Previously, I was very pleased when I exchanged my '01 OEM 17" 5-spoke sport wheels. So, even though they're pricey, I felt comfortable giving them one of my current '07 OEM 19" 2-piece 20 spokes.

When I dropped it off with curb rash, discussed with the tech whether the center piece also needed refinishing and the answer was no.

Get the call the wheel is ready, but totally uncooperative in scheduling an appointment to swap the wheel for a second one with some rash. Fine, I'll come and pick it up and find someone else to do the second wheel. The guy on the phone couldn't have cared less.

Go to pick up the wheel, and there are fine scratches around the entire circumference of the center piece, at the exact same distance in from the rim. They deny having done it and claim I gave it to them like that. Why didn't you point it out to me when I dropped the wheel off? The wheel was dirty. Then why didn't you say that you needed to clean the wheel before you could recommend whether to refinish the center? C'mon, it wasn't like that when I gave it to you. Looks like it got scratched on one of your machines. Impossible. Fine, but explain why would I pay you $250 to refinish the rim but balk at another $40 to do the center? No good answer, in fact no answer at all, but the owner agrees to refinish the center for just $25. Okay, in return you can refinish the second wheel that also has curb rash and do the entire wheel, to boot. Still, a wasted 1 1/2 hour trip each way for nothing.

Pick it up one week later. Now its $30, not $25, who cares? But the wheel has multiple imperfections baked in. Uh, can I show you something? Okay, we'll warranty the wheel. Ya, you will, but why didn't you spot the imperfections when you mounted the tire? Why did I have to drive an hour and a half just to find out that the wheel was unacceptable?

No apologies from the kid, who has a crumb hanging on the corner of his mouth from the Twinkie I interrupted him eating when I went back in.

</rant>

Ed Nathan
2007 A6 4.2 S-Line - night blue pearl/platinum leather, 19" 20 spoke 2 piece OEM wheels w/ContiSport 3s (summer)/18" Rial Portos w/Dunlop M3s (winter); technology package; sport suspension; sport seats; hardwired V1; OEM winter mats.

2001 A6 4.2
1998.5 A4 2.8 QTS
1996 A4 2.8
1993 90 CS