Favorite mechanic damaged my wheels...how to handle?
 

Cliff notes: Wheels were damaged by my long-time mechanic, but I didn't notice till a month later. Too late to bring it up?

I've been going to a local mechanic for years. He always treats me right and seems to take good care of everything. It isn't a "performance shop", mostly works on your run-of-the-mill Toyotas, Fords, Etc. I haven't owned a "nice" car in a while, so I didn't give it much thought when I brought in my BRZ for some new tires. (Wheels: 17x9 APEX ARC-8 in black)

New tires were put on about 3-4 weeks ago. I didn't do any "inspection", just got in the car and drove off. :bonk:

I usually wash my car about every 2 weeks, but it's been raining almost every day, so I just washed my car for the first time since have the wheels put on and there is minor cosmetic damage to all 4 wheels. They were pristine previously. Also, since the damage is to all 4, it pretty much rules out that I caught a curb.

It's not that I expect him to replace them or anything, just the upset that he let it happen.

How do I handle? Is it too late? Just have an adult conversation about it? Should I just forget about it and go somewhere else for tire in the future?

Maybe just let him know what happened and throw in "I know it's too late now since I drove off without checking, but be really careful in the future please" and maybe they'll appreciate your courtesy enough to help you out anyway

you've got 2 choices.

you could talk to him like a human being, and work to come to an amicable agreement like the big mature adults everyone says we're supposed to be after we turn 16.

or you could crucify him. murder his cat while it sleeps, dump used oil on his front lawn, and rent a billboard making fun of his mother. for one mistake.

Since it's been more than 2 weeks you are kinda screwed. Had it been a day or two maybe you could have talked it out or something.

If you where in his shoes and some dude came back after 2 weeks and wanted this or that, what would you say? GTFO right?

If it was me, I'll watch a ton of diy wheel repair videos. Or.... this might hurt my wallet, find a wheel repair shop.

I guess next time do a walk around.
My asshole buddy does it in a low key way. After he gets new tires he goes around the car at each wheel saying "dammm... these new tires look so good," "I got to look the the fronts again they look so beefy".

I'm first assuming the wheels were existing on this vehicle, not new the day the tires were new.

It sounds as though the tech damaged your wheels with the tire mounting machine.

Yes he should be told that he did damage so that he has an opportunity to relearn tire mounting procedures for alloy wheels.

Maybe he simply failed to lube the bead area of tires before mounting or dismounting.

Maybe there's damage to part of his machine which he is not aware of, needing correction for his next tire/wheel customer.

You could ask if he had an inexperienced helper that day, who worked on your wheel/tire package.

Do you use a drive though car wash which possibly could have done this damage ?

Sounds simple to show him that all wheels are similarly damaged. Pretty much hard for him to then deny it's his shop the culprit.

Possibly he'll have insurance to cover repair or replacement of your wheels.

define "minor cosmetic damage." And location of said damage. We really need more info.

It's been a month? Yeah, good luck with that.

A shop that I used to go to scratched my stock wheels. I brought them to him because he had just got the machine and advertised "won't scratch your wheels!" on his facebook page. When one of them came back with a ring around it I let him know and he never responded back! Luckily found better solutions locally, don't have to deal with him anymore. He's probably glad he doesn't have to deal with me either!

Best is to just let them know. If its a nice wheel you might see if they can cover costs for the wheel to be repaired or refinished. Or if you trust their work, try to fill and polish the scratched area on your painted wheel.

FWIW - https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KP...vIiN67zQ=w2400

This x4 wheels.

I think I'm just gonna wait till my next service and mention it to him politely/adult-like and see what he says.

Those new tires are almost two years old.

Couple of years ago I bought new tires from TireRack...they were three years old when I bought them...they were discounted before the sale, yet they did not tell me before charging me or shipping the tires that they were already quite old.

For my next tire purchase I will specify that tires be less than 3 months old AND all four to be same date code.

All the "on sale" tires I've bought off TireRack tend to be at least a year or more old. Doesn't mean every tire on sale is.. but just gotta adjust your expectations the bigger the discount is for whatever tire's on sale.

OP, mentioning it to the shop politely and see what they say is a good approach. That's probably the best option at this point since it's been so long since it happened. Hope it all works outs somehow.

That sucks. Probably not much can be done because of how long it's been.

This happened to my car while I was actually in the garage with the tech:

https://i.imgur.com/FuEbWc2.jpg

A few of the wheel repair shops I asked for estimates didn't think it could be refinished/repaired too well since some of it is more of a chip/gash than just a curb rash type damage, plus since it's a matte finish they were worried it wouldn't be easy to get it right with the same texture.

I think that if there's a bright side to your situation it's that your damage (from this pic) is pretty much normal curb rash type damage, which should be more easily repairable.

As others have already said, and as the OP has affirmed, a polite adult conversation is about the only appropriate course of action. Viewed pragmatically, does that little bit of scuffing really matter much? These aren't extremely valuable or rare concourse show cars. Yes, we like pretty things in perfect condition. Unfortunately pretty things in perfect condition are incredibly transitory.