I am about to start unfit for purpose proceedings in the small claims court against LR. My HSE 29,000 miles has very second hand looking 19" wheels. My dealer tells me the pitting is due to brake dust reacting with the wheels. LR refuse any help and say I have not cleaned my alloys often enough......
Has anybody got any thoughts on the following
1) My guess is that very hot brake dust is melting the laquer. The cleaning issue is therefore a red herring?
2) Has anybody been here before? Did LR exchange the wheels/admit the issue?
3) Does anybody know who are the experts in the midlands for alloy wheels? I will need a report to show the court what the problem is.
4) I intend to get statements from my neighbours detailing that I wash my car almost every Sunday like everybody else. What else would be useful to take to court?
Thankyou in advance. Kev
4th May 2009 10:31 am
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
Re: My day in court with LR
kevofcov wrote:
3) Does anybody know who are the experts in the midlands for alloy wheels? I will need a report to show the court what the problem is.
http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
4th May 2009 10:36 am
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
I think you're on a hiding to nowhere TBH But good luck
I'm keen to know your thoughts - I'm happy with all comments.
Kev
4th May 2009 10:47 am
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
I think DG is probably spot on unfortunately for you, if your day in court is going to cost more than a couple of hundred quid, pay to get the wheels refurbed and save yourself lots of hassle, if you lose the case and get awarded LR's costs, it would probably be cheaper to have bought a set of new wheels direct from the local LR parts department at £350 a wheel.I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
4th May 2009 10:48 am
countrywide
Member Since: 16 Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6019
I think it may be pretty difficult to get a full settlement from LR, you may end up with a 50:50 deal and as it only costs about £60 a wheel to refrub, you will end up with £120 and probably 50% of the court costs.
If you loose you will end up with the cost of the smalls claims court and Land Rover can also ask for expenses to cover dealing with it.
If your car is almost 3 years old I wouldn't bother doing it as I think it would be hard to show that you cleaned your car enough and that you used the correct wheel cleaning product. If you used Wonder Wheels or other acidic product then they will throw your claim out immediately. As you are taking them to court you will have to do all the convincing.
I have the same thing with my Nissan, but they agreed to cover the refurbishment. The car was only 18 months old though.
I am well able to change my mind and your comments are what I need for a balanced judgement.
The costs to go to court I believe would be £50 plus the cost of any reports - I can risk that. If the reports say that the wheels were poorly made then I should win the cost of refurbishment? (the pitting started at 9,000 miles)
Do big companies really show up at small claims courts?
Kev
4th May 2009 11:10 am
SJR
Member Since: 09 Aug 2006
Location: East Manchester
Posts: 4030
kevofcov wrote:
Do big companies really show up at small claims courts?
Kev
Yep, and sometimes with expensive Barristers if losing the case could set a precedent that could cost them 100's of £k's.
Tread carefully mate I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
Buzz Aldrin (1930 -
Most of the black debris is iron from the disc and the horrible copper and alloys they put in the pads. If you have change either and not used genuine LR parts you may loose on that as well.
"I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what I meant"
4th May 2009 1:25 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
I've got a 2007 HSE on 18" Type 2 wheels, and they're pitted and a sod to clean. I therefore don't bother to clean them and I take every opportunity to take them off-road. There are some issues that I would take up with LR but wheels is not one of them. Having said that, there's no doubt in my mind that LR wheels (or lacquer) are way, way poorer quality than the wheels on my Merc. So what's my favourite car? The D3, without question. 8)
4th May 2009 8:31 pm
nealgs
Member Since: 13 Jan 2008
Location: Leeds
Posts: 327
Any pics Kev of said pitting?
Our D3 is same age and color, and model as yours and has covered about 3000 miles less. I've noticed that the laquer color has changed on the front (gone slightly yellow ish in places) but the rears seem ok.
Inside on alloys are covered in brake dust etc, but there doesn't seem to be any obvious pitting visible on outsides.
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5th May 2009 3:43 pm
TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1214
Kev have you owned since new?
If you have not, you may have a problem as who knows what other owner(s) have done.
I have had a manufacturer replace a wheel before under warrenty, but it was 1 of 4 that was pitting and they agreed it was sub-par.
Can I ask if you have considered an action against the dealer not Land Rover? They will not want a CCJ against them and I am sure you will possibly get a compromise offer from them more likely than Land Rover.
5th May 2009 4:08 pm
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Personally, I wouldn't bother... You could get a second hand set on eBay, or even possibly buy new, and it will be less grief. On something like this, it may be difficult to prove it, so it may just come down to whether LR's legal team is better equipped than you to argue and can throw more money behind their background research!
If it was a completely watertight case or there was some safety issue (wheels cracked etc) you might have a chance. With a cosmetic issue (how much does it really affect the value of the car?) and all the money they can throw at the case, I'm not sure you'll get anywhere. How much other damage is there to the wheels - any kerbing? Have you always washed with LR approved cleaner and used LR approved protection at the recommended intervals? I'm not saying that's a reasonable defence, but it's something worth thinking about.
I'd speak to trading standards/consumer advice. There may be steps to try and resolve this that you've not tried. Also, they may be able to give some indication as to whether you have any sort of case.
I'm not a lawyer but I have taken people to the small claims court through work a couple of times. If I've learnt anything it's:
i. Know when to quit.
ii. Sometimes life's just not fair.
iii. Sometimes you're wrong.
iv. It will take longer, and cost you more than you think.
If you do decide to go through with it - good luck with it and keep us posted 2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
5th May 2009 4:16 pm
jkp
Member Since: 17 Sep 2005
Location: Living among Bawbags
Posts: 4528
Are you confident of pitting damage or could it possibly be very stubborn fallout particulates? I've found the wheels to be able to withstand a lot of abuse and clean up like new, although sometimes aggresive means are needed depending on the amount of fallout adhered.
Pics (close ups) would be good
5th May 2009 4:26 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
If they're already shagged, give them an hour with the Mr Muscle oven cleaner. They'll come up a treat.
Then get them refurbed and painted black. It'll probably cost you less, will look cool, you'll be less stressed and the world will be alright again.
Mate, they're only wheels. Your wife will probably kerb them next week, they always do
Apologies to all the non wheel kerbing women out there, if there are any!Welcome "Lola"
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