Tire Change Warning...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 308
Likes: 22
From: Houston TX
2015 E400
Tire Change Warning...
Just had the experience of changing my wife's E400 tire.
Surprisingly the small MB jack worked extremely well.
The problem was the small MB 12" lug wrench, pictured below, that came with the spare tire kit in the trunk. I'm a 200+lbs weightlifter, but there was no way for me to use that little bitty wrench to work the lugs. Had to go to a buddy's shop to get a 3 foot extended metal pipe to extend the leverage force for it to work. Luckily we were close to home. Imagine if we're out in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire...
It took less than 10 minutes to change the tire, instead of waiting 2+ hours for MB road service to come.
So now we leave an extra pipe in the trunk, just in case.
Surprisingly the small MB jack worked extremely well.
The problem was the small MB 12" lug wrench, pictured below, that came with the spare tire kit in the trunk. I'm a 200+lbs weightlifter, but there was no way for me to use that little bitty wrench to work the lugs. Had to go to a buddy's shop to get a 3 foot extended metal pipe to extend the leverage force for it to work. Luckily we were close to home. Imagine if we're out in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire...
It took less than 10 minutes to change the tire, instead of waiting 2+ hours for MB road service to come.
So now we leave an extra pipe in the trunk, just in case.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,957
Likes: 1,640
If you torque to the recommended 94 ft.lbs they can usually be removed. Unfortunately, most shops just go to town with their air wrench and weld them on. In that case your breaker pipe extension is the only way to leverage them off.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
I recently had the opportunity to use this tool while swapping my driver side tires (front to rear). I agree the tool is short, designed more for fit in the tool caddy than practical use. I needed to use a steel pipe extension, as well. I think an 18" extension is adequate. I have to figure out where to place it in the tire well.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,146
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I recently had the opportunity to use this tool while swapping my driver side tires (front to rear). I agree the tool is short, designed more for fit in the tool caddy than practical use. I needed to use a steel pipe extension, as well. I think an 18" extension is adequate. I have to figure out where to place it in the tire well.
The Star is not really big but when you use it you use two hands one pushing down and one pulling up. Torque at the bolt is double compared to that 12” lug wrench that comes with the car. It also does not bend the wrench socket downs at the lug nut or bolt as one side is pulling up with quite even force with the other side pushing down.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,695
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
The best hand held wrench is the 4-socket “star”. It is not too big and fits on top of the spare tire under the trunk floor.
The Star is not really big but when you use it you use two hands one pushing down and one pulling up. Torque at the bolt is double compared to that 12” lug wrench that comes with the car. It also does not bend the wrench socket downs at the lug nut or bolt as one side is pulling up with quite even force with the other side pushing down.
The Star is not really big but when you use it you use two hands one pushing down and one pulling up. Torque at the bolt is double compared to that 12” lug wrench that comes with the car. It also does not bend the wrench socket downs at the lug nut or bolt as one side is pulling up with quite even force with the other side pushing down.
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 349
From: Fredonia, WI
2012 E550 v8-Biturbo
When I had a flat, I didn't have an extension. I ended up jumping up and down on the handle in order to break the bolts loose. I don't recommend it, but it did work. I now have a pipe in the trunk just in case 
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I am carrying $10 torque wrench in my trunk.
It has much longer arm than the factory emergency wrench.
I double KEY observation that when you let shop monkey to torque your wheels, you might end in deep do-do
It has much longer arm than the factory emergency wrench.
I double KEY observation that when you let shop monkey to torque your wheels, you might end in deep do-do
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Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 80
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From: Lexington KY
2016 E350 4matic
I also had the similar experience with a local shop that I used a while back.
Luckily I was at my own garage when I had to take a wheel off 2 weeks after I did rotation at this place. I went back and asked them what spec they used for my car and answer was 110 lb. A bit much but OK. I told the manager that I had to use a breaker bar on this wheel. I told him I want you to undo other three and show me. Needles to say they were way over-torqued also. I made them re-torque all four sides.
After I went back for a second round, I reminded manager of the earlier screw up and made sure that they did it correct. I watched a guy to torque wheel by torque wrench while putting it back on.
Max
Luckily I was at my own garage when I had to take a wheel off 2 weeks after I did rotation at this place. I went back and asked them what spec they used for my car and answer was 110 lb. A bit much but OK. I told the manager that I had to use a breaker bar on this wheel. I told him I want you to undo other three and show me. Needles to say they were way over-torqued also. I made them re-torque all four sides.
After I went back for a second round, I reminded manager of the earlier screw up and made sure that they did it correct. I watched a guy to torque wheel by torque wrench while putting it back on.
Max
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 799
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From: San Diego, CA
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
Torque wrenches are not designed for loosening bolts - it will ruin the calibration
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 308
Likes: 22
From: Houston TX
2015 E400
I don't ever remember the MB commercial that says: "The Best or Nothing..." with video of someone "...jumping up and down on the handle in order to break the bolts loose..."
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Well it might be handy to have an extra pipe in the car just in case you're in a rough part of town. But maybe that's just bringing a pipe to a knife or gun fight.
