Man I just want to swear my head off... but enough about that.

Has anyone else had the face of their wheels damages during the installation of tires? Here are two examples, I have these same marks on all 4 rims.

1. What is it caused by?
2. What type of painting should I insist on?
3. As further evidence, I think the original Dunlops were on there. Would it have been original Dunlops at 34K miles?

The tire shop won't take immediate ownership (and I can't get myself to be really mean the day before Christman), but I'm 99% sure this wasn't there before I drove in as I just cleaned the wheels last week (but quite honestly I just bought the car this month, so I could have missed it... but i very much doubt it).

 

Yikes! They definately could have caused that damge. You've probly heard my story, so I'll spare you.
Call MCM and ask them what they would recommend.. they claim to have a place that does awesome wheel repairs.

 

Miss Lindsey,

I actually haven't heard your story, can you provide a link?

The same mark is 1-1/2" apart on all 4 wheels (1 of the 4 has a big mark and a small scratch which is still at 1-1/2"), so it's definitely from some type of tool/fixturing.

 

Join the club, unfortunately. Same thing happened to me on a tire repair. Shop swore they had no idea how it happened. Uh huh...

 

Man, not a club I was looking forward too...

I'm going to find out how they did it, even if I have to measure everything in their shop to find the 1-1/2" tool... after all I'm off work until the new year!

This just stinks as the Mini is my first really nice car! (I'm had older Audis and BMWs but with high miles)

 

http://www.michiganmini.org/forum/in...53165#msg53165

 

Similar thing happened getting my tires changed - i believe it happens when they remove the tires... I don't know if they just don't get it or what !!!

 

that's typical damage you see at places like Firestone...
DiscountTires (AmericasTire) and most pos tire places.

you need to find a place that has a hunter TC3500 mounter like tirerack.
this is one reason why i really hesitate and get nervous when my expensive
19's (my other car) needs new tires. i drove 2hrs to have it remounted
at tirerack.

alex is the man.

 

Sure enough, it was discount tire.

I've learned my lesson, I'm only going to Ann Arbor tire from now on...

So are stock rims painted or powder coated? Once I have my snow tires, I'll find somewhere near Detroit to get these fixed (if Discount won't own up)

 

Agreed....i never go to those discount tire places....it seems like they damage a set every 3 sets of wheels that they work on. I just take mine to places that have the correct mounting machines and care about a nice set of wheels. Never had a problem after numerous mounting and unmounting projects

 

Painted

 

Thank you for the warning. Sorry I have to learn from your experience, but there are a lot of people whose rims you've just saved.

 

Thanks for the reminder to look on the positive side!

I knew better than to go there, but alas I was in a rush to drive the Mini with a non-scalloped tire... it seems rushing ALWAYS gets me in trouble.

Now I just need to buy some snows so I have time to get these fixed!

 

Also, from what I understand, Run-Flat tires are a b1tch to remove.

 

Yep, called three local places before we even found one WILLING to remove run-flats. Then, the first willing shop called two hours after drop-off saying "we give up".

Then, the shop that was able to remove the 195/55/16s was unable to remove the MCS run-flats that were 205/45/17s.

:impatient

All the run-flats are now GONE. And I will never own another run-flat tire as long as I shall live.

 

I'm not sure if I'm lucky that I found a bad shop to remove the run-flats... I should have waited for the good shop... stupid... stupid... stupid (slapping head in my best Chris Farley impression).

 

Man if tat happened to me, I'll drive the car away w/o paying them. Or pay them and charge back on cc! Humbug

 

Unfortunately for them, they only did $80 worth of work (I bought the tires from discounttiredirect.com and had them mounted at the local discount tire) and fixing this is going to cost them much more.

I can't wait to talk to them today (groan), oh well might as well get it over with...

 

Now about removing run flats, here's my little bit. My gf's father has a 1980's tire removing/mounting machine. I only have done two switches with that machine. Normal tires and runflats. I am not a big guy (150lbs) , I have only switched 2 sets of tires and this machine gets used for big big jobs, so it's not a new Snap-On machine.

The run flats are a bit harder to do, and was much easier with 2 people, but can be done with one person. So anybody with a new machine and experience should NOT have any issues.

 

Goodyear slightly marred my OEM wheels when removing my runflats but I had curbed every one of them so I didn't care but... when I got my new wheels I asked Goodyear if they could mount them without damaging them. They said yes. When I dropped the wheels off we inspected them together to prove they were not damaged. When I picked up the MINI the wheels were installed without damage.

Moral of the story... when you drop your MINI off anywhere for wheel work make the counter guy go outside for a visual inspection of the wheels & make him note that no damage was present when you dropped the MINI off. Then there's no arguing over who did what when you pick up

 

So I have to meet with the district manager on Friday, if it doesn't go well there I will simply have to move up the food chain.

After thinking about this for a day, I am positive this damage was not there as:
1. I bought the car < 1 month ago and reviewed all wheels for damage (there was none)
2. I hand washed the wheels 1 week prior to this, and saw nothing
3. There was still paint attached to several of the gouges, this wouldn't have lasted during #2

Onto the "fix", what will the proper method and source be for getting this fixed?

1. Clean and paint?
2. Strip and paint?
3. Sandblast and paint?
4. Sandblast and powdercoat?

 

I had the same problem but much worse on a set of my wheels.... I insisted they fix or replace them... 6 months later i got my wheels back repaired and repainted.... insist it is their fault and that it be handled for you.... good luck !

 

6 months, wow! What did you drive on in the mean time?

 

I watched when my shop installed my new Kumhos on my Mini removing the stock run flats. The run flats removed as easily as regular tires. The new tires went on w/o issue as well. Granted my installer was using one of the top of the line machines, it didn't look any harder to remove than normal tires.

Like everything else in life, it depends on the machine and the guy using it.

 

I know friends that had the same issue and got new wheels.....truth is...if you are not sure you cant do anyhting...but i know every mark on my wheels and if there are more after they change my tires...I will get new wheels..