel more scratches the size of an eraser-head and what looks like a rodent had nawed on the edge of one of the wheels. I stand up, in the parking lot, and yell MOTHER #$%#!!.

Sure, it's just some small scratches, but we're not talking about stuff you can't see, or something that will "buff out." And honestly, I've never been a big ***** about this kind of thing, but damnit I blame it on Jeff who sold it to me. His ****-retentive'ness must have rubbed off on me! Heh! So anyway, I storm over to the service manager and just start shouting about how the f'in wheels have all these f'in scratches on them and how I couldn't f'in believe it after the big deal I made. They come over and look at all the wheels, have a kind of shaking-the-head look on their face, and just say straight up, "we'll have you a set of 4 new wheels in 3-4 days." I was surprised, but then again, what else could you do to fix it?

Okay, so have I gone completely insane here? Should I not have even said anything? I hate for them to be out $1000 or whatever the new wheels cost from the factory, but it's their fault for having a bunch of monkeys that don't give a damn about people's property. Am I just being irrational? Over time, any wheels will get some scratches, but hell if I'm not being careful to keep it from happening.

Here's some pics, I know I know, it's hardly noticeable... you have to see it in person though







there are more scatches and damage... but you get the idea.

Also, I have a lot I'd like to write about my experiences so far with the new Falken Azenis. I've already got a lot to comment on, but tomorrow I'm going to a track day, so I'll wait and post more after I've given them a track workout.


[Modified by uncleben, 6:07 PM 5/13/2002]

 

To hell with the dealer. They mark up the sticker on every car and now it is time to get some of that back and besides they fucked up your rim pretty good. You did the right think man I sure would have.

 

I don't blame you for being pissed I would be to. I mean you told them up
front to be careful its their fault.

 

You were so smart buy getting them mounted at a dealership! I had some backyard mechanic mount my S03s and he fuked up 3 of my GSR rims - 1 really bad. And the guy didnt have alot of money and I couldnt see making him buy me 4 new GSR swirls for over a grand. So he gave me 5 free synthetic oil changes heh I was stilled pissed... Moral of the story, dont let anyone work on your car whos not reputable

 

I would have been pissed too.

Lets see some pics of your car.

 

so verry true

 

You're making me think twice now about dealership service.

 

fff dealers

 

**** the dealer. Looks like you got yourself a good set of track rims.

(They are going to let you keep the damaged rims, right?)

 

Some tire place did that to mine.....they gave me $200.00,I needed money for the Volks

 

Wow thanks for all the support guys... glad to hear I'm not being a total ***!

Well, it's been raining, so my car is dirty as sin, but here's a pic of the backside - man you gotta love the Azenis look.

 

you deserve new wheels.

so if i make a similar deal with the acura dealership in my area...
i may be in for a new set of rims?

 

Why is everyone here ripping the dealer? They're making it right, getting him a new set of rims. So what's the big deal?

Heck, after reading this, I'm MORE likely to get tires mounted at a dealer; if they can't do it right, it's easier/cheaper for them to get new rims for you than any other place.

By all rights, they should keep the damaged rims. And sell them at a steep discount. To me.

 

Someone else IM'd me and said the same thing. But why would they let me keep the rims? I'd think they would send them back so they could be re-finished or something and re-sold used? I dunno... that would be sweet.

Then again, and this will be part of my Azenis test-drive post on Sunday night or Monday, I think these Azenis would be so much more kick-*** on some 7" wide wheels.

 

I GUARANTEE you that if he didn't make a big deal about it before they mounted them, he wouldn't be getting a new set of wheels...I think he got LUCKY that they were willing to replace them...just like Honda and honoring their own warranty, they don't want to pay unless they have to, and if he didn't bitch about it before there would have been no way in hell he'd have new wheels out of it

 

First I'll have to say Congratulations on Jeff's Type R. I was wondering who had purchased it. He really was extremely **** about that thing, which is a good thing for you because you got a great deal and a beautiful R. I remember always seeing it parked in the WAY back of the parking lot where he works before I knew it was his and just admiring the cleanliness

About the wheels, I think you did the right thing. I would've done the same. I am soooo **** about my car and definitely in that situation, I would've raged

Good score though on the wheels
peace,
Larkin

 

Discount Tire Co locally has never fucked up any of my wheels in any way at all. I'd be really mad if a dealer did that **** to my wheels.

I also watch those kids that work at Discount like a hawk so they don't **** up a) jacking up my lowered car b) steal things out of my modified car c) mess up my wheels tires... and d) they bother me anyway asking me how fast it is or some ****.

 

**** the dealer they curbed one of my rims - I approached them - I got pissed -they got angry did not replace or fix my rim and then told me not to come back. Screw the dealer

 

yeah mah dog! I wonderz what dems would look on 19's, madd tite for realz. performance is wack. image is everythang

 

um what?
Image is everything? So I'm guessing by your snyde little comment, that you are trying to say that all I care about is image? I guess you haven't read many of my posts. In fact, I'm guessing you didn't read much of THIS post, since you missed the part where I said I was going to the track tomorrow. Yeah, all I care about is image. Bling Bling for me baby. All the way.

That's funny. Please take your troll comments elsewhere. Thanks.

 

sounds like you did the right thing and you are being compensated by the dealer in the best way, it just sucks that you have to go back and spend more of your time to get the wheels or get the new ones mounted or whatever, this is all time out of your life for their fuckup.

--->Here is an idea, push them a bit saying not only are you too busy to drop the car off for them to swap over the tires, but add that you dont trust them at the job anyhow since they proved they are incapable of understanding your exact instructions, the manager didnt even inspect the work after it was done the first time... see if you can just stop in and pickup the new wheels so you can have another place mount them

 

Good idea! That way you can keep the old wheels for track or snowtires.

That's why I hate Discount Tire. They scratched up my CRX tires the last time they mounted them. I can't believe the dealer fucked up the rims though. In mounting 3 sets of tires for my CRX, neither NTW or Discount Tire did damage there.

 

I would be really pissed. It's not even a matter of being picky. Did the wheels have those blemishes and scratches before you brought the car in? If not, then they are responsible. To me it shows they either don't give a ****, don't know how to mount tires or both. This is quite scary. I hope they know how to SERVICE and work on the cars better than doing somthing as simple as mounting tires.. Glad you raised some hell and are getting new tires. Fockin dealers..

 

Did the stock Honda wheel weights leave any marks on the wheels??

 

they replace a gsr seat after damaging the leather .