Disclaimer: I am not an alignment expert and my default attitude with mechanics is that they will try to scam me because they're paid in a way that incentivizes scams.
I call BS on the dealer's claim that a bent rim put your steering wheel off-center. They are trying to sell you a new rim and then when they install the new rim they will re-center the steering wheel. Pure gravy for them since they sell an expensive new rim with negligible associated labor and get a bonus used rim in perfect condition to resell.
The tell was that they were unwilling to show you the bend or to swap the front wheels with the rear wheels. You also noted your car drives perfectly smooth, yet a bent rim normally causes vibration similar to an unbalanced wheel. And your steering was centered before the dealer effed with your car. If a bent rim threw off the steering then it wouldn't have needed a dealer visit to show up.
Don't go back to that nest of adders. See another dealer and explain the attempted scam so they will have a better idea of how to "fix" the steering wheel centering. Then report the scam to the BBB and every dealer rating website you can find.
I call BS on the dealer's claim that a bent rim put your steering wheel off-center. They are trying to sell you a new rim and then when they install the new rim they will re-center the steering wheel. Pure gravy for them since they sell an expensive new rim with negligible associated labor and get a bonus used rim in perfect condition to resell.
The tell was that they were unwilling to show you the bend or to swap the front wheels with the rear wheels. You also noted your car drives perfectly smooth, yet a bent rim normally causes vibration similar to an unbalanced wheel. And your steering was centered before the dealer effed with your car. If a bent rim threw off the steering then it wouldn't have needed a dealer visit to show up.
Don't go back to that nest of adders. See another dealer and explain the attempted scam so they will have a better idea of how to "fix" the steering wheel centering. Then report the scam to the BBB and every dealer rating website you can find.
