BenzPappa

This is one of my very few posts...so, please bear with me.
A few months ago, I had a flat tire with my GL350. To make a long story short, I was taken for a ride. Literally, which set me back 450$.
In the middle of nowhere, a nice tow truck got me home. Even though this was within the price range, I said to myself that it won't happen again due to a stupid tire.
As you all know, the GL350 does not have a spare tire ( which I was aware of ) and the run-flats can't do more than 40-50 miles distance on flat ( which I was not fully aware of it at the time ). Anyways I was 80 miles in any direction from any city and about 160 from any dealership, so a total waste...
So, here is my solution to a spare tire, which MB was too cheap to create or have one available.
Any opinions ? impressions ? Critics ?

smiledr996s

Lol. That is exactly why I bought an 08 and won't get another. I had planned to get a 2010. There were features I liked better. But no spare was a deal breaker for me.

Is there a spare tire on the latest models. If so what test did they start?

BenzPappa

I wish there was one...
No, and I am pretty sure that most of the models these days are without a spare. However, I am quite pleased with my "innovation" , because it does the trick. Besides, I haven't seen one like this yet

gl450x164

Ill be honest and say that's ugly as f and old school as hell but at the end of the day it sure beats being stranded

DennisG01

I've seen that contraption used on other vehicles (or something similar, anyways), before. I think it definitely serves your purpose. Gives you a little extra cushion for a small fender-bender, too!

One quick question... Towing insurance is pretty cheap... Flats, while they still happen (obviously) are a lot more rare than they used to be... How much did that whole contraption and wheel/cover set you back? I'm betting that cost a WHOLE lot more than what an annual towing insurance membership would be... probably even more than 20 years of membership dues.

Was there no regular gas station closer to you? Most of them can repair a tire in about 10 minutes (if the damage is in the tread). Another option may have been to carry a plug kit for a DIY. I know some manufacturer's state that run flats can't be plugged, even thought some of the tire manufacturer's state that they can be, but leave the final word up to the vehicle manufacturer. I suspect they say "can't be plugged" because they don't want to deal with it.

But that said, looks good! And in the end, it's what works best for you!

BenzPappa

Howdy !
Thanks for the honest opinion....
You know what they say, is so ugly...that is cute.
Well, who cares ... it does the trick.
Now, seriously ... what else would you suggest ? design wise ? I am open to suggestions.

BlownV8

Rear spare on GL done before. There is even a factory option.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...re-wheels.html

Yours looks like those on a G.

BenzPappa

Thank you for your observations and advice !

BenzPappa

Ok, that is a white Unicorn. It doesn't exists in real life. Really ... I have seen that "picture" ( did you noticed it can't be opened ) a long time ago. I asked around in Europe and I could not find one. So... if you do know of one, I will buy a new GL for it

DennisG01

Pricing for towing insurance, distance, places, etc... Holy crap, man! That is quite the bill for that! I just saw that you are in Europe - I didn't know that. I was basing my comments on US prices. I think I pay somewhere around $100/year for towing coverage (covers other things, too) for ALL of my cars. Flats can usually be fixed so quickly that a rental isn't needed, but if I did we can get them as cheap as $20/$30 a day. Granted it's for a car not much higher on the totem pole than a scooter, but still.

But if I was facing the same type of bill you are for towing then I would feel the same way as you.

BlownV8

Here is a better picture.

BlownV8

Directions.

BlownV8

More pics of another one.

gl450x164

all non us models irrelevant in the states really and looks hideous imho

angelglo

I too think it looks ugly but you are right about it helping in a stranded time of need. Is there no way you can fit a small donut spare tire in the back and put a cover on it or do you always use the back area?

BenzPappa

Wow, that is the FIRST time I am seeing those pictures ...readable. Really. Especially the silver one.
No - you will not get that in Europe today anymore. In fact I haven't seen one like that over there.
Could it be made custom ? possible... however the folks at Vance told me that they have never seen one. Now, if they're lying to me then ... I don't know.
The 2nd one with 2 wheels is really butt ugly ...
My "invention" has several advantages, in my opinion:
- does not rattle - not a bit
- does not cover the back window at all
- you can see the tag clearly and you won't get pulled over by a trooper for that
- you don't like it anymore or sell the car, no problemo ... one screw ... that is all and is off
- it nicely cover the wheel and it is made as close as possible to a G specs - in fact I can go so far to say that is even better than a G in engineering.
- super easy to operate and
- no holes into the current bumper
But that is just my 2 cents.
However, I still strongly believe that for such a vehicle MB should have had a spare. I don't care about the add blue or other crap... is plenty of space to squeeze a doughnut in there (mind you, that is also quite large, but not to this extent ).

BlownV8

The one on the silver GL is a factory option. The directions are from the MB owners manual.

BenzPappa

Interesting ... so I was told BS by the Vance guys for one reason or another.
Looking at the # plates and vehicle models, it seems that the general area is the middle east, or even Israel.
However, I pinged all my friends and acquaintances in Europe and no one has seen something similar to that over there. For me is still a unicorn. If ( and I do not doubt ) that is made by MB, then probably would cost more then what I paid for mine, knowing MB prices...

BenzPappa

There, I have found it !!!
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25707A0018524F

Apparently was made only for Australia (!?)

BlownV8

The part number for this factory option was posted years ago. Looks like a pretty part happy conversion.

BenzPappa

If you can find that thread, post, or part number I would love to give them a call and ask for it to see if is still available, especially how much it costs to have it all setup.
Now, in an emergency, don't know if that would work out well.

BlownV8

Search for member lkchris and ask if he still has the image or part numbers he could post.

sak335

Honestly, that looks awful to my eye, but I appreciate the function. I personally just carry a plug kit and a compressor (and know how to use it, including doubling up plugs for large holes.) I'd have to hit something pretty large to be out of luck.

BenzPappa

sak335 - the beauty is in the eye of the beholder ...
I know, it ain't the prettiest one in town, but is as close as "original" ( G series ? ) as I could get.
And plugging a round hole of almost 1 in. ( bridge bolt ! ), I don't know... Let me be skeptic on that. That is what I had. Now, with my luck, and spending the $$ on this, I will probably won't have another flat in a long while.
If memory serves me well, this is my 3rd flat in 18 years!
But, like I said...if it happens again - I am ready.
In all honesty this is MB being skimpy and cheap on a luxury terrain vehicle. The GLs should have had spare tires. Period.

sak335

Please don't misconstrue my response; I think that the engineering on this truck was half-assed from the beginning, and that they certainly could have found a way to integrate a spare into something this big. They didn't want to spend the extra money to properly re-engineer the rear underfloor to accommodate both the air suspension tank and the DEF tank, knowing that there were only a couple model years left before the complete redesign came though. So they took the lazy/easy way out and threw run flats on it. Anybody can open the rear compartment and plainly see that there is room for a spare, they just didn't want to work to make it happen. A single, instead of dual, exhaust would have left plenty of room, but they didn't want to add another part number to the equation...

My issue with the solution above is that I open the rear hatch ALL THE TIME, and if I had to swing that contraption out of the way every time I went to get in there, I know I'd be annoyed. Since I open the hatch every day, but only get a flat every 15 years, the math tells me which to choose.