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Question on tires, got flat

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Old Feb 28, 2008 | 11:16 PM
  #1  
mac911's Avatar
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C300 Sport/Palladium Silver on Black/P2
Question on tires, got flat

Poor C300 Sport. Only a couple months old, and today:

Heard a oomph in the road, then the tire monitor came on, and then I promptly pulled over. The right rear down. It has nail in it, but that didn't appear to be the problem. Instead there is another section with about a 1.5 inch pice of something: concrete, plastic, I don't know what. Do you think that is too big to patch? trying to decide, if I should go order a replacement from tire rack cause I don't think I can find these contis locally.

Also - if i tell the repair place about the tire monitor they should be able to not injure it yes? What about weights? right now the wheel has what appears to be matching weights. Will generic weights be very ugly? Anything else to watch out for ?

Worst of all - - jack scratched the piece of the car that is down there on the bottom of the side (the surface was soft and the first time the jack slipped and the car fell on the jack haha). What is that piece called down there ? It's the piece that looks a bit different on our sports compared to the luxury. it runs the entire length of car. I wonder how much it costs to replace all that plastic down there? Would that piece come pre-painted you think?

Thanks so much to all. I could live with the tire needing repair or replacement, but it sucks the car got injured too.

I liked having the tire monitor though. Otherwise, the wheel might have got damaged or something. However, I sorta wish in this situation it had been BMW run flats, haha, since it was dark and everything.
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Old Feb 28, 2008 | 11:43 PM
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06 CLS55 AMG
Sounds like you may need a replacement. As for the sensor, I'm sure it's fine as they're are designed to accommodate flats and run outs. As long as it's not damaged (actually hit or broken), they won't even need to touch it. Once they get a new tire mounted, they will balance it up and you'll be good to go. As for "generic weights", a weight is a weight, and although they do make several deferent styles, it won't matter what kind you have as long as it's the right size indicated by the tire balancing machine. One thing you may want to look into is that they rims be what is known as static balanced, or in other words, balanced in a manor where the weights are placed inside the rim, vs those that are clipped / hammered onto the outside lip. Most competent tire shops will take notice and balance the rim in the same manor as it was prior, but other far less experienced shops (ie: local gas station type service centers) may not be as knowledgeable.

Last but not least, the piece that got scratched, are you referring to the side skirts? If so, yes it can be repainted or simply replaced. Considering its location, you may just be able to live with the scratch, since its not at eye level, but if it really bothers ya, take it to most any auto body shop and let them give you a price quote. In some case, they may be able to spot spray it to make it 90% better.

Well, I hope this info helps. Sorry to hear about your little problem. I know it sucks, but hey don't loose sleep over it. It happens to all of us...
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Old Feb 28, 2008 | 11:55 PM
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Yes, the side skirts. THanks! My mind isn't too straight right now. I need to see in morning if I can live with it or not. It's also on the downward sloping angle, so maybe I should live with it, but I can decide that later.

Thanks for the info about the weights. I'll be sure to mention that they do like you say and weight it the same way on the inside. Yeah, I was just concerned too cause the weights on the side of the wheel closer to where you see the wheel on the car appear to be the same color as the wheel as the ones deeper on inside of wheel are more generic looking, but I guess I'll just have to live with that difference.

Thanks again. I think I'll be able to sleep. ha-ha. My silly japanese sedan never had something like this (a scratch like this), but at least it isn't too bad, and maybe I'll fix it.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 02:22 AM
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1991 560SEL, 1981 300SD, 1983 300SD, 2008 C350
I don't think there is any sensors attach to the rims itself.

That is how understand with the tire monitoring that w204 has to save on cost.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 02:41 AM
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Originally Posted by rebel_mtc
I don't think there is any sensors attach to the rims itself.

That is how understand with the tire monitoring that w204 has to save on cost.
How does it know when it loses pressure like it did then? I thought there were little sensors between the tire and wheel, and that is how they work. They wirelessly send a signal when they detect a significant change.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 03:01 AM
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
In

your manual it should state if the tire monitors are a direct system i.e. in the valve stem or in the rim, or indirect in the abs system.Make sure whoever replaces the tire knows what system so they don't damage it on you.

Last edited by ohlord; Feb 29, 2008 at 03:03 AM.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by mac911
How does it know when it loses pressure like it did then? I thought there were little sensors between the tire and wheel, and that is how they work. They wirelessly send a signal when they detect a significant change.
Run Flat Indicator is different from TPMS. I think it uses rotational speeds of tires to determine if there is a significant pressure loss.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 08:20 AM
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2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
My BMW has run flats and it doesn’t have sensor on the wheels, but the W204 looks like it has sensors on the wheels, take a look at the valve stem that’s how my G35 valve stem used to look a like I hade a couple blow outs and the sensors never got damaged.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 08:45 AM
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Star & Laurel's Avatar
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204's have sensors mounted in the wheels. I believe on MB vehicles the only ones that don't always have sensors are on the SUV's. They use the ABS system and rotational speed to detect low pressure. But this isn't always the case, some of the SUV's have the sensors also.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 11:36 AM
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I bought the tire/wheel insurance when I got my car. You can't go wrong with that. The tires on my car are available from the dealer only. Continental makes them specifically for MB. Good luck with your repairs.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 08:06 PM
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RLE
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Weights and such...

<<Thanks for the info about the weights. I'll be sure to mention that they do like you say and weight it the same way on the inside. Yeah, I was just concerned too cause the weights on the side of the wheel closer to where you see the wheel on the car appear to be the same color as the wheel as the ones deeper on inside of wheel are more generic looking, but I guess I'll just have to live with that difference.>>

The factory weights are smooth topped and silver painted so as to match the inner surface of the wheel and look better. Before I had winter tires mounted on my OE wheels, I removed the weights and hung onto them because they are so pretty.

Nobody is going to try to install weights on the outside so quit worrying about that. In fact, MB hasn't mounted outside weights for years, but mounts them behind the spokes, plus on the inner rim.

Mounting weights near the wheel's centerline is NOT called static balancing. Static balancing is done with the wheel STATIC, that is, not spinning, but mounted flat on a central pivot point and weights placed here and there until it's level. This method predates spin balancers which means it hasn't been used for decades. For good reason.

Your TP sensor is in unit with the valve stem and can be damaged by a careless tire installer who is not aware of it's location. Happened with one of my wheels, at the dealer.
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Old Feb 29, 2008 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by RLE

Nobody is going to try to install weights on the outside so quit worrying about that. In fact, MB hasn't mounted outside weights for years, but mounts them behind the spokes, plus on the inner rim.
MB (if you go to the dealer to have the tire fixed) knows this, but good ol Sam working at the local tire shop fixin flats doesn't necessarily know this...
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Old Mar 1, 2008 | 12:59 PM
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mac911's Avatar
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Thanks. It's a pretty nice shop I'm going to.

However, is it ok if they put the rim weights on the inside of the wheel, or should they not even do that? Only use the stickies even on the back ?

Finally, anyone know the torque to put the wheel back on at cause I be doing that myself. Thanks.
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 09:51 AM
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Weight location is irrelevant as long as the tire /wheel is balanced.

Bolt torque is 96 ft-lbs.
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