I was driving along and I felt something funny with the ride. I looked and the front left was completely flat. I replaced it with the spare tire and made it home.

I went to the tire store and the guy showed methat my wheel was cracked in the inside rim. They referred me to a wheel repair shop and they repaired the wheel (welding, straightening). When I picked up the wheel, I could see a bump at the weld point from the inside. Surprisingly, the car drives great and in the last few days, I went up to 100 mph a few times on the highway.

I still don't know if the wheel cracked first or the tire went flat first.

I googled cracked wheels and like everything else, there are many opinions on the net. Some people said the wheel will crack again.

I am thinking maybe I should get a new wheel but it's hard to find these old wheels. Mine is the old AMG Type IV double-spoke wheel as the C55, or C32 (left one in the picture). Where can I find these wheels? My local dealership can probably get it but it would be expensive.

 

Not sure but I think ur in toronto they're selling a set for $700 but scratched up rims lol
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-tires-rims/ci...ationFlag=true

U can try to buy 1 rim? Lol with that money tho u can buy a new set of rims

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-tires-rims/mi...ationFlag=true

Another $1200

 

Would not worry about it

 

If properly repaired should be fine.

Those are the old C32 style wheel not C55.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mercedes_alloy_wheels

 

Looks like I'm in your situation. I hit some potholes causing a blowout the day I purchased my CL65. I replaced the tire, but the vibrations got worse and when I had it inspected a crack and bend was found. I raced the car in this condition last week, hitting 121mph.

Anyway, I'm getting it welded up and straightened tomorrow, then I'll be racing it again this weekend. From what I've read, if the repair is done properly it should be as strong as new. I hope so, as I plan to hit 150's at Clayton in September.

 

I remember they were from an AMG C Class not sure if they were from C32 or C55. Thanks for the clarifications.

Does someone know of the part number (17x7.5)?

 

I found the invoice and the part number for this wheel is 6-6-03-1026.

 

Theae are not the same wheels. Mine is the early Type 4 with the unbroken circular centre. The spokes on my wheels are shorter than these. One visable differnece is my wheel has the word AMG both ablove and below the center cap.

Furthermore, these are 18-inch , mine is 17-inch.

Thanks anyway for your help.

 

I rsearched onlne. Some people said that once the wheel was cracked and repaired (welded), the wheel would loose its structual integrity.

Although the wheel is now OK, I did 100-105mph many times since the repair. I am concerned that it will crack again if the same spot hits a pothole.

 

yeah I would almost see it as the same situation as a patched tire. It can be fixed and be totally fine but there is some structual integrity that might make it slightly off. I would think your issue may not be at high speeds since if its balanced you wont have an issue but you may have an issue in a rough driving condition like a really rough road or hitting a pothole.

 

Decision, decision!

Have to decide to get another one or keep this one until it cracks again......

 

drive with the repaired one while keeping an eye on ebay and CL for a replacement seems to be the sensible answer?

 

Have question on MB inventory on wheels.

This AMG IV wheel came out maybe 12 years ago and discontinued a few years later. How long will MB keep stock of alloy wheels?

I went to MB dealership and given the part number, the parts guy said he has one in the warehouse. Most MB dealerdhips in Canada are corporate stores so they all share the same inventory. Surprisingly, the list price now ($500CAN) is much less than the list price 10years ago ($900CAN) when I bought it. I usually get 15-20% off from this guy.

My concern is if I don't buy now, they may soon go out of stock.

 

You can still get MB wheels from the 1960's. For older cars you need to go to the Classic Center.

 

Thanks, Glyn.
What is this Classic Center? Is there a website?

 

Hello, I have a set of the Amg wheels ( the left wheel in the pic in the thread starter. I have a good set of 4. I will split them. They have some rash but can be re-surfaced I'm sure. I will sell 100.00 each shipped in the continental u.s.a. Email jserio1 at socal.rr.com if interested. They will be thoroughly checked before shipped to ensure no repairs were done. Joe

 

Thanks for your kind offer.

Considering the price of a new one, it would not make sense to buy an used one especially since I am in Canada. I called oediscountparts, the shipping cost of an alloy wheels is $90 US. So, $100 + $90 + $140 (cost to repaint) = $330US, this is about $365CAN.

My dilemma is still the same, a new one or keep the repaired (welded) one. Many opinions out there, some say if done right, the welded wheel would be as strong, others say it would crack again soon.

 

No worries. Just looking to help

 

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/enthusiast/classic_center

 

Went the Site, no much information there. The site mostly talks about vintage MB. My car is old but probably not considered vintage yet!

It was a nice day today and I drove my car with sunroof and and all windows down. Then I smelt burning rubber and I pulled off the highway to inspect my tire. All OK and the smell came from another car or somewhere nearby.

I think for the ease of mind, I will just buy the wheel and keep this repaired one for spare.

 

All I was trying to illustrate is that you can get parts for Benz of any age if you have a deep pocket!

The Classic Center has just supplied alloy wheels to a friend for a 1969 W111 Cabrio.

 

Wow. 1969 280SE is a great classic.

 

For the piece of mind, I purchase a new wheel from the dealership.
I happen to have a older front tire around, I will mount it to the welded wheel and keep it as full size spare.