Warning Valve Stems on 18 AMG Wheels - Photos
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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2009 Mercedes C300
Warning Valve Stems on 18 AMG Wheels - Photos
I just want to put this out there as a warning to you all to check your valve stems. Read below:
...about a year ago I lost one of the factory "grey/siver" valve stem covers and replaced all four of my valve stem covers with a set of genric chrome caps which looked nice until the other day when I was driving and the "tire pressure indicator" started to come on......I pulled over and did a quick visual check and the tires seemed fine....so I proceeded to the closest gas station and when I took off the chrome caps metal valve stem crumbled...luckily I have a good relationship with the dealers so they covered the replacements had they not it would have been a $200.00 repair.
Below are pictures of the driver and passenger side valve stems after the valve caps were removed......you'll note that the valves are in tact.....but the valve only had one and 1/2 turns securing it....had I been driving at speed and this had failed....you probably wouldn't be reading this on the forum!!!!!!
In short....take a minute...and check you valves stems....if you have a set of chrome caps throw them out and go back to the rubber ones as this was caused by a combination of road salt and unlike metals reacting.
Scott
...about a year ago I lost one of the factory "grey/siver" valve stem covers and replaced all four of my valve stem covers with a set of genric chrome caps which looked nice until the other day when I was driving and the "tire pressure indicator" started to come on......I pulled over and did a quick visual check and the tires seemed fine....so I proceeded to the closest gas station and when I took off the chrome caps metal valve stem crumbled...luckily I have a good relationship with the dealers so they covered the replacements had they not it would have been a $200.00 repair.
Below are pictures of the driver and passenger side valve stems after the valve caps were removed......you'll note that the valves are in tact.....but the valve only had one and 1/2 turns securing it....had I been driving at speed and this had failed....you probably wouldn't be reading this on the forum!!!!!!
In short....take a minute...and check you valves stems....if you have a set of chrome caps throw them out and go back to the rubber ones as this was caused by a combination of road salt and unlike metals reacting.
Scott
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bay Area, CA
2010 C63, 2007 X5
So that's why our valve stem covers are made of cheap plastic. I was about to purchase some metal "AMG" covers, so I'll stay away from them and look for stainless steel. Thanks!
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Joined: May 2008
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From: Long Island, New York
2013 C300 Sport Black Darth V3.0
That happened because you didn't replace them with Aluminum caps the chrome ones you use were bronze under the chrome and it caused the reaction you have encountered. I had the same happen once I changed to like metals I had no problem.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,047
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From: Toronto
2008 C300 Sport 4matic
The same thing happened to me today. I suspect it was due to the corrosion from the road salt as it happened only after one winter season (with a new set of caps) in Toronto as they use a lot of salt on the roads.
Never had a problem in Colorado for a few years on one set of caps as they use magnesium chloride instead of salt.
I don't have the AMG wheels, they are aftermarket wheels with metal valve stems, so I guess this could happen to anyone.
There is a member who had the same problem but with the OEM plastic caps, but it may be due to either over tightening or impact to the stems:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...g-scammed.html
Anyone know of any good sources of stainless steel caps instead of cheap chrome/aluminum ones?
Never had a problem in Colorado for a few years on one set of caps as they use magnesium chloride instead of salt.
I don't have the AMG wheels, they are aftermarket wheels with metal valve stems, so I guess this could happen to anyone.
There is a member who had the same problem but with the OEM plastic caps, but it may be due to either over tightening or impact to the stems:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...g-scammed.html
Anyone know of any good sources of stainless steel caps instead of cheap chrome/aluminum ones?
Last edited by aowhaus; Jun 26, 2011 at 08:37 PM.
