You might want to read this before dealing with Platinum Wheels

Some of you may remember the fully equipped Land Cruiser short wheel base which was for sale?

Well I bought it with my brother in law for R420 000 late July after receiving a 100% commitment from Leon (salesman) that it was a neat car with zero foreseeable costly repair in the near future as it had been fully restored. At this condition and only this condition did we buy the car, trusting Leon’s word. It has been a nightmare for the last 6 months since the purchase with a pre-existing issue they have been denying. Here are (some) of the milestones:

Step 1- Do not fall for the sales trick of Leon “there is a guy flying from Cape Town today to buy the vehicle, you must decide now if you take it”.

Step 2- A week or two after buying the car, the 2 x 12v batteries started dying forcing us to jumpstart the vehicle.

Step3 - A month after the purchase, impossible to start the car even jumpstarting it. Batteries are now dead. That’s when I first notified Leon who was hardly reachable. I eventually had to pay for a new pair of Batteries (from a guy called William recommended by Leon) even though I advised Leon by then that there was most likely a bigger issue with the car.

Step 4- Another 2 weeks later, impossible to start the car despite the new batteries. There were also bugs with the car such as the lights switching on by themselves. Furious and suspecting something is very wrong with the car I tell Leon they must fix it at their cost as I bought the car on the basis it was 100% reliable with no foreseeable major costs which Leon committed to. No news. After threatening to go on social media and use the services of lawyer to maybe return the car based on CPA, Leon finally whatsapp me and say they will collect the car and have it fixed. The car is collected within a few days by Platinum Wheels. I tell him I suspect it is the alternator or the electric wiring that is faulty based on some advises from clued up friends.

Step 5- 2 weeks later the car is returned supposedly fixed after they “replaced” the alternator (Leon is always vague with the vocabulary he uses first the alternator was “replaced” and later on it was “fixed” and now it turns out they fixed the starter!!) Leon sends me a voice note that the car is 100% fixed, very positive. I am happy and leave the matter there, trusting him.

Step 6- Maybe 3-4 weeks later the car supposedly fixed does not start. Even as I attempt to jump start it. I am yet again furious as clearly the problem was not fixed since despite Leon promise that the car was now 100% fixed. I text Leon who is AWOL, nowhere to be seen. I am mad. I call the battery guy William who comes and replaces the 2 batteries he installed during Step 3 saying they are now dead.

Step 7- The car starts and drives ok with the new set of batteries for about a month. I drop the car off at my brother in law’s house before going to France on holidays for the festive season.

Step 8- While I am in France my Father in law offers my brother in law and I a new pair of battery of quality for the car, some Willards, to replace the current ones which are very basic. Nice I think.

Step 9-I return from France, drive for 2 weeks until guess what, the car won’t start. This time the battery is not flat but melted (positive connector). I understand that I am on my own with a pre-existing issue I have notified Platinum Wheels since I bought the car. I ask Leon to send me the invoice of the “intervention” they “did” at step 5 to “replace” or “fix” the alternator to ensure it actually took place like he advised. Guess what no news from Leon. I then threaten him to tell my story here, I hear from him immediately, he wants to chat and mentions now that the “starter” has been fixed and not the alternator anymore! I tell him he may call me to clarify the point and offer me a solution. A Director Jacques is meant to call me, still no invoices were provided on the work done to prove they attempted to fox the issue.

Step 10- Now the car is at my place and I must make a plan to take it to Toyota to get it assessed and fixed by some actual professionals.

Based on my experience (all recorded and proven) I would obviously not chose to work with Platinum wheels because in case of a problem there is no accountability, some incredible waste of time and suspicious practices/shortcuts from Leon backed by his employer.

It is clear that the issue was already existing at the time of the purchase of the car which they did not notify me of when I asked specifically. I hope it is not a harness wiring issue which would expensive to fix.

@platinum wheels it is still time to do the right thing and fix the underlying issue or refund me and take the car back.

@potential customers, please feel free to DM me. I will be happy share further on my experience with of my brother in law dealing with Platinum wheels.

Thanks for reading, Olivier