Cracked Rim and Tire Bubble! ('05 C230)
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
Cracked Rim and Tire Bubble! ('05 C230)
I thought I just had a flat tire but when I took the wheel off I didn't see any problems with the tire, then I looked a little closer and saw this crack and a small dent in the inside of the rim. I guess I hit one too many potholes and my rim finally caved under pressure. This is the same wheel and tire that had two bubbles in the tire probably from that same pothole. The crack is only about an inch long but the wheel won't hold air anymore.
I just ordered a new wheel for about $270 and tire for about $160 plus mounting and balancing.
Only 11,700 miles and already I need a new wheel and tire??? Of course this is not covered by warranty and insurance has a $500 deductible so that won't cover it.
I just ordered a new wheel for about $270 and tire for about $160 plus mounting and balancing.
Only 11,700 miles and already I need a new wheel and tire??? Of course this is not covered by warranty and insurance has a $500 deductible so that won't cover it.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
yup $270 from the dealership. i got the tire from town fair tire, their price was better but i'm wondering if i should have the dealership mount and balance it or town fair tire? i'll have to see what the dealership will charge to do it.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
Black 04 C230 Kompressor SS
I suffered a similar predicament at 5K miles but I didn't have to replace the rim only the tire from Tiresavings.com. They were the only ones who stocked Michelin Pilot Sport about a year ago. I paid about $150 whereas the dealer wanted $200for it.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, AUS
01 C200K | 02 CLK320 | 11 C250 Coupe (current)
Speaking of Welding rims...
My last car was a 94 Honda Civic Hatch, was lowered and had a set of 17s.
i ended up cracking a rim, much the same as you ctC230K!
was quoted for a fix ie: re-roll to make the rim true and weld, total cost: $300.00AUD i ended up telling the guy where to go.
I have steel fabricators at my work, so i showed one of them and he filled the crack for me no probs. All i had to do was grind and sand back the excess, re-fit the rubber and i was on my way. Didnt have a problem after that and the total cost......a sixer of crownies! (aus beer)
My last car was a 94 Honda Civic Hatch, was lowered and had a set of 17s.
i ended up cracking a rim, much the same as you ctC230K!
was quoted for a fix ie: re-roll to make the rim true and weld, total cost: $300.00AUD i ended up telling the guy where to go.
I have steel fabricators at my work, so i showed one of them and he filled the crack for me no probs. All i had to do was grind and sand back the excess, re-fit the rubber and i was on my way. Didnt have a problem after that and the total cost......a sixer of crownies! (aus beer)
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
Well I hope my new rim and tire came in today or tomorrow, it sucks, i haven't really been able to drive the car for almost a week now since it's on the donut. I think the pothole that did the damage was in NYC, i've been there so many times and at night it's hard enough trying to see all the people walking in front of you in the street and watch for the huge potholes at the same time.
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, AUS
01 C200K | 02 CLK320 | 11 C250 Coupe (current)
You could always take leagal action against the proper authority for reimbursement.
If the pothole was really big and is still there you can always take photos of it. Plus you already have photos of the damage it caused to your property.
When i was at Uni a friend of mine did exactly this and got everything covered. Admittedly his father was a lawyer so all he had to do was write a letter to the appropriate people.
The plus for my friend was no legal costs.
Something you'd have to weight up
If the pothole was really big and is still there you can always take photos of it. Plus you already have photos of the damage it caused to your property.
When i was at Uni a friend of mine did exactly this and got everything covered. Admittedly his father was a lawyer so all he had to do was write a letter to the appropriate people.
The plus for my friend was no legal costs.
Something you'd have to weight up
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
From: bay area, CA
'06 E350 Iridium Silver with pano
Originally Posted by ctC230K
....... i've been there so many times and at night it's hard enough trying to see all the people walking in front of you in the street and watch for the huge potholes at the same time.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Originally Posted by DC BENZO
You could always take leagal action against the proper authority for reimbursement.
If the pothole was really big and is still there you can always take photos of it. Plus you already have photos of the damage it caused to your property.
When i was at Uni a friend of mine did exactly this and got everything covered. Admittedly his father was a lawyer so all he had to do was write a letter to the appropriate people.
The plus for my friend was no legal costs.
Something you'd have to weight up
If the pothole was really big and is still there you can always take photos of it. Plus you already have photos of the damage it caused to your property.
When i was at Uni a friend of mine did exactly this and got everything covered. Admittedly his father was a lawyer so all he had to do was write a letter to the appropriate people.
The plus for my friend was no legal costs.
Something you'd have to weight up
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Originally Posted by NO_WUR_E
C'mon admit it..these people are hot babes walking in the street. They are the ones which takes your eyes away from the pothole.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,424
Likes: 3
From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
ugghh...cracked rim sucks!!!!, atleast you only got ONE damaged rim...i got 2 =T and its the 3rd time...hate those stupid rims!
Posted a thread on BBS or AMG rims... still deciding..but 270 for yours is a nice price =]
Sometimes Bubbles are caused if you leave ur steering wheels tilted while parked or something like that
Posted a thread on BBS or AMG rims... still deciding..but 270 for yours is a nice price =]
Sometimes Bubbles are caused if you leave ur steering wheels tilted while parked or something like that
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Georgia, USA
Honda Accord
ctC230K, they don't tell you about this when you buy the car. I have read quite a few posts regarding tire and wheel damage caused by potholes with the 45 series low profile tires on the W211. You may have to try a different tire brand to see if they are more resistant to impact.
There are wheel repair shops. I remember reading about something called Wheel Collision center http://www.wheelcollision.com/
I think that for the supersmooth European roadways the tires on your car are fine. But obviously, the pot holes in Connecticut are a bit rougher than European roadways.
If you search all the boards for pot holes or potholes, you will see what I mean.
It is not even winter yet. Get ready for more of the same. You are likely unable to switch to 16 inch rims because of brake caliper clearance issues; 16 inch rims/tires are much more resistant to the type of damage that you just incurred on your car.
William
2003 E 320
There are wheel repair shops. I remember reading about something called Wheel Collision center http://www.wheelcollision.com/
I think that for the supersmooth European roadways the tires on your car are fine. But obviously, the pot holes in Connecticut are a bit rougher than European roadways.
If you search all the boards for pot holes or potholes, you will see what I mean.
It is not even winter yet. Get ready for more of the same. You are likely unable to switch to 16 inch rims because of brake caliper clearance issues; 16 inch rims/tires are much more resistant to the type of damage that you just incurred on your car.
William
2003 E 320
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
thanks for the helpful replies guys. if i knew exactly which pothole did the damage i would have complained to the city but i don't. also since the damage wasn't noticible right away there's no way for me to tell which one cracked the rim. all i know is that the worst of them are around SoHo in NYC. i remember stopping a couple times to see if anything was broken on the car after hitting some of them! and yes, those hot babes walking the street can be pretty distracting!
X72- what they didn't tell me is that wheels and tires are NOT covered by any type of warranty, not even a road hazard guarantee. i was actually thinking about getting some 18" or 19" rims like on the CL 65, those are hot!
i don't want 16" rims, they look way too small. also i asked about getting it fixed or welded and they said the alloy rims are so light and soft? that they would never be able to weld it and the next time you hit a pothole it would just split open further.
X72- what they didn't tell me is that wheels and tires are NOT covered by any type of warranty, not even a road hazard guarantee. i was actually thinking about getting some 18" or 19" rims like on the CL 65, those are hot!
i don't want 16" rims, they look way too small. also i asked about getting it fixed or welded and they said the alloy rims are so light and soft? that they would never be able to weld it and the next time you hit a pothole it would just split open further.
Last edited by ctC230K; Sep 9, 2005 at 08:08 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Georgia, USA
Honda Accord
The OEM MB rims are cast. Maybe forged rims would be more resistant to damage. I think changing tires may help resist impact damage too. Good luck. I am curious to hear what others have done.
I participated in a thread on another board on this topic. http://www.mbnz.org/forums/forums/th...05123&posts=22
That person had road hazard insurance offered by the dealership. Maybe they don't offer that anymore because it is a bad deal for whoever the insurer is.
William
2003 E320
I participated in a thread on another board on this topic. http://www.mbnz.org/forums/forums/th...05123&posts=22
That person had road hazard insurance offered by the dealership. Maybe they don't offer that anymore because it is a bad deal for whoever the insurer is.
William
2003 E320
