View Poll Results: Is your Lug Nuts Rusty?
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Rusty Lug Nuts Pic!
11-29-2014, 10:01 PM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Toronto & California
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2015 ML400 4MATIC, 2014 E350 4MATIC, 2006 E350
Rusty Lug Nuts Pic!
Hi what can I do to fix these ugly lug nuts, since I have 92000 km, and the warranty ended they cant be replaced, since they consider this as,"Cosmetic" What should I do that can make them look better without taking them off Thanks
Last edited by ml3504matic____; 11-29-2014 at 10:05 PM.
11-30-2014, 02:02 PM
#3
Member
You'll have to take them off to do anything about it...
Honestly, I wouldn't bother powder coating them; it would be cheaper/faster to buy new ones. Wrecking yards are a good place to look, and tire shops often have chrome ones available for lower prices than the auto parts stores.
If you're into reloading, or know someone who is, ask if you can tumble them in a brass tumbler. That will get them clean enough to paint. Put them in a piece of cardboard, and spray with acid etch primer, then 2k primer, then spray paint. Just spray the caps; don't worry about the threads. If you pull one from each tire, you can do them 5 at a time without having to worry about the wheel falling off...
Honestly, I wouldn't bother powder coating them; it would be cheaper/faster to buy new ones. Wrecking yards are a good place to look, and tire shops often have chrome ones available for lower prices than the auto parts stores.
If you're into reloading, or know someone who is, ask if you can tumble them in a brass tumbler. That will get them clean enough to paint. Put them in a piece of cardboard, and spray with acid etch primer, then 2k primer, then spray paint. Just spray the caps; don't worry about the threads. If you pull one from each tire, you can do them 5 at a time without having to worry about the wheel falling off...
12-02-2014, 02:03 AM
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2013
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2006 Mercedes ML 350
About once or twice a year I take my lug nuts off , buff them on the buffing wheel and spray paint them with clear lacquer.
Like I said, thats good for about a year .
Like I said, thats good for about a year .
12-02-2014, 09:20 PM
#5
Super Member
They all rust out. I just buy new ones ever so often and consider it maintenance. Thought about powder coating, or so, but will have to wait till I buy a new set, and have those done, then replace the old ones.
Several years ago it was figured here that there was some Law in Germany that requires the zinc (or whatever the anti rust chemical is), to be removed, so that when the vehicle goes to the eventual landfill, the lugs don't pollute the planet. Almost every German vehicle I see have rusty lugs.
Several years ago it was figured here that there was some Law in Germany that requires the zinc (or whatever the anti rust chemical is), to be removed, so that when the vehicle goes to the eventual landfill, the lugs don't pollute the planet. Almost every German vehicle I see have rusty lugs.
12-05-2014, 09:34 AM
#6
Senior Member
You will need to unbolt the wheels for sure.
Two choices:
Replace - buy them from Amazon in the US.. I think they are $9 if you buy one at a time, so I'm sure if you buy a whole set they're a bit cheaper. This is for OEM equipment (Febi I think.. can't remember the brand)
Repaint - I would get a wire brush, line up your lug bolts in a vice (use wood so you don't mess up the threads, then wire brush and paint them. If you use a decent spray primer and spray paint you should be good for years. Use a wheel paint if possible.. Duplicolor has a wheel paint in silver that is almost exactly the same color as MB wheels.
I also threw away those lock nuts because I found the original lugs in my trunk so I swapped them. The lock nuts scare me because a)you can lose the key and they're hard to remove, and b)will they still come off as they get rustier. I don't think anyone's interested in stealing a regular set of ML/GL wheels anyhow.
Two choices:
Replace - buy them from Amazon in the US.. I think they are $9 if you buy one at a time, so I'm sure if you buy a whole set they're a bit cheaper. This is for OEM equipment (Febi I think.. can't remember the brand)
Repaint - I would get a wire brush, line up your lug bolts in a vice (use wood so you don't mess up the threads, then wire brush and paint them. If you use a decent spray primer and spray paint you should be good for years. Use a wheel paint if possible.. Duplicolor has a wheel paint in silver that is almost exactly the same color as MB wheels.
I also threw away those lock nuts because I found the original lugs in my trunk so I swapped them. The lock nuts scare me because a)you can lose the key and they're hard to remove, and b)will they still come off as they get rustier. I don't think anyone's interested in stealing a regular set of ML/GL wheels anyhow.
