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Today, one of the MB emblems fell off my hubcap. I'm astonished at how flimsy they look and how little glue holds them in place.
It’s unacceptable for such an expensive vehicle to be constructed with such inferior components.
The only silver lining is that I could find it, as it happened in my driveway.
So you are saying the hub cap, the little 4 inch plastic cap in the center of the wheel fell off? They are not glued on in any wheel. They are pressure fit with plastic tabs with some that have a metal ring. I have the 20" multi-spoke wheels and they are certainly not cheaply made. The plastic center cap is cheaper than a metal one, but that is not very common. You likely had one with broken tabs or it wasn't properly seated. They are not easy to remove and normally take a push from the back with the wheel off the car to come out. It's possible a significant bump could jar it loose but I doubt it. Try removing one of your remaining center caps to see for yourself.
On a replacement, reach out to your sales representative or service advisor. Maybe they will comp you one. If not, they are not very expensive.
No! I said, the MB emblem, the star symbol, fell off.
Well crap, thats a different thing entirely. I would have never thought they could fall off. Sounds like someone didn't use enough glue when it was manufactured. Did you check the others to see if they were loose? I've washed my car many times and have cleaned the wheels with a pressure washer. Then as part of the drying process, I use compressed air and spray those caps down and use a microfiber cloth to dry them. Ive never noticed them being loose or felt they could be removed without damaging them.
I cleaned my rim with a microfiber towel, and the emblem came off. The amount of glue used by the manufacturer to attach this emblem is laughable.
I had to order a new one, and in the meantime, I used Crazy Glue to keep it in place, but I doubt it will hold up to pressure washing.
The other emblems look good for now, but this one is a temporary fix!
What glue does it use for the star anyways? Might be a weak bond or applied in the wrong conditions (ie. humidity and temperature), OP, do you mind sharing a picture of the aftermath?
Only the tip of the star had a hint of glue. I used good old-fashioned Crazy Glue on the entire emblem and cross my fingers that it would hold.
What wheel is that? It doesn't look like the multi-spoke AMG wheels. Is the center cap stock? All the ones I have seen do not have the plain star but a smaller star with Mercedes-Benz and wreath on them. This is mine with the multi-spoke AMG 20" wheel option.
Here is a close up of the center cap alone. Very different than the one you have. Still plastic, but doesn't seem that the star can easily separate from the rest of it. It actually seems to be one piece.
I've seen yours and other center caps on sale at the dealership on a little display case. Yours looks nice and clean. I've been looking for similar options for the Vossen wheels I put on, but haven't found any that will fit.
What wheel is that? It doesn't look like the multi-spoke AMG wheels. Is the center cap stock? All the ones I have seen do not have the plain star but a smaller star with Mercedes-Benz and wreath on them. This is mine with the multi-spoke AMG 20" wheel option. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...630579cb92.jpg
Here is a close up of the center cap alone. Very different than the one you have. Still plastic, but doesn't seem that the star can easily separate from the rest of it. It actually seems to be one piece. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7d8d13c1b4.jpg
I've seen yours and other center caps on sale at the dealership on a little display case. Yours looks nice and clean. I've been looking for similar options for the Vossen wheels I put on, but haven't found any that will fit.
Good question, usually only amg models have just the star without the Mercedes-Benz wording.
Good question, usually only amg models have just the star without the Mercedes-Benz wording.
OP does have an E53 so that is probably why. Didn't realize that until you mentioned it. I like the plain star better. Looks cleaner. And those 10 spoke wheels do look nice. If only the star stayed on the center cap.
OP does have an E53 so that is probably why. I like the plain star better. Looks cleaner.
Oh never mind, I read 20 inch amg ten spoke, didn't occur to me OP has a e53. As non 53 models also have amg wheels as part of the amg line package just the hub cap is still with the Mercedes-Benz wording.
Another thing is, most MB models on this forum have their dedicated amg sub-forum so when I noticed the thread was posted in the W214 sub-forum, thought it was a 350 or 450 model. Didn't occur to me the W214 amg sub-forum section does not exist.
OP does have an E53 so that is probably why. Didn't realize that until you mentioned it. I like the plain star better. Looks cleaner. And those 10 spoke wheels do look nice. If only the star stayed on the center cap.
Good eye, if you want to. You could always pop out the hubcap and replace it with the non Mercedes-Benz wording ones, they are the same size. Yes it is cleaner and if the angle is right, the front wheel logo and rear wheel logo will match and in the upright (or same position) as there are 3 chances for it to match (given it is a 3-pointed star after all). https://cdn-ds.com/blogs-media/sites...-Coupe-A_o.jpg Obviously if you get the Rolls-Royce's style always upright hood caps you don't have this issue.
I removed the star emblem on one of the center caps from my E53 to wrap it with red 3M film. I decided against changing the color and disassembled the cap to remove the film. The stars are secured to the cap with small tabs, not any type of glue. They are "keyed" so there is only one "correct" position. It's fairly difficult to remove the star and I cannot imagine it falling off unless someone tried to pry the cap away from a mounted wheel rather than pushing it out from the backside of the wheel.
Disassembled center cap. "Key' slot circled in RED.
I removed the star emblem on one of the center caps from my E53 to wrap it with red 3M film. I decided against changing the color and disassembled the cap to remove the film. The stars are secured to the cap with small tabs, not any type of glue. They are "keyed" so there is only one "correct" position. It's fairly difficult to remove the star and I cannot imagine it falling off unless someone tried to pry the cap away from a mounted wheel rather than pushing it out from the backside of the wheel.
Thank you for this, didn't even know the star can easily come out. The older model's MB logos don't have those tabs, specifically talking about those with no Mercedes-Benz logo.
This might be true for your car, but not for mine. My car had the tips of the star with a small amount of glue.
Did the entire star and ring fall off? Or just the three pointed star? Are you certain that someone has not broken the center cap and then attempted to repair it with glue? I find it very unlikely that MB would have more than one type of center cap for the W214 E53. The next time I have the wheels off I will snap a picture of the part number on the back side of the cap.
For the third time, let me be clear: I was washing my car and cleaning the wheels with a microfiber towel, the emblem (the star) detached.
I had to remove the center piece and reattach the star with glue. I should have documented the process with photos, but unfortunately, I didn’t.
This is the result you're seeing now.
The other emblems have held up so far, but I firmly believe they will eventually come off as well.
For the third time, let me be clear: I was washing my car and cleaning the wheels with a microfiber towel, the emblem (the star) detached.
I had to remove the center piece and reattach the star with glue. I should have documented the process with photos, but unfortunately, I didn’t.
This is the result you're seeing now.
The other emblems have held up so far, but I firmly believe they will eventually come off as well.
What I meant by checking the other center caps is to see if they are like the caps LAZARU5 posted or are they glued on the same as the one that fell off. Are you saying you have done that already and they are all glued on? Is there a possibility that you had one that broke before you ever got it and someone glued it on poorly to fix it?
The others look the same as the broken one. I am not actively going to try to detach the star from the base. My car has 1'200 miles.
I use PS Break Buster as a wheel and tire solution, the same one I have used for many years and for other cars.
What I meant by checking the other center caps is to see if they are like the caps LAZARU5 posted or are they glued on the same as the one that fell off. Are you saying you have done that already and they are all glued on? Is there a possibility that you had one that broke before you ever got it and someone glued it on poorly to fix it?
If that is the case, are we thinking VPC did that?
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