Aygo Alloys Scratched After 2Nd Year Service

[BarryC]

Hi All,

Just taken my Aygo for its 2nd year service at the local dealership today. On collection was told that the front wheels had been swapped around with back wheels to make the tyres last longer. Thought nothing of it at the time, until I got home that is.

Had a careful look at all 4 wheels and noticed that in the area around one wheel nut on each wheel the alloy had been scratched. Not only that put on one of the alloys that did not have one single scratch on it beforehand there was now a series of linear lines working their way across the face of the alloy along with two really small slightly deeper scuffs. Gave me the impression that this alloy had been left face down on the floor and then slighly dragged as it was picked up off the floor.

The lines themselves are fairly faint although more noticeable in one quarter.

Please see attached photos to give you a better idea.

I am going to ring up on Monday and let then know, but am slighly worried that because the scuffs are hard to notice they might make out I am being two fussy and it is just nomal wear and tear.

Any thoughts and advice on how I should go about getting this resolved?

Thanks in advance.

[Karma Supra]

The scruffs are clearly not from curbs or "driving" use....

I'll call them and give them both barrels!

[weevicky]

My friend had problems like that previously and basically was told that you need to point these things out before leaving the premises or they take no responsibility. Good luck =D

[Lorna2]

Hope you get it sorted as far as the scratches go. But if not, don't worry too much as they are barely noticible. I did notice you have some brown on parts of your alloys, that would definately need to be taken off and don't let too much brown or brake dust build up as its bad for alloys.Be careful what sort of wheel cleaner you use too, as some say they are not suitable for use on chrome trims, such as on the bagde in the middle of our alloys and on the wheel nuts.

I would have to agree with Weevicky in that any company would expect you to have pointed out any damage before you leave, as for all they know you could have damaged the wheels later. I'm not for one minute suggesting that you damaged the wheels, I'm only pointing out the other side so you are prepared. You might have to relay on 'goodwill' at best. Still mention it to them of course,maybe you didn't see it until you got home as you were in a rush and didn't think to look at the wheels anyway, or didn't notice until you were washing the car, or more noticible on a sunny day. See what they say anyway. I'm not speaking from any personal experience as my alloys have never been scratched.

[AYGOgummy]

They definitely look like they've been pulled along - it would be very hard to have scratches on alloys in those positions through normal day-to-day driving! And you're not being fussy! alloys are expensive to replace after all. Hopefully you'll be able to find out the cause of the problem at the dealer, but if they're not very helpful, you might be able to polish those scratches out yourself, or have them refurbished relatively cheaply if not. Let us know :)

[mrpj]

It certainly looks like they have been very careless with whatever they've used to remove the wheel nuts/bolts. Even with a "conventional" socket it would be very difficult to cause that sort of damage?! Stetson hats and spurs spring to mind! I had some alloys refurbished recently by a local mobile operator and he used a socket which looked to be specially made for working on alloy wheels. The actual socket was encased in a rubberised material - very professional.

I would have thought even a dealership could afford something along the same lines.

[paulys aygo]

what happend?

[SRsmithy]

ive seen this to many times, even in the garage i work in, if you remove 3 wheel nuts and than remove the 4th without holding the wheel flat to the hub then the wheel just comes away but catches the socket, and with it rotating it does damage like this, ive got an auris which has got the same markings on it from when it went in to have the wheels replace, which how might have to be done again.

as for the scratches on the face of the wheels it looks like they may have been dropped onto the face, as again seen this a few time.

because its not there car they dont care (in some cases)

hope it gets sorted

[mrpj]

I had a Peugeot a few years ago, with alloy wheels, and they provided a guide with the wheel changing tools, to screw into a bolt hole. An excellent idea, if bolts are used to secure. It was just a matter of removing one bolt completely, !Removed! in the guide and removing the remaining bolts then the wheel using the guide as a support. Very easy refitting the wheel too as the weight was taken by the guide. No scrapes, scratches or anything.

I'm sure a similar method could be used with wheels secured by nuts in the manner of a sleeve to screw onto and fit over the stud. Such things cost extra though and would eat into the profit margin!

I doubt a garage would use anything like that either, they'd much prefer to damage the wheel.