Dealer scuffed rims...am I being too picky?

Just looking for some opinions/solutions. I brought my 2 and a half month old truck with 2500 miles into the dealer to get the back tires balanced due to a vibration around 75 mph. I asked them to be extra careful with the rims as to not damage them. The service writer noted this. Anyhow, where they pried the old weights off they of course left a handful of gashes/nicks on each back wheel. I tried polishing them out a bit and they look better, but they are still noticeable. What have people done about this in the past? I know they make tools that utilize the hole in the top of the rim clamp remove them better than the method used here (obviously something like a screwdriver was used to pry them off). The service manager is going to call me tomorrow and I think I am going to request either new rims or to have them swap wheels off of a demo unit. I would have let it go but the vibration is worse after they "balanced" them, meaning they will have to do more damage to the rim by re-balancing until they get it right. Thoughts/experiences?

 

Pics?

Fink

 

Don't lose sleep over a few blemishes...It's a truck not a show car. My brother was (he's better now) so anal about his vehicles he would make his kids take their shoes off before getting in the vehicles on a rainy or snowy day...and he had Weather Techs!!! A blemish was something to lose sleep over or take a handful of Xanax. He would park miles away not to park next to another vehicle.....in the rain as well. Then freak out if another vehicle dared to park next to him that far away LOL.. That is waaaaay too obsessive about a hunk of formed metal with and engine and wheels. He covered his cars in the garage and only used certain cloths on them air dried of course. Its not like he had exotic vehicles. Camrys, Lexus EX350 he sold for a huge loss because he was "too worried about it" and bought a Honda CRV and still obsesses.

He cleaned his vehicles then used ,,,,,TOOTHBRUSHES on them.......Kill me the day I take a toothbrush to any vehicle unless I'm being paid... I have not washed my Truck since May. I learned from him it just doesn't matter if your vehicle looks like you are driving it home from the showroom every damm day. When I go to sell it I will get it detailed and any dings removed like I always do. In the mean time I will drive it and sleep well.

You should do the same...

 

If there are scratches on the outer lip of the rim where the wheel weights clip on to, then yeah, you're being too picky. There is no way to prevent that. But if there are pry marks inboard of the wheel weights, then that is BS, they should use the proper tool to remove them without leaving those marks.

 

That is good advice, and very true. But, I personally don't like other people to mess up my stuff. Like I said, if they had actually fixed the vibration instead of making it worse I would not care. But how much damage should I let them do? Bottom line to me is that I (nor anyone on here) should not have to accept careless work from a Toyota dealer who charges top dollar. If everyone complained when things were not done right the techs would have the right tools and be more careful. Has anyone ever had their wheels balanced when damage was not done?

 

Exactly. The damage was from prying a screwdriver like tool under the weight to remove it. Obviously the outer lip will get scuffed as the weights are hammered on.

 

The above almost sounds like you are describing me. I'm not quite as bad, but I still baby the hell out of my cars (doesn't matter what they are).

I always let the truck warm up at least past the cold line, I purposely go out of my way to park away from people (not miles, but I'll go a few rows), I avoid certain roads because of the massive potholes/dips in them, I dodge certain manhole covers because they shake the shit out of me, etc...

While I don't lose sleep over it, it still bothers me, so I can empathize with the OP on this one.

I've had guys scuff/scrape my wheels when working on my trucks, and as long as it isn't going to effect the longevity of the wheel (i.e. rust), then I usually let it go and chalk it up as part of preventative maintenance for bigger issues.

I would still be interested in seeing pics, though.

Fink

 

I think you have every right to complain IF the marks are in a area that the weights were not, so if there marks outside the area i would be mad to especially since you told them not to damage your rims. IMO

 

Pics....I have a feeling I am going to get laughed at....

 

You may get laughed at but so what? It's your truck and if you're not happy with the work they performed, then they need to make it right with you.

Those are definitely not as bad as I was expecting - but it would annoy me that it happened, too.

Fink

 

Can't Blame you for being proud of your ride

 

x2

if its bad to you then go back and tell the dealer. Its your ride.

 

I would take it to them if it were me.

 

samething happened to my brand new 2011 taco at discount tire, when they took the weights off. next time i'm requesting the sticking weight in the inside of rim.

 

Yeah, stick on is definitely better. The reason I went to Toyota as opposed to a tire retailer was because I felt like they would have the right tools and would not do any damage. Here is an example of what I am talking about... http://www.techshopmag.com/Article/88481/ultimate_wheel_weight_hammer__remover_from_uwt.aspx

 

Correct observation.

ESPECIALLY if you had it noted.. not that they shouldn't be real careful anyway,

Yea I'd be talking with them for sure. If i see a screwdriver around the tire machine I get real interested if i see a aluminum wheel go on.
Sometimes i need to break the tire down because i can't get a good grip on the weights. Not all wheel weights are the same and some are better than others. A rim guy can fix that but IMO i would wait until this vibration is repaired. Then they can repair the damage and then balance up the tires last. Stick on weights area good option but not for every situation. After it's all said and done try the stick on's and then have them make a note in the computer so it pops up every time.

 

I'm real picky, especially when carelessness can be avoided by doing things the proper way. That being said, it looks like they used the right tool. The marks that you have leftover in these pictures look like where the wheel weight was initially put on. Any dirt or grime between the rim and the wheel weight will grind into the clearcoat. The clamp on weights are attached in a manner that allow them to move slightly even when attached properly.

If you are questioning my pickiness, read some of my posts...

 

Ever seen an old set of clearcoated aluminum rims with corrosion under the clearcoat? That's how it starts, just like those chips in the picture. I would raise hell. If you let it go now, they will look like shit in a couple of years.

 

i don't think it is enough to warrant going back to bitch. It is your truck, though. everyone else sees a reason to bitch, i think they are being anal. i have learned in life... just cause you may have a reason to bitch, does not make it the right thing to do in all situations. drink a beer relax and try not to let it eat you up.

 

I don't blame you. The way I look at it...you take it to the dealer and either use your warranty, which you paid for when buying the truck, or you pay out of pocket...and you expect them to do a good job because...you paid them.