Dented Serpent

Arryhall · 18th December 2017, 20:55

Yes, it has inevitably happened. Last night, on a very wet and dark evening, the small pothole that I reported a while ago, finally collapsed and was buried under a river of water and invisible until my front wheel hit it at about 25 and went ker-blammo. Fortunately the rear survived. Annoyingly, a brand new tyre was on that wheel too. Poo.

I stopped, I got my jack out (oooh-er!) and started to lift the car and the turny-hole end bit on the jack snapped off!!!

Fortunately, there were 4 other cars that pulled up behind me all with newly knackered wheels or flat tyres, so I borrowed a jack, changed my wheel, helped the other three people out and drove off in a convoy just as yet another car pulled up behind our little row of freshly re-booted cars with a flat from the pot hole. Every one of us called the police about it and yet an hour later, there was still no sign! 3 hours later, when I had to go past again (impossibly carefully!) there was a guy throwing a bag of tarmac into the hole. Today, that "filled" hole is now.....more of a dent, as the repair is slowly but surely being washed out of the hole and by tomorrow, or Wednesday at the latest, it will be back.

2 questions for you good people:

1) is there a member on here what can fix my dented Serpent so i can have my wheel back? I can take it to a place fairly locally, but I'd rather support the good people on here who have helped me immeasurably with prior car issues. And I mean support, as in pay for the work to be done, naturally! I'd love to get all 4 wheels refinished and looking all sexy but it's the cost, and now this has happened, I'm almost glad I didn't go to that expense!

2) Is it worth getting a set of refurbished wheels off the old eBay? They seem to be about £250 for a set, less if you want them kerbed and knackered! I've seen new ones for £200 a wheel. I'd opt for a different wheel if I didn't like the look of the Serpents so much!

So there it is. And yes, I took pictures of the hole, and as I was doing so, cars kept driving into it even as I gesticulated to them that there was a big hole and I was taking pictures of it. I got splashed. A lot. And at least I have pictures to send to the council for recompense, not that I'll actually get any, but it's worth a try!

Proud owner · 18th December 2017, 21:40

Whilst not answering either of your questions, I hope you pursue with all vigour compensation from your local Council for the damage caused to your wheel.

If you had reported it the Council and they had failed to repair it, specially if they had marked it in either blue or red paint, then they are legally responsible for any subsequent damage caused by their negligence in repairing the hazard.

Our country's roads are amongst the worst in Europe (with car manufacturers providing specific suspension settings to cope with it) and the Highways Departments of our Councils (plus the Highways Agency for the roads under their jurisdiction) have been guilty for years and years of chronic under-spending neglecting repairs, which even when undertaken if my local council is typical, are so unfit for purpose they need doing again after a few months. Councils rarely hold to account the utility company's when they are responsible for some of the damage.

I could say more having attended many Highways Panel meetings of my District and County Council and seen how chaotically they are run, but will cease my rant now......

bendrick · 18th December 2017, 22:49

As a county councillor myself I hope that you get your due compo off the council.

Myself and my fellow councillor in the ward that I represent have had to fight tooth and nail for compensation for a resident in a case such as this.

Bizarrely we were told that there was a certain legislation or condition that if a council has inspected a road within the last 6 months it is not responsible for damage caused by potholes not identified or evident at the time of the inspection.

To be honest I've never heard anything more ridiculous.

If the pothole in the scenario outlined above involves a pothole already identified and repaired badly I would hope that you have an easier battle with authority than we had.

marinabrian · 18th December 2017, 23:42

That I'm afraid looks to be too far gone to heat up and beat into shape

How about something along these lines?

LINK

It would be cheaper and dare I say it better than having yours repaired

Brian

Arryhall · 19th December 2017, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinabrian

That I'm afraid looks to be too far gone to heat up and beat into shape

How about something along these lines?

LINK

It would be cheaper and dare I say it better than having yours repaired

Brian

Thanks, I looked at all the ones for sale I could find, but they are all proper grotty and gouged. Mine have a small amount of kerbing on the rim from when I got the car, but these look attacked with a chisel.
Did see a full set of refurbished ones but they are over £200 and i only need 1!

Maybe I need to change the wheels to a different style.

Coups · 20th December 2017, 17:35

At £44.95 delivered for one in reasonable condition as per Brian’s link it seems a good deal to me. You’ll struggle to get a full set in shoddy condition for that.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Arryhall · 20th December 2017, 21:45

Took the wheel to Top Marques in Fenton this morning. They were very suspicious of the wheel being repairable without it splitting. They were even more wary of the wheel being twisted. However, the twist was minimal, and I got a phone call this afternoon...the wheel is done!

It is straightened, balanced and they even painted the minor scuffing on the rims (like that when I got the car). I pick it up tomorrow morning. And the cost? £45 + VAT.

Phew!!!! Did NOT expect that. Happy happy joy joy.

Proud owner · 20th December 2017, 22:37

That's great news they've been able to fix it, I'm pleased for you. I hope however you claim reimbursement for the £54 it has cost you.

Arryhall · 20th December 2017, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proud owner

That's great news they've been able to fix it, I'm pleased for you. I hope however you claim reimbursement for the £54 it has cost you.

Thanks. I was amazed they could fix it and even shocked when it didn't split when they got it back to round! And I have asked for a claim form from the council which they have said they will post. Why they can't email it so I can attach the pictures and other bits of info, I don't know, but I shall keep the receipt and see what happens.

Buy huzzar for having me wheels back to looking good. I do like the look of the serpents and wouldn't know what to replace them with if I had to.

Nantwich 75 · 15th January 2018, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arryhall

Took the wheel to Top Marques in Fenton this morning. They were very suspicious of the wheel being repairable without it splitting. They were even more wary of the wheel being twisted. However, the twist was minimal, and I got a phone call this afternoon...the wheel is done!

It is straightened, balanced and they even painted the minor scuffing on the rims (like that when I got the car). I pick it up tomorrow morning. And the cost? £45 + VAT.

Phew!!!! Did NOT expect that. Happy happy joy joy.

Have you got a photo of the repaired wheel by any chance?

Mike

18th December 2017, 20:55	#1
Arryhall Loves to post Rover 75 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Biddulph Posts: 486 Thanks: 101 Thanked 145 Times in 90 Posts	Dented Serpent Yes, it has inevitably happened. Last night, on a very wet and dark evening, the small pothole that I reported a while ago, finally collapsed and was buried under a river of water and invisible until my front wheel hit it at about 25 and went ker-blammo. Fortunately the rear survived. Annoyingly, a brand new tyre was on that wheel too. Poo. I stopped, I got my jack out (oooh-er!) and started to lift the car and the turny-hole end bit on the jack snapped off!!! Fortunately, there were 4 other cars that pulled up behind me all with newly knackered wheels or flat tyres, so I borrowed a jack, changed my wheel, helped the other three people out and drove off in a convoy just as yet another car pulled up behind our little row of freshly re-booted cars with a flat from the pot hole. Every one of us called the police about it and yet an hour later, there was still no sign! 3 hours later, when I had to go past again (impossibly carefully!) there was a guy throwing a bag of tarmac into the hole. Today, that "filled" hole is now.....more of a dent, as the repair is slowly but surely being washed out of the hole and by tomorrow, or Wednesday at the latest, it will be back. 2 questions for you good people: 1) is there a member on here what can fix my dented Serpent so i can have my wheel back? I can take it to a place fairly locally, but I'd rather support the good people on here who have helped me immeasurably with prior car issues. And I mean support, as in pay for the work to be done, naturally! I'd love to get all 4 wheels refinished and looking all sexy but it's the cost, and now this has happened, I'm almost glad I didn't go to that expense! 2) Is it worth getting a set of refurbished wheels off the old eBay? They seem to be about £250 for a set, less if you want them kerbed and knackered! I've seen new ones for £200 a wheel. I'd opt for a different wheel if I didn't like the look of the Serpents so much! So there it is. And yes, I took pictures of the hole, and as I was doing so, cars kept driving into it even as I gesticulated to them that there was a big hole and I was taking pictures of it. I got splashed. A lot. And at least I have pictures to send to the council for recompense, not that I'll actually get any, but it's worth a try!

20th December 2017, 21:45	#7
Arryhall Loves to post Rover 75 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Biddulph Posts: 486 Thanks: 101 Thanked 145 Times in 90 Posts	It's a Christmas Miracle! Took the wheel to Top Marques in Fenton this morning. They were very suspicious of the wheel being repairable without it splitting. They were even more wary of the wheel being twisted. However, the twist was minimal, and I got a phone call this afternoon...the wheel is done! It is straightened, balanced and they even painted the minor scuffing on the rims (like that when I got the car). I pick it up tomorrow morning. And the cost? £45 + VAT. Phew!!!! Did NOT expect that. Happy happy joy joy.

18th December 2017, 21:40	#2
Proud owner Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Braintree Posts: 443 Thanks: 159 Thanked 126 Times in 100 Posts	Whilst not answering either of your questions, I hope you pursue with all vigour compensation from your local Council for the damage caused to your wheel. If you had reported it the Council and they had failed to repair it, specially if they had marked it in either blue or red paint, then they are legally responsible for any subsequent damage caused by their negligence in repairing the hazard. Our country's roads are amongst the worst in Europe (with car manufacturers providing specific suspension settings to cope with it) and the Highways Departments of our Councils (plus the Highways Agency for the roads under their jurisdiction) have been guilty for years and years of chronic under-spending neglecting repairs, which even when undertaken if my local council is typical, are so unfit for purpose they need doing again after a few months. Councils rarely hold to account the utility company's when they are responsible for some of the damage. I could say more having attended many Highways Panel meetings of my District and County Council and seen how chaotically they are run, but will cease my rant now......

18th December 2017, 22:49	#3
bendrick Gets stuck in Ex CDT Auto Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Barry Posts: 655 Thanks: 76 Thanked 266 Times in 155 Posts	As a county councillor myself I hope that you get your due compo off the council. Myself and my fellow councillor in the ward that I represent have had to fight tooth and nail for compensation for a resident in a case such as this. Bizarrely we were told that there was a certain legislation or condition that if a council has inspected a road within the last 6 months it is not responsible for damage caused by potholes not identified or evident at the time of the inspection. To be honest I've never heard anything more ridiculous. If the pothole in the scenario outlined above involves a pothole already identified and repaired badly I would hope that you have an easier battle with authority than we had.

18th December 2017, 23:42	#4
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	That I'm afraid looks to be too far gone to heat up and beat into shape How about something along these lines? LINK It would be cheaper and dare I say it better than having yours repaired Brian

20th December 2017, 17:35	#6
Coups Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Contemporary SE Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Dundee Posts: 1,941 Thanks: 545 Thanked 520 Times in 402 Posts	At £44.95 delivered for one in reasonable condition as per Brian’s link it seems a good deal to me. You’ll struggle to get a full set in shoddy condition for that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

20th December 2017, 22:37	#8
Proud owner Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Braintree Posts: 443 Thanks: 159 Thanked 126 Times in 100 Posts	That's great news they've been able to fix it, I'm pleased for you. I hope however you claim reimbursement for the £54 it has cost you.