G35Driver - Infiniti G35 & G37 Forum Discussion - Don't let Troncalli Infiniti cheat you like they did me.

On Feb 25th 2006 I purchased from Troncalli Infiniti a new 2005 FX35. The FX35 I bought had aftermarket Chrome rims installed prior to my purchase. I paid Troncalli an additional $2,000 for the rims. At the time of the purchase it was raining very bad and was given a IOU for a detail to clean the car. Prior to my returning to Troncalli (The weather had been quite bad) I cleaned the vehicle myself and noticed that there was a rust like film and also the chrome lug nuts were rusting on the chrome rims. Before I could take it back to Troncalli I also got a low tire warning on my dashboard of course indicating that a tire was low. I pulled over and verified visually that the tires were okay. When I got home I checked the tires with a pressure gauge and after pulling the gauge away could hear the air slowly leaking out of the valve stem. I joggled the valve cores and got the air to stop hissing out. I returned to Troncalli on 3/25 to have the rusting lug nuts replaced, the valve stems looked at and also air pressure sensors initialized (879 miles on the odometer). After four days of them trouble shooting, they realized that when the aftermarket rims were installed that they never installed the air sensors or put in the correct valve stems (Manufacturer suggests that when the vale stems are removed to replace the following to insure correct operation: Valve stem Grommet, Valve core, locking nut and valve cap). All of this was corrected except they never did clean the rusty film off of the chrome rims. I informed their Customer relationship person and she drove out the following week to my job to pick up the car and leave me with a loaner. When the car was returned to me, I noticed that not only did they not clean all of the film off, they also dented and scratched the rims. I informed their Customer relationship person of it right away. She told me that she could not make any decisions to correct the issue and referred me to the Service manager. After playing phone tag for several days we agreed to meet on a Saturday at Troncalli. Prior to me meeting him I called to make sure that He was there. The lady that answered the phone at the Service desk assured me that He was not onsite. Monday I called him and asked Him about Saturday. He told me that in fact He was there, but She just didn’t know it. We finally agreed for Him to meet me at my work for Him to look at the scratches. He came out looked at the dents and scratches and stated that He had a person that worked on this type of stuff and He would call me back in a couple of days. In the mean time I had taken the rims off to paint my brake calipers (They also did not provide me with a wrench to do so. The factory one did not work on these rims) I found out why the lug nuts were rusting. Inside of the holes where the lug nuts go, it was corroding badly and the chrome has already stared to peel off. After waiting a week and a half and numerous phone calls to the Service manager, I finally talked to him. He stated that they were not going to buy me new rims and I was out of luck (He did not know about the corrosion at that time). I asked for His Boss and was referred to Dennis Sledge. We scheduled an appointment for him to look at the rims. I came by on a Saturday and showed him the corrosion. He took a step back and said from here they look fine. I explained to Him that the corrosion would soon be more visible since it was almost to the top of the lug nuts. He told me that I did not know for sure that the corrosion would continue to grow. I told Him that it did not start out that big and would continue to grow (Remember that this is a new car and had gotten that far in less that 5 months). He told me that he would talk to the owners and get back with me. Since He never got back with me I called Him and He stated that they would give me $500.00 towards the rims. He stated that they had people that could fix them for $80 - $90 dollars and they were being more then generous with their offer. I had just paid $2000 for the rims 5 months earlier and cannot replace the rims for that amount (The rims are $290.00 a piece). I told him that I would let them fix them and save them money, but the offer was declined. After going round and round with them, I asked them for the company that did their work, so that I could have them repaired. Dennis gave me the number of AWR in Norcross and I set up an Appt. with them to get an estimate. The estimate came back at $1,516.00 with a 5 to 6 week turn around (They would have to be totally stripped and re-chromed). I would also incur a cost of a rental car for 5 – 6 weeks, and would have to purchase jack stands for my BRAND NEW car to sit on while the rims were being repaired. I knew from research that it would be cheaper to buy new rims than to re-chrome them, I was just hoping that hearing from someone other than me would change their mind. I faxed them the estimate with a note attached restating that I was not trying to rip them off, but had the best interest of Troncalli and Myself in mind. I called Dennis and he once again informed me that they would only offer $500.00. I have asked Him to take it before the Owners again and also informed Him that the estimate was not done on the scratches or dents but the corrosion. The rims were bad when I bought them, I just did not notice it at that time. I’m sure they couldn’t help but see it when they worked on it, but just didn’t care enough to correct it. I have declined to take their offer of $500.00 Instead I will spread the word of my experience.