rediesel

Wife got called out for an emergency at the hospital (1.5-2 miles from home) at 4am yesterday - it was dark and rainy. She called me at 6am to let me know she had a flat rear tire due to a pothole and see if I could change it since she was finishing up. As I was loosening the lugbolts I saw some funny "fabric" inside my wheel - it wasn't fabric. Here is a pic.



Impact caused wheel to tear. Tire (Cont DWS) looked fine with NO visable damage. However, when the shop dismounted the tire there was "rubber dust" from it being run while flat (less than a mile) so the tire is also shot.

Got a used eBay wheel for $320 (OEM with correct part # - no replica) since the dealer price was $963 + core.

aquinob

Wow that sucks. Insurance pick it up? Hopefully they can switch the TPMS sensor over to the new rim.

Airmousam

Glad she was ok, and good deal on the replacement!

noka

Wow, looks like a hard hit on a sharp edge. I had tire and wheel insurance on some past vehicles and decided not to get it this time. So two weeks ago something cut the sidewall of my tire and I had to replace it. Go figure. I still think I might be better off in the long run,.... only time will tell. Good point from other poster about checking whether auto insurance would cover it, depending on your deductible. Lucky that you found the wheel you needed on ebay, when you needed it.

homeofstone

Glad she is ok and its was only a wheel and tire.

This is why I have AAA and tow insurance since my wife may be 40 to 100 miles from home during work.

ttsagris

I had the EXACT same thing happen to me last winter after hitting a pothole. It looked as if the metal had been torn like paper. After bending 3 wheels within a year (the roads around here are, let's say, FREAKING AWFUL) I'm going to try some aftermarket wheels.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind paying so much in taxes every year if I could at least drive to work without looking like I'm putting my car through a slalom run just to avoid the road craters.

dbldpr

sorry to see this happen. Pot holes are a bummer

MBSebas87

that's rough man!!

Streamliner

Let's send this photo to Stuttgart as yet another reason why ALL cars should come with a full size spare & jack in the trunk.

extremetm

You could have had the wheel repaired to look like new for around $135.

Streamliner

I'm sure you are right about that, but why take even the slightest chance that the repair might not be done 100% correctly on something as important as a wheel? I want my wheels just as they came from the factory in Germany, not repaired by someone who may be here today and gone tomorrow. A repair to a body panel or the upholstery, fine. Repair my wheels or my brake discs, forgetaboutit!

extremetm

Then the OP probably should have bought from the factory, if he shares your view. For all we know, the ebay wheel purchased could had been repaired previously.

You'd be surprised how good some of these wheel repair shops are. It really is an art craft.

Streamliner

Again, I'm sure you are right, but we all have our priorities. If my wheel gets torn up like the one shown, I'm getting a brand new one, but that's just me.

rediesel

Thanks for the support. I'm not making an insurance claim; although I might send a letter to the Dept Of Highways requesting reimbursement. Whether I pay myself, insurance, or state at the end of the day I still pay.

Glad I have a space-saving spare while I wait for a wheel - even the dealer said it would take a couple of days to get in. Even though I'd rather not drive with the little spare and just drive another car the spare gives us the option to drive the car while we wait, and honestly could serve us for a few weeks if necessary. Run-Flats sans spare would leave that car inoperable for days while I wait for a wheel and tire.

I thought about getting a new factory wheel since so many are refurbished, but I think I got a good one. It didn't come from a re-furb house. The manufacturing markings printed usually in yellow ink inside the wheel are a good way to make sure it hasn't been refinished as these are painted over. I actually made sure this damaged wheel wasn't refurbished since I just got the car CPO and would have made the dealer pay had it been.

No way would I repair that wheel for myself or anyone else to drive on I'll take it with some cans to the scrap yard and get $0.50/lb.

noka

Perhaps it could "look" like new but would it be as strong and safe as new? I have my doubts. It's one thing to fix minor cosmetic curb rash (e.g. where the bead was not affected). It's another thing to fix major structural damage like the one in the pic. That's my impression about it anyway.

tpick23

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...yleiv-rim.html

extremetm

I looked at the picture again and I see what you all are saying. It does look like the integrity of the wheel is compromised beyond repair. I stand corrected.

LogicalApex

Very intense. Glad your wife is OK!

hyperion667

now that's a weird spot whoh, glad it worked out

BenzV12

Sorry to hear that , what a damage . Good thing your wife and the car is OK

Mud

I think you're better safe than sorry with this one. I've had rims repaired before with great results but nothing like the pic, just some slight impact dents on the rim, curb rash, stuff like that. I would have done the same and replaced the rim.

mleskovar

I don't come from pot hole country so seeing a section in the middle of the rim blown out like that without damaging the rim edges is very interesting. Does it happen that way often? Sounds like you recovered well though.

OnlyGerman

Been there! Better than busting 2 rims with tires! Glad you were able to find another rim quickly though...

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...cked-rims.html

Airmousam

I remember that thread, did the city ever get back to you? Would be awesome if they covered it!

DonClaudio99

i hit a giant blind pothole doing about 10mph that was on the other side of a raised railroad track.
it sounded so loud and felt so hard i was amazed that i had no damage to the rim. after it hit the car had no tpms signal and drove straight.
i drove about 10 miles and parked at the office before seeing that both right side tires actually were damaged but not flat (see pics). lucky i always buy tire insurance and immediately drove to the tire store and again lucky for me had two of the conti 18's in stock.
i too am waiting for the city to reimburse me.