Check your spare tire!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Check your spare tire!
I needed to temporarily mount the spare on our '11 wagon since my lovely wife destroyed one of its tires.
Pull out the spare and it looks a little low... okay I'll inflate it afterwards. Mount it up, attach air chuck and hear air whistling. Figure its a loose connection on the valve stem, go to adjust it and end up pulling the entire central core out of the stem. Not the thread core, but a brass sleeve the outer rubber portion of the valve stem is molded around.
At this point I'm annoyed since I just checked the spare a few months ago and it was good, even inflated it up to the 65psi or whatever recommended. Good thing we were home, if this happened on the road I'd be pissed. Figured I replace the valve stem, NOPE... MB decided to use a odd sized stem for the spares. Find a YT video describing the exact same problem... haha. TR438 is the stem for this steel spare and not commonly available at tire shops or even online. I did find it from a tire supply company, but ended up ordering for a few dollars more from FCP since I needed some other items. MB P/N: 0004002913 for the TR438 stem.
Anyway, if your W212 is nearing 10 yrs + I could consider ordering a spare stem and having a shop swap it out. You don't want to be stuck on the road, only to find that the spare is no good or goes flat shortly after mounting it.
I'll throw up some pics once I get around to it.
Pull out the spare and it looks a little low... okay I'll inflate it afterwards. Mount it up, attach air chuck and hear air whistling. Figure its a loose connection on the valve stem, go to adjust it and end up pulling the entire central core out of the stem. Not the thread core, but a brass sleeve the outer rubber portion of the valve stem is molded around.
At this point I'm annoyed since I just checked the spare a few months ago and it was good, even inflated it up to the 65psi or whatever recommended. Good thing we were home, if this happened on the road I'd be pissed. Figured I replace the valve stem, NOPE... MB decided to use a odd sized stem for the spares. Find a YT video describing the exact same problem... haha. TR438 is the stem for this steel spare and not commonly available at tire shops or even online. I did find it from a tire supply company, but ended up ordering for a few dollars more from FCP since I needed some other items. MB P/N: 0004002913 for the TR438 stem.
Anyway, if your W212 is nearing 10 yrs + I could consider ordering a spare stem and having a shop swap it out. You don't want to be stuck on the road, only to find that the spare is no good or goes flat shortly after mounting it.
I'll throw up some pics once I get around to it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
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W212 FL
Thanks for the heads up , nowadays most cars come with the tire repair kits instead but I prefer having to have a spare tire as well. You did your homework inflating tire before but it couldn't keep it . Strange but as you said it was good you were at home
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,601
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From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
BMW,
Where have you been all these time ?
I miss your informative post...
Hope all good yourself and family yah....
Where have you been all these time ?
I miss your informative post...
Hope all good yourself and family yah....
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 73
Likes: 83
2014 E550 4Matic
I had a similar issue - needed my spare after hitting an infamous Detroit pothole. Spare was flat, but very fortunately, I had my Ryobi tire inflator with me, so we were back on the road quickly.
I now have a full size spare down in the well.
I now have a full size spare down in the well.
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From: US
2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
The short story was I had to deal with driving on the spare for a week (do not drive much anyways) until I got a matching replacement tire after fatally puncturing a 5K miles tire. I decided then to have a full-size spare tire as in the old days. Found a repolished matching MB wheel, no welding anywhere, and no signs of bending on Ebay and luckily the seller was in town
. I like full-size spares, and I do not like throwing/store a tire with too many miles in it. I got the road hazard warranty new tire replacement back after a year, so now the spare is newer than its other 4 siblings.Last edited by JCM_MB; Aug 10, 2022 at 09:19 AM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
I feel what you're saying, my collapsible spare has been tucked under for 10 years as well, probably worthless at this point. Knock on wood I've never had a flat except for the time someone slashed my tire, it was towed that day 
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ON...P004/320684371
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MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
I don't normally check my spare but have had it blown out a few times and I do carry a Ryobi inflator. Last time I had a flat, I checked the tire pressure and it was down to 30 and I think it's something like 60 psi so I put that in it with the inflator. Last time I had a flat I was able to just park it and go home and grab my tools like the floor jack and my Milwaukee 2767. 1400 foot pounds in reverse. I was a little shocked when it had a little trouble with one of the lug nuts, but after 10-15 seconds, it finally came free. Ryobi just came out with a high torque impact gun, not as good as the Milwaukee one at 1170 foot pounds in reverse but pretty close. It's $159 though with a battery so about half the price you'd pay for the Milwaukee. Didn't want to leave the Milwaukee in the car in case someone ever broke in but at $159, I might do that for the Ryobi.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ON...P004/320684371
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ON...P004/320684371
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
In my wife's case, she hit a rock or curb hard enough for the rim edge to slice thru the tire's sidewall... they don't make plugs big enough for that haha.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 1,012
'11 E350, '11 E550, '98 M3, '95 E320
Now looking for maybe a GLA or HR-V for my wife... the wagon is great, but she came from a civic and the wagon is too "big".
