I just got back from the MB dealer where I met the adjuster. I'm screwed now because Insurance will only pay for the damage caused by the fugitive wheel. The adjuster who is ASE and I-CAR certified and all the MB specialists agree that the chromed bolts did not match the stock bolts. The diameter was the same but the thread pattern, turns per inch, pitch, density, etc.. were all different and it was substantially weaker than the stock ones. In fact the adjuster took one of the chromed bolts as evidence for his pending Subrogation claim and assured me that I would get my deductible back when they are found guilty.

Another key finding was that wheel shop put 1/4 spacers on the rear wheels that were not concentric. They showed me how the spacers just shifted around the hub causing more sheer weight and friction on the bolts/lugs. According to MB these spacers would have contributed to the bolts slipping/backing out of the hubs.

There was no rust in the bolt holes/hub as far as I can see and it would not have affected the stablitiy of the stock bolts. I only saw a tiny bit of rust around the outer circumference of the hub which is normal according to the MB panel of techs.

I will have to pay for the replacement of other three hub fixtures. MB will not even release the vehicle to me unless I do this because they do not want the liability if the other wheels come off. They told me that the Wheel shop rammed these bolts into all four hubs. They showed me that now my stock bolts are too loose to even put my stock wheels so I can drive out safely.

This is going to be very expensive and you better believe I'm going to sue the Wheel shop for every penny of my out-of-pocket expenses + injuries + time off work + wheels refund + punitive damages.

I still have not recieved a dollar estimate but there will be a separate one for the body work and mechanical work. I don't think the insurance will total the car because the three other wheels are not covered under this claim. So far the hub assembly, sway bars, arms, springs, exhaust resonator and axles all have to be replaced along with the rear quarter panel, rear bumper and side skirt.

Does anybody know of a good attorney in Los Angeles/Orange County that deals with these types of matters?

 

What county do You want...LA or Orange?

I know a few that Would be of Use re this matter!

PM Me

 

Glad to hear that your ok!! Good luck with everything!!

 

good Lord you better get a lawyer, like yesterday

 

damn man...this is just nuts.

when ya can, let us all know who the shop is so WE DONT GO THERE!

 

Well, Now I'm getting calls from numerous lawyers who want to represent me on a contingency basis since I've now discovered that I have some spinal abnormalities and mild concussion from the accident. I'm surprised I can still type.

I'm seeing doctors right now and have appointments with several attornys in the next several days.

I'm not sure I can reveal the name of this European Automotive Accessories Shop until the case has been settled but they are located in the South Bay area. Beware all Wheel package customers. Check everything before driving off and insist on seeing the work being done with your own eyes unless of course you can't tell if they are doing it wrong like me.

I was so nice that I offered to have them increase the price of the wheel receipt for the insurance claim to cover my deductible so that they did'nt have to pay it and they still refused. Now they are dead meat!

 

I would love to as a public service for safety but a lawsuit is pending and this info can be used by the European Accessories Shop to find a flaw for the defense.

 

Did you crash or did the wheel come off and the car scrap to the side of the road?

 

Both I guess. I crashed into the enbankment on the right shoulder but the contact point in the front was under the bumper since the car tilted up on the right side as the left rear rotor dropped to the ground. The fog lamp, mesh grill and CF front lip were all still damaged on the right side from the collision.

 

Well from your first post you seem to be making this sound more and more dramatic as time goes on. Im not discounting this issue for you but to go from this as your first story:

"I was skating on my rear left brake rotor across 4 lanes of the freeway and luckily barely made it to the right shoulder while my wheel/tire went racing down the fast lane past me and into the center divider."

the day of the issue, to this:

"crashed into the enbankment on the right"

today.

Rest assured people follow these forums and this could crop up in your case if you try to say that you are now injured after crashing off the road. Things need to be consistent not in a state of flux.

You also stated that "The Flatbed truck pulled it up ramp and further destroyed my carbon fiber front lip and did further damage to my car's underside." but now you say that the damage to the front of the car was caused by an "impact."

Honestly stop posting on this topic as there are many holes so far and you are doing yourself a disfavor to any case here on this forum.

Let your lawyers dictate the direction from here on out.

 

There is nothing inconsistent about what I stated earlier and now. Read "further" damage from your own cut and paste of my post. Also I barely made it to the right shoulder because if I did'nt I would be in the right-hand lane and in the path of oncoming traffic. I really get pissed off when someone doubts me when I'm aching and suffered a loss.

 

if its not too much trouble could u send me some pics of what the car looked like after this? i know our cars are safe and everything but i can't imagine how they would look after something like this happening.

 

FYI: "It is improper for an attorney to solicit by telephone a particular individual regarding a specific case involving that individual for the sole purpose of obtaining employment for pecuniary gain."

see: http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/html_unc.../ca88-105.html

btw, what rates are they quoting you for the contingency fee? you should aim for getting 30-50% of any settlement, inclusive of all fees and med expenses being paid off.

 

Actually I went through LegalMatch.com and the Orange County Bar Association Referral service and the attorneys contacted me after reading my case profile so I think it perfectly proper but thanks for the tip anyway. I may also inquire into Mark Cummins referral.

So far they are offering a 30% if settled outside of litigation and 40% otherwise but I managed to get them down by 10% for both categories. Is that about the best I can do?

 

Good luck on finding the right lawyer. Looks like you have a good case against the wheelshop...Did you know about them installing spacers though?

 

Wow, that sounds scary. You are lucky to be alive, seriously. It almost scares me to get new rims on my car because you don't know if these people know what they are doing when you take it to a car shop.

However, I agree with the previous poster, I would be a little more tight lipped on the details of the accident. It doesn't mean people are questioning you, but I would bet if you asked your attorney, he would not want you posting this stuff on a public message board until the case is settled. The stronger the case...the more of a settlement, the weaker the case or more holes....the less of a settlement.

 

Ok forum please dont smack me for this. Im still trying to wrap my head around what happened at the hub/bolt level.

So did they strip or "re-tap" the lug holes at all four corners of the car or just at the wheel that came off? Also, were the new lug bolts steel or aluminum?

I thought I read the whole thread looking for this info but didnt find it. If its in an earlier post sorry.

Just a side note. I was watching one of those tattoo reality shows and saw a guy curb a Hundai Tiburon in a wet parking lot and it pulled the cheap aftermarket wheel completly off but all the lug nuts were still attached to the bolts on the hub. Im pretty sure a Lorinser wheel would not do that but it amazes me that people are able to sell/install such crappy products.

 

Glad to hear you are mostly ok, that is some scary stuff. Good luck with the lawsuit.

 

I am glad you are ok..

I can't believe a wheel shop would rethread all of your hubs just to use some chrome lug bolts.. This seems completely ridiculous.. Why not find bolts that fit!!

Did you know they rethreaded your hubs? Did you authorize them to do this? I can't imagine that a shop would do this without your consent..

Seriously, don't answer my question above or it could ruin your case..

Good luck..

 

Glad to hear you are ok. Same thing happened to me about 8 years ago.... I was sold the wrong lugs with the wheels by a national shop. About 2 months later, the lugs had worked their way loose and the front driver side wheel flew off around 70mph, crashing my lowered truck. They refused to cover it and being a naive "working" college student, I worked hard for a year and rebuilt the truck and paid for the body work myself. If I only knew what I know now, I would have gotten an attorney. Best of luck. Be glad you are safe and alive. These are the accidents that we sometimes don't get out of alive.

 

I know there seem to be other circumstances here, but note the use of spacers. Clearly the issue was caused by the wheel shop (with or without your consent), BUT it does amaze me that Brabus does not bother making wheels with proper offset.

 

Thanks for the advice fellow members! I have engaged an attorney who has accepted this case on a contingency basis. I will have to reframe from posting anything more about this incident until the case is settled. I have so much more dirt I would like to tell but can't.

I started this thread because I don't want this to happen to you! Just about all MB enthusiasts will consider installing (or already did) custom wheel packages. Make sure you learn what the requirements are before letting a shop do it regardless of how big or small the shop is. The Auto Accessories/Wheel Shop that I went to is not a small player. They have numerous European (Ferrari, Porshe, MB, BMW, Audi, etc...) cars showcased at Aftermarket Auto Shows so I really trusted them.

I would ask plenty of questions to the wheel/tire installation experts (i.e. Tirerack forum sponser,America's Tire, Discount Tire, Goodyear, Goodrich,etc..) and do your research before proceeding. If you can observe the installation and inspect afterwards you can reduce your chances of a major trajedy on the highways. If I had known more about this subject then I would have stopped them before this accident happened.

 

Maybe the BRABUS replica wheels are made for a W211 E Class, with bigger lug bolts and the shop bored out your threads to accommodate the bigger bolts, screwing up in the process?

 

[QUOTE=AMGSC;1760376] Post Pictures

 

[QUOTE=C240-Merc;1772138]I wish I could but litigation is taking place and my attorney does not want me posting anything.