Nearly Died today when wheel comes off while doing 80mph
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
I just came home after watching my Boys from Troy kick some Big Red A$$ and found a car parked outside my house under a tree with the driver still sitting in the dark. So I loaded my 9mm automatic and took my flashlight out to meet him. I walked toward the car with one hand on the trigger and with the other flashed into the driver seat. You should see how fast he took off! Maybe I'm paranoid or it was just a young couple making out or two teens doing drugs in the car but I'm not ruling anything out at this point but I still think the shop F'd up.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
but maybe I could develop a safe lug lock that not only prevents theft but from these hazardous situations from occuring. Thanks for the idea!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
Whoa. 
Just be glad you're alive and no one was hurt. Your entire rear axle, suspension, sway bars are probably bent, along with the other stuff. That is a lot to replace. You should ask to total the car and be done with it. Get an E55 and call it quits on the C55. Good luck trying to get MB to cover any part of the car with all the aftermarket stuff on it. 
We all pay a price when we mod.
Were your aftermarket Brabus rims fake? Unless they were torqued down properly I don't see how they can just pop off even with rusted lug bolts. Unless your installer stripped the threads off of them with the "power drill." You sure they didn't torque it down to 65 ft/lbs with a proper torque wrench instead of an impact wrench. Sounds fishy.
Just be glad you're alive and no one was hurt. Your entire rear axle, suspension, sway bars are probably bent, along with the other stuff. That is a lot to replace. You should ask to total the car and be done with it. Get an E55 and call it quits on the C55. Good luck trying to get MB to cover any part of the car with all the aftermarket stuff on it. We all pay a price when we mod. Were your aftermarket Brabus rims fake? Unless they were torqued down properly I don't see how they can just pop off even with rusted lug bolts. Unless your installer stripped the threads off of them with the "power drill." You sure they didn't torque it down to 65 ft/lbs with a proper torque wrench instead of an impact wrench. Sounds fishy.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
sorry to hear what happened, but that's basically your problem. rethread the hub/lug fittings? good luck trying to pin the manufacturer that has nothing to do with this.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
Yes, Put me down for another one along with a rear diffuser unless of course the car is declared totaled. I should know by Monday when the insurance adjuster meets me at MB Long Beach.
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From: global traveller
some slow@$$diesels
rethreading the wheel lugs due to rust doesn't even apply to 30 year old benzes - that is plain BS
greetingz,
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From: Chicago
04 C32
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From: NorCal - SF
Mercedes-Benz
If it was a factory defect or warrantable work, you kind of F’d yourself by allowing the wheel shop to redrill. Was this a reputable wheel shop? I might have missed this but, did they need to drill to REMOVE your factory bolts? Or was the fitment issue just with the new bolts? I mean, they didn’t try to do something silly like bolt these wheels onto your car using a 14mm bolt vs. 12mm bolt right? Either way, it sounds like they screwed you over. I HOPE you don’t go back to them for future work…
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'05 C55 AMG
lol...you've got the worst luck dude. sorry to hear about your car but glad that you're not hurt. hopefully insurance totals the car and you can start fresh.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
2006 E55 and 2002 E320
That's just a terrible terrible terrible story. Just a terrible accident.
I'm sure that I speak for the entire forum that we are all glad you are alive and well and have not sustained any major injuries.
As for the cause of the accident, the fact remains, you should find the wheel shop or manufacturer at fault and have them put out of business so that way other people will not have to suffer the same consequences. This is a civic duty you have for all of humankind and to protect yourself from another person who has the same situation who hits you and god forbid injures you or someone you know.
Take care and seriously, best of luck. It is just terribly unfortunate that you have been put in such a disagreeable situation. I sincerely hope that nobody else was injured by car body parts that you might've left behind.
Knock on wood, I hope something of this nature doesn't happen ever again.
I'm sure that I speak for the entire forum that we are all glad you are alive and well and have not sustained any major injuries.
As for the cause of the accident, the fact remains, you should find the wheel shop or manufacturer at fault and have them put out of business so that way other people will not have to suffer the same consequences. This is a civic duty you have for all of humankind and to protect yourself from another person who has the same situation who hits you and god forbid injures you or someone you know.
Take care and seriously, best of luck. It is just terribly unfortunate that you have been put in such a disagreeable situation. I sincerely hope that nobody else was injured by car body parts that you might've left behind.
Knock on wood, I hope something of this nature doesn't happen ever again.
Thread Starter
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
The shop refused to acknowledge any fault even when I offered to have them pay my $500 deductible and I take care of the rest through my insurance. Now I'm going to report them to the Insurance company so they can recover through subrogation. I will also sue them for some minor personal injuries. My back and neck are starting to tighten up, my body aches and I felt drowsy this entire weekend, event during the Trojans victory. Sometimes the affects hits you later.
Last edited by AMGSC; Sep 18, 2006 at 01:30 AM.
Super Member
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2006 BMW X5 4.8is and 2005 C55 AMG
Can you say what street they are located on or what part of the city they are in? I hope they aren't on Sepulveda Blvd. in West LA or on Westwood Blvd. in West LA, because I'm going to be doing stuff at those shops.
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From: Bay Area SF
Silver 2002 C32, Silver 2006 CLK 350
man that sucks. if it was the correct bolts then they should have not had a problem. if they did they should have told you what they were gonna do. I hope you resolve this problem, was me I wouldnt want the car anymore, I would have the Insurance pay the car and I would buy a new one
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From: SoCal
F10
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From: MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
A160 CLASSIC (The Tardis), VW Passat Diesel
man hope you get is sorted these cowboys should be put out of business. Drilling the lugss with a power drill that is scary, wheels and hubs etc are one part of the car you don't want to stuff around with.. Glad you came out of it ok though.
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From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
Did you see this rust on the wheel bolts/lugs with your own eyes? The rust story could have been a coverup for them ordering the wrong size lugs and since they already chromed them they didn't want to pay to send them back and get the correct one. Then they tell you it's rusted and they have to drill them out to fit.
Either way that sucks man, glad you're ok. Do you have a picture of your car on the flatbed? I would like to see what the car looked like after it went through all that.
Either way that sucks man, glad you're ok. Do you have a picture of your car on the flatbed? I would like to see what the car looked like after it went through all that.
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From: Diamond Bar & Anaheim, CA
2003 C-Class Sportcoupe
Did you see this rust on the wheel bolts/lugs with your own eyes? The rust story could have been a coverup for them ordering the wrong size lugs and since they already chromed them they didn't want to pay to send them back and get the correct one. Then they tell you it's rusted and they have to drill them out to fit.
Either way that sucks man, glad you're ok. Do you have a picture of your car on the flatbed? I would like to see what the car looked like after it went through all that.
Either way that sucks man, glad you're ok. Do you have a picture of your car on the flatbed? I would like to see what the car looked like after it went through all that.
Ditto. Rust or no rust, it sounds like they used the wrong size lug bolts. Chrome is not a factor either. Lug bolts are so cheap, it's not worth messing around with it. Like $2 each. It's totally wrong and inexcusable if they did try to rethread the hubs. I'd have the guy who installed those wheels on a frying pan now. Don't
with them and tell them that you mean business.
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From: Jacksonville Florida
209/W210 Estate /W211 modded by MBENZNL
Contact Your Lawyer asap re this
Please save ALL the parts Lug Bolts and Hubs!...They will be needed !!!
Sounds like the tire shop in Question screwed up BIG TIME
The ONLY reason the hubs need to be chased/retapped is when some fool crossthreads them! Not from Rust as rust Will NOT form when a Lug Bolt is Installed into the hub...UNLESS the lug bolt is to short and some one tries to install a longer lug bolt.....Chrome lugs will NOT cause this...
Yet another reason I have a torque wrench and soft socket in the trunk...
I Request them to use a breaker bar to remove them and to HAND start the lugs then Torque with a Torque Wrench..NOT a Impact cranked up to MAX air pressure
Gotta love the tire shops with Impact on Impact off...
Please save ALL the parts Lug Bolts and Hubs!...They will be needed !!!
Sounds like the tire shop in Question screwed up BIG TIME
The ONLY reason the hubs need to be chased/retapped is when some fool crossthreads them! Not from Rust as rust Will NOT form when a Lug Bolt is Installed into the hub...UNLESS the lug bolt is to short and some one tries to install a longer lug bolt.....Chrome lugs will NOT cause this...
Yet another reason I have a torque wrench and soft socket in the trunk...
I Request them to use a breaker bar to remove them and to HAND start the lugs then Torque with a Torque Wrench..NOT a Impact cranked up to MAX air pressure
Gotta love the tire shops with Impact on Impact off...
Thread Starter
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From: So Cal
2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
Thanks for the advice everyone. The bolts are still on the three other wheels but the I can't locate the ones that came off. (Somewhere on the 405). The towtruck driver was nice enough to search for, find and retrieve my fugitive wheel about a 1/2 mile north of my wreck. I only have the wheel as evidence and I know that the tire was fine (did not blow).
I will post pictures when I get back home.
I will post pictures when I get back home.
