So 3 weeks ago, I dropped my L405 Autobiography in to the dealer to have a paintwork issue sorted out under warranty, who were then going to drive it to their Bodyshop which is about 25 miles away. I would have taken it there myself but I have just been very busy lately with work, plus I wasn't too concerned as I had taken pics of the car so if any problems arise at least I have proof.

So anyway I get a phone call from the dealer 3 days later to say my car was ready. An hour later I arrive at the dealer, and I notice my car parked near the front, so I thought would quickly inspect the car before I collect the keys.

Immediately I noticed the front driver side wing had a number of light scratches however worst of all I noticed the two driver side diamond cut alloys had number of scratches all over, some of which are quite deep.

I then informed the service manager of my findings who quickly took pics of the defects and and said would then contact the bodyshop. So after being messed about by the dealer I contacted the dealer principle by email with my concerns, who has now come back saying that the best they can offer is for one of the bodyshop guys to try and polish the scratches out of the wheels.

However I am not satisfied with their offer and have told them I will not accept a bodge repair and will only accept a full refurb or replacement of both wheels.

I'm off as the wheels are only 5 months old and were in pristine condition and they cost a fortune! All I just want is for the car to be put back in the same prior condition.

Do you guys think I'm being unreasonable?

Some pics of the wheels:

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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

This does not sound unreasonable. You should get your car back in at least the same condition it was when you left it with them.

You will never be able to polish the scratches out of diamond cut alloys they will always look repaired even with the best job. You need them redoing properly by a professional.

If the scratches haven't gone through the lacquer then they may polish out, tell them you will let them have a go at a repair but if any of the scratches are still visible you want them refurbished... Pete

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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Diamond cut alloys aren't the same as normal alloys where it's paint and laquered or powder coated, they need to be refinished on a proper machine to look new again! If they scratched they they should do the decent thing and get them done properly I would say!

They kind of are sir

Ok, not painted silver... Granted! But they are painted with the same kind of protective lacquer normal alloy wheels painted silver are painted with too...

So, if the scratch is only in the surface of the lacquer? It can be polished out sir...

Thanks for the replies guys.

I have now contacted someone from LR customer relations in hope that some of agreement can be reached with the dealer. 2014 SDV8 Autobiography

Gone: 2012 RRS SDV6 HSE, 2007 RRS TDV6 HSE

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

They kind of are sir

Ok, not painted silver... Granted! But they are painted with the same kind of protective lacquer normal alloy wheels painted silver are painted with too...

So, if the scratch is only in the surface of the lacquer? It can be polished out sir...

Ok thanks Craig, most of the scratches are surface only, but two scratches you can few with your fingernail so not sure if they will come out.

However I will make an attempt myself to try and polish them out with some gtechniq p1 I have lying about. 2014 SDV8 Autobiography

Gone: 2012 RRS SDV6 HSE, 2007 RRS TDV6 HSE

I wouldn’t Jas... If you rub through the lacquer it then becomes YOUR responsibility my friend... Leave it to them to rectify! To your standard sir

Ok fair enough Craig, I'll do that. 2014 SDV8 Autobiography

Gone: 2012 RRS SDV6 HSE, 2007 RRS TDV6 HSE

air on the side of caution...

^^---- What Craig said - he beat me to it!

Touch it and it gives them the perfect opportunity to walk away. Howard
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2002 4.4 V8 LPG Tartarini
Have RSW AllComms in Cheshire J17 M6 - happy to help.
*Gone: Classic Vogue SE Auto V8 3.9

I had a new BMW wheel fully refurb'd and diamond cut at WRC Preston, based on a recommendation from my usual professional alloy refurbisher, because WRC specialises in 'proper' diamond cut refurb's.

It was £120 to refurb one 18" wheel which is steep, although they did a great job with the finish and actually did so in 48 hours. The wheel looked flawless and brand new again after some unsightly kerb damage to the diamond cut surface, (significant and a lot worse than yours looks).

A word of caution on the refurb route for diamond cut wheels though. Your dealer might well agree to have the wheel specialist refurb and that might seem reasonable if done at their expense and inconvenience at a place like WRC who will undoubtedly do a great job. However, most places do not warranty their diamond cut refurb work because of the intricacy of the work. In short, you might (you might of course) see unsightly 'milking'/ water damage appearing underneath the diamond cut surface lacquer in the coming months/ near future.

Whereas, a brand new factory fresh wheel that has not sustained impact damage etc should be covered for failing finish for the first 3 years, just like the car.

So, I'd be either asking for new wheels or a professional refurb that the dealer agrees in writing to have refurb'd again, if the finish starts failing within the first 3 years of the car's 'life'.

I'm with pld118. If you can prove the damage was done whilst they had them they should replace them. I bought my car in Jan and it was 20 months old. The car was immaculate and so were the wheels even though it was high mileage. However, over the months lacquer has peeled on three of them. LR were happy to help until we found out that they'd been refurbished and more than likely to a price point rather than a quality one.

After some messing around the dealer has agreed to put them right but a refurb is just a refurb and isn't covered by your normal LR warranty. It may seem harsh but I'd ask for genuine replacements.

I'm really careful with alloy wheels and I noticed my car had a slightly damaged wheel after it was returned to me after service but I hadn't had the foresight to take pictures. Will do next time.

There are loads of stories of cars going into dealers and getting damaged.

Total lack of respect for people property. Mine went in for rear arch work and the somehow managed to damage the rear door speaker grills with a crack through it and another few issues. That was at a franchise garage.

I had a 7 series years ago on 21" Alpinas which cost a pretty pound and they had scuffed a wheel in the workshop. So badly that when I went mental as there was paint on it and wouldn't leave till I had seen their workshop the dealer principle and I found the painted kerb in the garage where the paint had come from and metal scrapings from my wheel.
They were quite happy to wash there hands and were adamant it was already damaged before it came in.