Anyone have damaged CLK rims?

vtorch · 03-19-2002, 10:49 PM

Just got done with Maintenance B service for my CLK 430 coupe (on 3/15/02) and they told me I have 3 damaged rims. They sent that all 3 rims are badly bent. They say I must've hit some potholes to do so, but I can't believe I could've had damaged 3 rims ! I have 4 other Mercedes Benz automobiles ( 1984 300 Turbo Diesel, 1989 SL 500, 1998 ML 320, 2000 ML 320) and this never happened before. That's why I was shocked to find out that my model 2001 CLK is the only (and the newest Mercedes automoble) to ever have experienced this problem. How can it be? As you can see I am a loyal Mercedes Benz customer and through the years I can't believe something like a set of Mercedes/AMG rims can be so poor in quality.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so what did you do? What should I do? Obviously I need to get a set of new rims, but I don't want this to ever happen again. Is there another kind of Mercedes brand rims I can get that is much much stronger?

Please help

-Victor

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Newbie · 03-19-2002, 11:32 PM

I've bought 7 Brabus rims and spent over $1500 repairing bent wheels, and I've only got 18s! The roads here just suck.

Dunno what to tell you, except that it's a reality of owning a car with low profile tires. Just watch out for potholes and other road hazards! Also, I've heard (on this board, anyway) that keeping your tires inflated slightly higher than normal will help protect your rims from pothole damage.

Howard · 03-20-2002, 06:51 AM

Newbie,
Same thing happened to me except I had FOUR bent or cracked rims. I really think the rims are weak. I never remember hitting any potholes. Think about it...you would have to hit quite a few to have 3 or 4 bent rims. I can maybe understand one bad rim but 3/4...
I have had low profile tires on the last 3 or 4 cars I've owned and never have had this happen before.
Well, the dealer wanted a frickin fortune for new wheels and I wanted to keep the stock look so I ordered Monoblocks from Luke@tirerack and saved a bunch of money over the dealer price.
The dealer wouldn't budge nor would MB. This is one of the reasons, this will be my last MB.

byip25 · 03-21-2002, 04:30 AM

dunno about the stock amg wheels. i got brabus rims too and ive gone over pot holes at 60 mph and rail road tracks and luckily have not bent/broken one yet!

B

Newbie · 03-21-2002, 04:34 AM

Lol, I dunno how you do it. You have no idea how many times I've gone over a bump or pothole too fast and dented a rim, or even worse blown out a tire and cracked a rim!

techbike · 03-21-2002, 08:33 AM

When I had my 400E, I went through 7 17" rims in 3 years.
I trashed 4 17"s in the 560SL and finally went to 16"s (still OK)
I now have stock 17"s on the CLK55AMG, going to the dealer today to check wheels/tires for slight vibration at 65-75mph. Im having it done on a Hunter GSP9700 so it should tell me if I've trashed these rims as well. I only have 600 miles and I've purposely pumped them to 39/36 psi. Oh, I live in Long island and drive into NYC accasionally. Maybe that's really my problem...I wish I could move out of New York...
I must be stupid...I just e-mailed Luke for an 18" upgrade quote.

Harris · 03-21-2002, 04:03 PM

Guys, when you're all saying "bent" rims, what does that exactly mean? I've just got my 19" rims and I am being extremely careful everytime I run over pot holes, so far I havent noticed anything wrong with my rims. But can you just look at a rim and tell that its been bent? Kinda puzzled of what a bent rim looks like??

Newbie · 03-21-2002, 05:28 PM

Well the Brabuses and AMGs are good rims, so they won't actually get misshapen unless you get into a big accident- what usually happens is you get a dent in the outer lip.

Here's an extreme example of Brabus wheel like mine damaged beyond repair:

Unfortunately I've seen my rims in similarly bad condition on several occasions

.

techbike · 03-21-2002, 06:02 PM

LOL:p

That must have been some pothole.

Well, I just got back from my dealer for a rebalance and whew! My rims are OK. They have a new program
now for new/used cars bought/leased from them. (Just started this week) An insurance program for 3 years (life of a typical lease) for damage to rims and tires, includes valves, installation and balancing, for $400. Replacement/repair up to a total of $2000.00. For me with my NYC commute, it's a no brainer. Curb damage is not covered; but when I asked about "hitting a curb", they said "you mean hitting a pothole, that's covered." And although I picked up my car 3 weeks ago, they wrote me up.

With my experience with low profile rims and tires, 3 AMG wheels in the next 3 years for $400 is cheap!

It's called The Road Hazard Guarantee Program and I don't know if one can deal direct but their CS# is 18008999970.
Reading the agreement, it's a pretty liberal policy.

Newbie · 03-21-2002, 06:10 PM

WOW, if I had signed up for that I would've saved myself about $4K!

Except I don't think aftermarkets would be covered, would they?

techbike · 03-21-2002, 08:42 PM

Newbie:

I did ask about that but they specify the wheel/tire size when they write it up..
So I guess not.
I am still considering an 18" Brabus upgrade and wear them only April to October.
Waiting for Luke to quote.
Have you weighed your wheel/tire combo? (Monoblock V)

littletoot · 04-07-2012, 01:20 AM

does anyone have any idea how to find 560 sl 1988 17 or 18 inch amg aero or lorinser wheels in chrome or satin that fit correctly? i need set of four dont care if they are staggered or not have cash now. want tires if avail.
Andrew 954.292.1600
1dodge@bellsouth.net

03-19-2002, 11:32 PM	#2
Newbie Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 411	I've bought 7 Brabus rims and spent over $1500 repairing bent wheels, and I've only got 18s! The roads here just suck. Dunno what to tell you, except that it's a reality of owning a car with low profile tires. Just watch out for potholes and other road hazards! Also, I've heard (on this board, anyway) that keeping your tires inflated slightly higher than normal will help protect your rims from pothole damage. __________________ '00 CLK430 Coupe Black/Black Brabus Monoblock V rims- 18x8.5/18x9.5 H+R Sport Springs Koni Sport Adjustable Shocks 5% Onyx tint Red calipers Last edited by Newbie; 03-19-2002 at 11:37 PM.

03-20-2002, 06:51 AM	#3
Howard Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 136 Drives: 2000 Clk 430	Newbie, Same thing happened to me except I had FOUR bent or cracked rims. I really think the rims are weak. I never remember hitting any potholes. Think about it...you would have to hit quite a few to have 3 or 4 bent rims. I can maybe understand one bad rim but 3/4... I have had low profile tires on the last 3 or 4 cars I've owned and never have had this happen before. Well, the dealer wanted a frickin fortune for new wheels and I wanted to keep the stock look so I ordered Monoblocks from Luke@tirerack and saved a bunch of money over the dealer price. The dealer wouldn't budge nor would MB. This is one of the reasons, this will be my last MB. __________________ 2000 CLK 430 Obsidian Black/red /charcoal Lowered Eibach springs SOLD Monoblocks Brembos SOLD Eisenmann "racing" exhaust SOLD Supercharged 400 HP Jaguar!

03-21-2002, 04:30 AM	#4
byip25 Super Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 609 Drives: 99 CLK 430- SOLD -> 06 RRS S/C	dunno about the stock amg wheels. i got brabus rims too and ive gone over pot holes at 60 mph and rail road tracks and luckily have not bent/broken one yet! B __________________ The Game is in the refrigerator: "The door's closed, the light's out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the jello's jiggling"

03-21-2002, 04:34 AM	#5
Newbie Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 411	Lol, I dunno how you do it. You have no idea how many times I've gone over a bump or pothole too fast and dented a rim, or even worse blown out a tire and cracked a rim! __________________ '00 CLK430 Coupe Black/Black Brabus Monoblock V rims- 18x8.5/18x9.5 H+R Sport Springs Koni Sport Adjustable Shocks 5% Onyx tint Red calipers

03-21-2002, 08:33 AM	#6
techbike Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: LI, New York Posts: 333 Drives: All of them, as much as I can...	I must own stock w/Lorinser then When I had my 400E, I went through 7 17" rims in 3 years. I trashed 4 17"s in the 560SL and finally went to 16"s (still OK) I now have stock 17"s on the CLK55AMG, going to the dealer today to check wheels/tires for slight vibration at 65-75mph. Im having it done on a Hunter GSP9700 so it should tell me if I've trashed these rims as well. I only have 600 miles and I've purposely pumped them to 39/36 psi. Oh, I live in Long island and drive into NYC accasionally. Maybe that's really my problem...I wish I could move out of New York... I must be stupid...I just e-mailed Luke for an 18" upgrade quote. __________________ '06 E350 4matic '01 CL 600 '66 Ford Shelby Cobra (SPF) '66 GT40 (CAVMONO29) '67 Austin Mini Cooper S

03-21-2002, 04:03 PM	#7
Harris MBWorld Fanatic! Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,439	Guys, when you're all saying "bent" rims, what does that exactly mean? I've just got my 19" rims and I am being extremely careful everytime I run over pot holes, so far I havent noticed anything wrong with my rims. But can you just look at a rim and tell that its been bent? Kinda puzzled of what a bent rim looks like??

03-21-2002, 05:28 PM	#8
Newbie Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 411	Well the Brabuses and AMGs are good rims, so they won't actually get misshapen unless you get into a big accident- what usually happens is you get a dent in the outer lip. Here's an extreme example of Brabus wheel like mine damaged beyond repair: Unfortunately I've seen my rims in similarly bad condition on several occasions . __________________ '00 CLK430 Coupe Black/Black Brabus Monoblock V rims- 18x8.5/18x9.5 H+R Sport Springs Koni Sport Adjustable Shocks 5% Onyx tint Red calipers

03-21-2002, 06:02 PM	#9
techbike Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: LI, New York Posts: 333 Drives: All of them, as much as I can...	Wowee! now that's bent! LOL:p That must have been some pothole. Well, I just got back from my dealer for a rebalance and whew! My rims are OK. They have a new program now for new/used cars bought/leased from them. (Just started this week) An insurance program for 3 years (life of a typical lease) for damage to rims and tires, includes valves, installation and balancing, for $400. Replacement/repair up to a total of $2000.00. For me with my NYC commute, it's a no brainer. Curb damage is not covered; but when I asked about "hitting a curb", they said "you mean hitting a pothole, that's covered." And although I picked up my car 3 weeks ago, they wrote me up. With my experience with low profile rims and tires, 3 AMG wheels in the next 3 years for $400 is cheap! It's called The Road Hazard Guarantee Program and I don't know if one can deal direct but their CS# is 18008999970. Reading the agreement, it's a pretty liberal policy. __________________ '06 E350 4matic '01 CL 600 '66 Ford Shelby Cobra (SPF) '66 GT40 (CAVMONO29) '67 Austin Mini Cooper S

03-21-2002, 06:10 PM	#10
Newbie Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 411	WOW, if I had signed up for that I would've saved myself about $4K! Except I don't think aftermarkets would be covered, would they? __________________ '00 CLK430 Coupe Black/Black Brabus Monoblock V rims- 18x8.5/18x9.5 H+R Sport Springs Koni Sport Adjustable Shocks 5% Onyx tint Red calipers

03-21-2002, 08:42 PM	#11
techbike Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: LI, New York Posts: 333 Drives: All of them, as much as I can...	Factory only... Newbie: I did ask about that but they specify the wheel/tire size when they write it up.. So I guess not. I am still considering an 18" Brabus upgrade and wear them only April to October. Waiting for Luke to quote. Have you weighed your wheel/tire combo? (Monoblock V) __________________ '06 E350 4matic '01 CL 600 '66 Ford Shelby Cobra (SPF) '66 GT40 (CAVMONO29) '67 Austin Mini Cooper S

04-07-2012, 01:20 AM	#12
littletoot Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 3 Drives: 1989 560 sl	does anyone have any idea how to find 560 sl 1988 17 or 18 inch amg aero or lorinser wheels in chrome or satin that fit correctly? i need set of four dont care if they are staggered or not have cash now. want tires if avail. Andrew 954.292.1600 1dodge@bellsouth.net Last edited by littletoot; 04-07-2012 at 01:21 AM. Reason: add more type

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