A must-read for all 203 owners
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From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
A must-read for all 203 owners
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Originally posted by C32Andy
My C32 is not equipped with a spare tire....I always wonder what should I do in case I get a flat tire??
My C32 is not equipped with a spare tire....I always wonder what should I do in case I get a flat tire??
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From: LA Area
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
Re: A must-read for all 203 owners
Originally posted by mbtech208
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
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If people don't read the owners manual about tire change, and they damage the vehicle by using the wrong lug nuts, I have no sympathy for them. I spent a Saturday with my wife going over the vehicle together learning about all the do's and don't right after we took possession of the vehicle. Mercedes are not your average vehicle.
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From: LA Area
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
Originally posted by Lockbuster
If people don't read the owners manual about tire change, and they damage the vehicle by using the wrong lug nuts, I have no sympathy for them. I spent a Saturday with my wife going over the vehicle together learning about all the do's and don't right after we took possession of the vehicle. Mercedes are not your average vehicle.
If people don't read the owners manual about tire change, and they damage the vehicle by using the wrong lug nuts, I have no sympathy for them. I spent a Saturday with my wife going over the vehicle together learning about all the do's and don't right after we took possession of the vehicle. Mercedes are not your average vehicle.
Yes but, the bolts are RIGHT THERE!!! You can't get the tire out without picking up that little baggie (the other baggie
) It just seems sort of odd that a person could change the tire, and completely disregard that little bag of bolts without a thought of "Hmmmm, what are these for?" Maybe that's just me....
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Originally posted by jay
Yes but, the bolts are RIGHT THERE!!! You can't get the tire out without picking up that little baggie (the other baggie ) It just seems sort of odd that a person could change the tire, and completely disregard that little bag of bolts without a thought of "Hmmmm, what are these for?" Maybe that's just me....
Yes but, the bolts are RIGHT THERE!!! You can't get the tire out without picking up that little baggie (the other baggie
) It just seems sort of odd that a person could change the tire, and completely disregard that little bag of bolts without a thought of "Hmmmm, what are these for?" Maybe that's just me....
Maybe some people think it is extra lug nuts so if you loose one you have an extra???
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Re: A must-read for all 203 owners
Originally posted by mbtech208
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
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From: PHILIPPINES
07' ML350
OK, first I did RTFM, but that was about 18 months ago, so I'll have to check again. But, here's my question. I've got a C240, and my spare is full size mounted on the same alloy wheel as my original wheels. When I looked in the jack and tool area, I did see a bag with shorter bolts. Are you saying even if you need to mount the full size spare with a like wheel, you still need to use the "special" bolts? Why?
of course not, u only use the shorter bolts for a "steel" spare wheel.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Originally posted by KWiK
once a month seems like a lot, are people really that bad?
once a month seems like a lot, are people really that bad?
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From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
Sorry, I should have specified. If your spare wheel is the same as the other 4 wheels, it's okay to use the standard bolts. The steel wheel requires the shorter bolts.
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From: Canada
05 CLK 500 cab
Originally posted by avlis
The compact spare in the C-coupe has a black alloy wheel. Not steel.
The compact spare in the C-coupe has a black alloy wheel. Not steel.
Thanks for the post MBTech208.
It would be easy to miss spotting the bag of bolts at night.
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From: Canada
Re: A must-read for all 203 owners
Originally posted by mbtech208
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
I can't stress enough to make sure when you have a flat tire, that the standard lug bolts are NOT used to attach the spare tire. Use only the short bolts that are located in the spare tire well. Using the standard long lug bolts to attach the spare tire will destroy the wheel hub, bearing, and parking brake assembly, not to mention make the car immovable. The repairs are NOT covered by warranty. About once a month I see this happen.
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From: LA Area
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
Re: Re: A must-read for all 203 owners
Originally posted by viper
This seems like a really dumb engineering decision by MB.
This seems like a really dumb engineering decision by MB.
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
Re: Re: A must-read for all 203 owners
Originally posted by viper
This seems like a really dumb engineering decision by MB. They should make the spare tire rim the same depth as the regular wheel so that they would not have to include different bolts. Having different bolt lengths is just asking for trouble.
This seems like a really dumb engineering decision by MB. They should make the spare tire rim the same depth as the regular wheel so that they would not have to include different bolts. Having different bolt lengths is just asking for trouble.
it's not that complex but mbtech's warning just reiterates that a lot of drivers' are having problems w/ this system.
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See Garage
Re: Re: Re: A must-read for all 203 owners
Originally posted by young
i agree w/ this statement in general. it should be designed so that a person under stress doesn't have to remember something crucial like using different bolts.
it's not that complex but mbtech's warning just reiterates that a lot of drivers' are having problems w/ this system.
i agree w/ this statement in general. it should be designed so that a person under stress doesn't have to remember something crucial like using different bolts.
it's not that complex but mbtech's warning just reiterates that a lot of drivers' are having problems w/ this system.
MB needs to take these observations into account and do something proactive. My car has a full-size wheel like the other four, but ALSO has a bag of short bolts. Why?
Originally posted by Lynn
I don't see why the manufacturers can't use a scissors jack. They are fairly small and light, easy to use, and sturdy.
I don't see why the manufacturers can't use a scissors jack. They are fairly small and light, easy to use, and sturdy.
And, about those bottom jacking pads... Someone posted several months ago that you can use a Hockey Puck in the jacking pad as an adapter for a standard floor jack. I bought a Hockey Puck for this purpose, but it's too big in diameter to fit into the jacking pad, as earlier described. What's up with that? Has anyone else run into this?
Last edited by MB-BOB; Jan 20, 2003 at 11:20 AM.
Improvise, McFly.
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From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
And, about those bottom jacking pads... Someone posted several months ago that you can use a Hockey Puck in the jacking pad as an adapter for a standard floor jack. I bought a Hockey Puck for this purpose, but it's too big in diameter to fit into the jacking pad, as earlier described. What's up with that?
). I have one left and I have material to make more if there is interest. I was going to post in the classified forum but this came up...
