20" Still (!) not fitted - I think this is a sign.

[MartayMcFly]

Before you start reading on - there is no real point to this thread, just a recap of why I will probably cry myself to sleep tonight, and why my car still has it's winter tyres on. You've been warned.

--------------

Well, what a kerfuffle. When I first ordered my wheels back in December it tied in perfectly with a sale FK_Automotive were having so I got a set of 30mm adapters for the wheels ordered up (bringing them to ET30, compared to standard ET29... spacers could wait). They arrived, eventually, and were clearly the wrong items - 4-stud to 5-stud rather than the 5x112 to 5x130 I needed. Then, after a few emails back and forth trying to get them to understand the mistake (not sure if their English was any better than my German), I returned them at my own cost to be replaced by the right ones. FK decided rather than rectify the issue and send me what I'd paid for, they'd re-box the exact same set of adapters and send them back. Idiots. Refund demanded. F**k FK.

So, like I should have in the first place, I called the guy I got all my previous sets of spacers from - Graeme at GNJ Motorsport. He said they were looking at a new supplier/manufacturer for adapters but still stocked H&R, so I did some more sums and figured that I should get away with 45mm on each corner to save running adapters and spacers together (20x9J ET15 with 255/30R20 should work based on other cars' set ups). The adapters arrived minus a set of nuts for putting the wheel on, quickly remedied by Graeme and H&R, then I ordered tyres. The tyres showed up in good time but it was well into snow season so delays weren't an issue. Vredsteins went on the standard 19"s and I went offshore for a while.

Once the snow had cleared and the adapters were all in hand, I booked Scotty to swap the 225 tyres off the wheels for the shiny new GY Eagles and get the 20"s on. By this point I'd done more looking and realised my offset maths was probably wrong, so ET15 was going to be very close. It wasn't, it was entirely too wide. One wheel test fitted and I just wasn't happy running the wheels that far out of the arch, so back to the winters and 20"s back in the garage.

I didn't waste much time getting 35mm adapters ordered. They showed up quite quickly, despite being on back-order from Germany, but I was offshore so yet another few weeks wasted. Next came problem #7 (I think, I've lost count). It was sorely apparent when I opened the box that unless the 35mm adapters were 70% smaller than the 45mms, the box was worryingly light. It dawned on me that I'd only ordered one pair (asked for a "set", didn't twig that they were half the price of the previous set when I was paying). Brilliant. Oh well, called Graeme and he was happy to get me the missing pair too.

This morning I get a buzz at the door - "delivery for Jamieson". Finally, the day has come that I can maybe, possibly, eventually get my wheels on. Or not. Another worrying box sat in front of me, this one about 2" shorter than the one for the other pair of adapters. I assumed that I'd been sent the wrong size of adapters yet again, but no, it was only one adapter. It's the right size - 5x112 to 5x130 pcd, 57.1-71.6 bore - but it's missing a partner for the off-side wheel. I called Graeme and he was stumped. They've even sent 10x bolts and 10x nuts, but only one actual adapter.

I can't even imagine what else can go wrong with trying to get these wheels onto my car. I'm not sure I want to know. Graeme has been back on to eurocarparts to find out why they'd send my half of my 2nd half of my order, and hopefully they'll get the final piece of this puzzle UPS'd to me by the weekend.

Any normal person would have given up months ago and just bought some 5x112 wheels, but I refuse to give in to powers that be. I will fit my wheels, or die trying. I suppose the next hurdle is going to be putting them on and then realising I don't actually like them on the car, or that the colour is too close/not close enough to the paint.

Martin

[Rick_RS4]

why not order h&r adapters from the uk, mine arrived in 2 days for my old car,

wheels on,

done

[alex020869]

why not order h&r adapters from the uk, mine arrived in 2 days for my old car,

wheels on,

done

+1

Can Virdee not help you out?

Alex

[AdrianD]

I too had a nightmare with FK_Automotive with a faulty part. They refused to replace it and i ended up loosing out. Paypal as usual sided with the seller... Will never use them again, a awful experience from start to finish...

[Virdee Autos]

We're here to help if we can

[Rick_RS4]

We're here to help if we can

very recomended, great service, and will get your wheels on finally

[K1Mac]

We're here to help if we can

very recomended, great service, and will get your wheels on finally

+1 great service, and was happy to take mine back if it didn't work out (taped up for mock up) but happy to say they (H&R's) did.

[MartayMcFly]

Virdee, tried calling but lines busy and for some reason an SQL error comes up when I try to PM you. Think you could get me a single 35mm 5x130-5x112 adapter here before Saturday? I'll pay for next day delivery.

[MikeFish]

Martay
Click on the new PM button then add virdees username manually and it will work.

[MartayMcFly]

Latest update from Graeme is that H&R advised that this type of shortage has never occurred before, so eurocarparts now think I'm some sort of criminal mastermind who's stealing single wheel adapters for sale on the black market. Ironically perhaps, I do actually have a full set of 45mm adapters I should put up for sale, but that's the ones that were too wide. I've kept trying Virdee's number but keeps going straight to voicemail, no reply from PM yet. I think my winters might just be staying on until next spring.

[C17LJR]

Not meant to be by the sounds of it!

[Steesh]

The last PM i got from Virdee stated he's not back till the 28th - wherever he is, so he might not have comms till then

[Virdee Autos]

Back now! Don't know if we can still be of help

[MartayMcFly]

Back now! Don't know if we can still be of help

eurocarparts are going to, eventually, replace the half-set I have with a full pair but I was wanting to get the wheels on for this weekend. I've got a pair of 25mm adapters to put on temporarily with the other pair of 35mm ones (I know I shouldn't have the wheels staggered, but this is for looks, not ride and drivability). Watch this space though, still no confirmed date for delivery/collection for the missing 35mm adapter, might still need to just buy a new pair.

[MikeFish]

if you've got wheels and adapters why can't see any photos?