Tire valve issue.. need opinions. Am I getting scammed?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 132
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2006 C230 6spd > C300 4Matic
Tire valve issue.. need opinions. Am I getting scammed?
Hello again! Heheh.. So I bought my w204 in the beginning of December after totaling my w203(R.I.P 
) anyway.
So Tuesday I wanted to gear up a bit before the snow so I went to put air in my tires, I put air in the front two, passenger rear and when I got around to the drivers rear I noticed the tire valve was cracked, kinda off. Where the threading would be for a cap was gone and I have like a push pin there, unable to do anything except let air out.
Now I live 5 minutes from the dealer I bought the car from, so I went back to them and the service guy is trying to tell me that because it's cracked off it's not covered by warranty or my after market service contract, which I guess I can understand but should I expect the dealership to cover the cost of repair being as though the car is like a month old or am I being unreasonable?
They tried to tell me it'll be 105 for the valve/sensor with 70 labor to put in then it needs to go to Benz in AC which is like 50 miles away(they'll take the car) which I'm not comfortable with and have them program it for another 119. So I'm looking at like 300 to fix something I didn't break and "isn't covered".
Any ideas/opinions on how to handle this would help. I explained to the service guy I'm in a business where I deal with this daily and I make exceptions for my customers, especially if I want them to come back and I'd like to take the car back to them but not if they screw me over, ya know?
Help =[
Mike
) anyway. So Tuesday I wanted to gear up a bit before the snow so I went to put air in my tires, I put air in the front two, passenger rear and when I got around to the drivers rear I noticed the tire valve was cracked, kinda off. Where the threading would be for a cap was gone and I have like a push pin there, unable to do anything except let air out.
Now I live 5 minutes from the dealer I bought the car from, so I went back to them and the service guy is trying to tell me that because it's cracked off it's not covered by warranty or my after market service contract, which I guess I can understand but should I expect the dealership to cover the cost of repair being as though the car is like a month old or am I being unreasonable?
They tried to tell me it'll be 105 for the valve/sensor with 70 labor to put in then it needs to go to Benz in AC which is like 50 miles away(they'll take the car) which I'm not comfortable with and have them program it for another 119. So I'm looking at like 300 to fix something I didn't break and "isn't covered".
Any ideas/opinions on how to handle this would help. I explained to the service guy I'm in a business where I deal with this daily and I make exceptions for my customers, especially if I want them to come back and I'd like to take the car back to them but not if they screw me over, ya know?
Help =[
Mike
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon, SK CANADA
W205 c400 sport
well first off, 70 for labor is the min charge even for a 2 min job, which this is. replacing a valve stem is unscrewing then screwing it in. 45 seconds max. just buy the part for cheap and put it in at a gas station air pump. reset the tpms and your off. am i right?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
2006 C230 6spd > C300 4Matic
and where can I order from?
getmercedesparts.com -
Description Year MSRP Price Core Price Your Price
Valve stem 2008 $3.70 $2.78
Would this be all I need? wtf they want 100 dollars? My sensors not broken just the valve stem... Sheesh
getmercedesparts.com -
Description Year MSRP Price Core Price Your Price
Valve stem 2008 $3.70 $2.78
Would this be all I need? wtf they want 100 dollars? My sensors not broken just the valve stem... Sheesh
Last edited by IllusionX; Jan 14, 2011 at 11:08 PM. Reason: found part
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 529
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From: London, GB
RHD C200 Sport Coupe, RHD SLK-55, LHD SLK-350
well first off, 70 for labor is the min charge even for a 2 min job, which this is. replacing a valve stem is unscrewing then screwing it in. 45 seconds max. just buy the part for cheap and put it in at a gas station air pump. reset the tpms and your off. am i right?
Take a picture of one of the unbroken valve stems. If they are aluminum and not rubber, they are TPMS - which I'm 99% sure they are since it's a W204 - so the part you've listed above is not correct. If it's a "normal" rubber stem, run down to TireRack and they will sort it for all of about $20.
The good news is that if it's just the stem, you can get a replacement stem kit and not replace the sensor. If you just replace the stem, no reprogramming or anything else required.
Here's a shot of mine with a TPMS stem. If you have these (and I'm not a W204 expert by any means!), shoot me your VIN and I'll give you the part number of the stem assembly. I'm pretty sure it's A0004004513 and a standard Schrader AirWave sensor. You can find 'em every once in a while on eBay, but keep in mind the "Stem" is not included in the "Service Kit".
Last edited by UK-C200; Jan 14, 2011 at 11:27 PM.
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From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
well first off, 70 for labor is the min charge even for a 2 min job, which this is. replacing a valve stem is unscrewing then screwing it in. 45 seconds max. just buy the part for cheap and put it in at a gas station air pump. reset the tpms and your off. am i right?
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 132
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2006 C230 6spd > C300 4Matic
Lights are done.. snapped pictures of broken and unbroken.
Broken:
Unbroken:
I just don't think I should have to pay the dealer I bought it from a month ago to have it replaced, I think that's crazy. If it's a simple fix I'll do it myself but I'll never go back to them for service, that's horrible customer service.
Mike
Broken:
Unbroken:
I just don't think I should have to pay the dealer I bought it from a month ago to have it replaced, I think that's crazy. If it's a simple fix I'll do it myself but I'll never go back to them for service, that's horrible customer service.
Mike
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Hello again! Heheh.. So I bought my w204 in the beginning of December after totaling my w203(R.I.P ) anyway.
So Tuesday I wanted to gear up a bit before the snow so I went to put air in my tires, I put air in the front two, passenger rear and when I got around to the drivers rear I noticed the tire valve was cracked, kinda off. Where the threading would be for a cap was gone and I have like a push pin there, unable to do anything except let air out.
Now I live 5 minutes from the dealer I bought the car from, so I went back to them and the service guy is trying to tell me that because it's cracked off it's not covered by warranty or my after market service contract, which I guess I can understand but should I expect the dealership to cover the cost of repair being as though the car is like a month old or am I being unreasonable?
They tried to tell me it'll be 105 for the valve/sensor with 70 labor to put in then it needs to go to Benz in AC which is like 50 miles away(they'll take the car) which I'm not comfortable with and have them program it for another 119. So I'm looking at like 300 to fix something I didn't break and "isn't covered".
Any ideas/opinions on how to handle this would help. I explained to the service guy I'm in a business where I deal with this daily and I make exceptions for my customers, especially if I want them to come back and I'd like to take the car back to them but not if they screw me over, ya know?
Help =[
Mike
) anyway. So Tuesday I wanted to gear up a bit before the snow so I went to put air in my tires, I put air in the front two, passenger rear and when I got around to the drivers rear I noticed the tire valve was cracked, kinda off. Where the threading would be for a cap was gone and I have like a push pin there, unable to do anything except let air out.
Now I live 5 minutes from the dealer I bought the car from, so I went back to them and the service guy is trying to tell me that because it's cracked off it's not covered by warranty or my after market service contract, which I guess I can understand but should I expect the dealership to cover the cost of repair being as though the car is like a month old or am I being unreasonable?
They tried to tell me it'll be 105 for the valve/sensor with 70 labor to put in then it needs to go to Benz in AC which is like 50 miles away(they'll take the car) which I'm not comfortable with and have them program it for another 119. So I'm looking at like 300 to fix something I didn't break and "isn't covered".
Any ideas/opinions on how to handle this would help. I explained to the service guy I'm in a business where I deal with this daily and I make exceptions for my customers, especially if I want them to come back and I'd like to take the car back to them but not if they screw me over, ya know?
Help =[
Mike
The valve stem is part of the sensor unit which is inside the wheel, So, you must buy a new sensor and the dealer is not the place for that. Tire Rack is one place to buy these and there may be others BUT it must be compatible with the MB system. Current prices will be shown on the Tire Rack website. When I bought four from them in 2007, the cost was about $70 each and they sold the same unit as MB uses, made by Schrader.
In the meantime, carefully screw another valve cap onto the remains of the valve stem so as to protect it from further damage. Just enough to grab the threads but not to contact the valve core.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
well first off, 70 for labor is the min charge even for a 2 min job, which this is. replacing a valve stem is unscrewing then screwing it in. 45 seconds max. just buy the part for cheap and put it in at a gas station air pump. reset the tpms and your off. am i right?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
Lights are done.. snapped pictures of broken and unbroken.
Broken:
Unbroken:
I just don't think I should have to pay the dealer I bought it from a month ago to have it replaced, I think that's crazy. If it's a simple fix I'll do it myself but I'll never go back to them for service, that's horrible customer service.
Mike
Broken:
Unbroken:
I just don't think I should have to pay the dealer I bought it from a month ago to have it replaced, I think that's crazy. If it's a simple fix I'll do it myself but I'll never go back to them for service, that's horrible customer service.
Mike
well first off, 70 for labor is the min charge even for a 2 min job, which this is. replacing a valve stem is unscrewing then screwing it in. 45 seconds max. just buy the part for cheap and put it in at a gas station air pump. reset the tpms and your off. am i right?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
That looks like someone tried to phuk with you... by vandalizing your wheel and stem.
If there's damage to the rim - I think that's what I see there - then call your insurance company and file a claim for vandalism - it would be covered under comprehensive... and the fixed issues would be covered under insurance - since this type of issue is not covered by a warranty. As long as your comprehensive deductible is lower than $250, it should be fine...
But if there's no damage to the wheel and if your deductible is more than $500, then saddle up, swallow some pride, and have the dealer take care of the problem.
The last thing you want with after-market crap is a TPMS issue haunting you for the rest of the car's life - like what happens to VW owners.
If there's damage to the rim - I think that's what I see there - then call your insurance company and file a claim for vandalism - it would be covered under comprehensive... and the fixed issues would be covered under insurance - since this type of issue is not covered by a warranty. As long as your comprehensive deductible is lower than $250, it should be fine...
But if there's no damage to the wheel and if your deductible is more than $500, then saddle up, swallow some pride, and have the dealer take care of the problem.
The last thing you want with after-market crap is a TPMS issue haunting you for the rest of the car's life - like what happens to VW owners.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 780
Likes: 3
From: br00klynnn.
C204
IIRC, the TPMS sensors that Tirerack sells are manufactured by the same company that supplies to MB dealerships. I purchased a set of four, for my aftermarket rims, and have yet to run into any problems. I am sure other members have had similar experiences.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: London, GB
RHD C200 Sport Coupe, RHD SLK-55, LHD SLK-350
SO that looks like the "standard" MB OEM Schrader AirAware to me. You can go get a new sensor as others have suggested or you can get A0004004513 from your favorite web MB parts supplier for about $29 and have TireRack or any other tire service center replace it for you. I'd also pick up A0004011214 for $.99 - that's the nut holding it in place - yours looks intact, but for .99 I'd replace it as well.
If you insist on getting a new sensor from TireRack, make sure they give you a Schrader Airaware 433.92Mhz version and you'll be fine.
Looks like corrosion around the valve stem on both your pictures - I'd take care of that before it spreads as well. No clue how it got broken, but I can understand your dealer saying they are not going to cover it. If you just purchased your car from 'em, I'd be hitting them up for some goodwill, though - you buy the stem, they replace it for free sorta thing.
The stems are machined aluminum, so either someone really knocked the crap out of it or you took a pretty weird hit to the wheel that didn't leave obvious marks.
Also, as others have said, I'd seriously consider popping the spare on - if you lose the valve at speed, your tire is 100% flat in about two minutes......
If you insist on getting a new sensor from TireRack, make sure they give you a Schrader Airaware 433.92Mhz version and you'll be fine.
Looks like corrosion around the valve stem on both your pictures - I'd take care of that before it spreads as well. No clue how it got broken, but I can understand your dealer saying they are not going to cover it. If you just purchased your car from 'em, I'd be hitting them up for some goodwill, though - you buy the stem, they replace it for free sorta thing.
The stems are machined aluminum, so either someone really knocked the crap out of it or you took a pretty weird hit to the wheel that didn't leave obvious marks.
Also, as others have said, I'd seriously consider popping the spare on - if you lose the valve at speed, your tire is 100% flat in about two minutes......
Last edited by UK-C200; Jan 16, 2011 at 08:19 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 2
From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
First of all, the tire pressure sensor is a seperate $100 part that is inside of the tire. It fits between the inside part of the tire valve and the rim.
What you have broken is a much less expensive part. To replace the tire valve, you will have to remove the tire/rim from the car, seperate the tire from the rim, so that you can unscrew the tire valve from the outside and remove it from the inside. As you do so, you'll see how the sensor is attached. Its pretty straight forward once you open it up and will make sense.
What you have broken is a much less expensive part. To replace the tire valve, you will have to remove the tire/rim from the car, seperate the tire from the rim, so that you can unscrew the tire valve from the outside and remove it from the inside. As you do so, you'll see how the sensor is attached. Its pretty straight forward once you open it up and will make sense.
