Wheel Repair Fail

[sethsquire]

It took 2 years, but I managed to curb one of my wheels (I know, shame on me). No problem, though. I have wheel and tire protection! Took it to the dealer to get refinished along with some outstanding recall/service campaign on the wiring harness or something. As an aside, I was promised a loaner, but there were none available when I dropped off the car. They were apologetic and uber'ed me back and forth to my house, but it was mildly annoying when I scheduled the appointment a month in advance specifically so they'd have a loaner for me.

Anyway, what I received back was a truly terrible refinishing job. Not only is the finish all wrong (too dull, looks like brushed metallic as opposed to a mirror finish, second pic of full wheel is how its supposed to look), but they didn't replace the little lines by the V logo, which itself looks like it was filled in with a sharpie. To be fair, once I mentioned it, they immediately agreed that it was wrong, and told me that they'd really actually truly set me up with a loaner car soon and have me bring it back.

Now, I get that this wheel, with the multiple finishes and graphics and whatnot, is probably very difficult in the grand scheme of things to refinish, but this is seriously an F for effort, and I think they should probably just get me a new wheel.

 

[DCV]

Sharpies are all powerful.......they can even direct hurricanes. But yea, I'd push for a whole new wheel. Thats why I never buy these wheel packages....it's a huge money maker for the dealership and they never want to replace a wheel.....they just want to do some poor ass repair of it. Get a new wheel.

 

[sethsquire]

Sharpies are all powerful.......they can even direct hurricanes. But yea, I'd push for a whole new wheel. Thats why I never buy these wheel packages....it's a huge money maker for the dealership and they never want to replace a wheel.....they just want to do some poor ass repair of it. Get a new wheel.

I'd never bought wheel and tire protection before (though I should have for my wife's lease, in retrospect), but I figured the peace of mind in this situation was worth it. I can see why they wouldn't want to replace it, a new wheel from Cadillac probably costs like 800 bucks

 

[travysh]

I'm surprised they even tried. I was told by multiple body shops that damage to the chrome was not repairable. They definitely need to replace that.

For me, ultimately I decided to just go with new wheels (Signature SV104) and kept the OEMs as winter wheels as it would have been out of pocket either way.

 

[FLYARMY]

Unfortunately, when wheel repairs are done, its a guy with a sander or grinding disc and a spray gun. The original process of making the wheel is a one and done thing and depending on the finish of the wheel, it is rarely duplicated. I had my Shelby wheels sent out to be refinished and they had to be sent back 4 times until I just gave up.

 

[jbawden]

I don't know, I think I prefer the look of the repaired wheel, but then again I'm not a fan of chrome.

 

[MookdocOE]

cardinal rule #1 broken: Went back to dealer!
Cardinal rule #2 broken: Went back to dealer!
You can guess what Cardinal rule #3 is....

 

[sethsquire]

Unfortunately, when wheel repairs are done, its a guy with a sander or grinding disc and a spray gun. The original process of making the wheel is a one and done thing and depending on the finish of the wheel, it is rarely duplicated. I had my Shelby wheels sent out to be refinished and they had to be sent back 4 times until I just gave up.

Yup, the more I think about it, I don't think it's even possible for Joe Wheel Repairman to actually fix this.

 

[sethsquire]

I'm surprised they even tried. I was told by multiple body shops that damage to the chrome was not repairable. They definitely need to replace that.

For me, ultimately I decided to just go with new wheels (Signature SV104) and kept the OEMs as winter wheels as it would have been out of pocket either way.

I don't think the wheels are actually chrome, they're just mirror-polished. I would think they could theoretically go a couple levels finer in polishing them and at least get close], but wth do I know...

In any event, it looked better with the curb rash, which was really rather minor. I know a spot repair probably wouldn't have been perfect, but it would have been better than this.

 

[Dirkbg]

If you feel the need for spares, contact me and maybe we can work out a deal. For Sale - 1 Pair New In-Box CT4 BW Polished Wheels - Front 84319209

 

[sethsquire]

If you feel the need for spares, contact me and maybe we can work out a deal. For Sale - 1 Pair New In-Box CT4 BW Polished Wheels - Front 84319209

Hopefully it won't come to that but I'll keep it in mind, thanks!

 

[Seth]

At this point my expectation is that the dealership will do everything as cheaply and poorly as possible and just hope the customer doesn't complain. I also had a wheel repaired under the tire & wheel and while it's not nearly that bad, it's definitely not high quality work.

 

[swoop1156]

I can see why they wouldn't want to replace it, a new wheel from Cadillac probably costs like 800 bucks

Currently working on this with our Porsche Cayenne. Talk about $$$ for wheels. It's been and still is a long fight.

 

[DCV]

Yes, I don't buy the rather pricey wheel and tire "warranty"....way too many stories on how the dealership brings in some dude...wo attempts to "fix" it....and fails. The sales guy also gets rated on how many people they can con into buying it....that and the interior "protection" package....

 

[FLYARMY]

When I sat with the finance guy , he tried to sell me the "deal" for $2500 extra ! I told him keep it, I'll just buy a new wheel when and if it gets curb rashed.

 

[DCV]

I got offered Dent Protection and other gibberish on the 991.1 C4S I just picked up. Between that stuff and the wheel tire protection plan, it was close to 12k or so add ons. Which I declined all of. When I declined all of it, I made sure to laser eye him so he would not keep trying.

 

[Barstoolman1127]

Buy a new wheel

 

[sethsquire]

Buy a new wheel

This saga is still ongoing. They've tried to fix it twice now and have failed miserably. Last time I was told they were going to angle for a new wheel since it's seemingly unfixable, so I've been driving a loaner XT6 for the last two weeks. Kind of enjoying the XT6 though, tbh

 

[rdollie]

...Kind of enjoying the XT6 though, tbh

Words I've never seen before!

 

[sethsquire]

Words I've never seen before!

You know something, I know in my head that this is a warmed over Traverse; a totally phoned-in effort by Cadillac; and considered an also-ran in the segment even from the day of its release, but it's true! The stupid thing is comfortable, smooth, quiet, hugely practical, easy to drive... I stuffed my wife, toddler, baby and all their shit in for a weekend trip and it was a champ. I'm struggling to find anything bad to say about it.

Of course, it should be mentioned that this is a brand new car. It had literally 50 miles on it when they gave it to me, so it still looks and smells nice and new. This might be hindering my perception.