Dang it! There goes another rim :(
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 106
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From: Houston, TX
GLK350 4MATIC
Dang it! There goes another rim :(
I have the 20" wheels and I swear the rims are made of butter. Just have them look at a curb and they melt.
Off the lot, two of the rims were scuffed. Dealer repaired no question. They looked perfect. Then I went to Sea World in San Antonio and pulled up to the parking pay booth and scuffed the front rim.
Today I clipped a curb making too sharp a right turn (USA) and sure enough the rear rim is now all scuffed up. It $140 per wheel to get them fixed up.
I went 8 years with my Infiniti and never touched the rims. Maybe it's me.
Off the lot, two of the rims were scuffed. Dealer repaired no question. They looked perfect. Then I went to Sea World in San Antonio and pulled up to the parking pay booth and scuffed the front rim.
Today I clipped a curb making too sharp a right turn (USA) and sure enough the rear rim is now all scuffed up. It $140 per wheel to get them fixed up.
I went 8 years with my Infiniti and never touched the rims. Maybe it's me.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Northern NJ
GLK 350 / Porsche 993
Sorry to hear that. You are not the first/only one.
MB made rim an inch wider (compared to 19's) but didn't put wider tires. They should really have 255 instead of 235 to give a little more protection. I have one scuff from barely touching a curb entering parking garage after one week. It's barely noticeable after I cleaned it. I thought I'd get more scuffs before repairing it, but knock on wood nothing after that. My old car had aftermarket rims that I had a lot of practice with (they were really scuffed up). Now I'm extra careful around curbs and have small mirrors for parking by curbs.
Not sure what Infiniti you had but they have narrower and smaller rims. I know new FX has 18 by 8 rim with tires 265mm wide. MB has 20 by 8.5 with tires 235mm wide. So there is less side wall both ways to protect the rim.
Good luck with repair and watch out for those curbs. Post some pics if you get a chance.
MB made rim an inch wider (compared to 19's) but didn't put wider tires. They should really have 255 instead of 235 to give a little more protection. I have one scuff from barely touching a curb entering parking garage after one week. It's barely noticeable after I cleaned it. I thought I'd get more scuffs before repairing it, but knock on wood nothing after that. My old car had aftermarket rims that I had a lot of practice with (they were really scuffed up). Now I'm extra careful around curbs and have small mirrors for parking by curbs.
Not sure what Infiniti you had but they have narrower and smaller rims. I know new FX has 18 by 8 rim with tires 265mm wide. MB has 20 by 8.5 with tires 235mm wide. So there is less side wall both ways to protect the rim.
Good luck with repair and watch out for those curbs. Post some pics if you get a chance.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 750
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From: Mississauga, ON
GLK 350
Sorry to hear about that... have done that myself a few times and and it just hurts. At the EOD, its time to swallow the cost and get em fixed if it really bugs you as they did to myself. Post some pics...
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 23
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From: Northern Virginia
lots
The Dunlops that come on the 20's don't have a built-in rim protector. Of course, even those are only good on light scuffs. Look for that feature when shopping for new tires, though it won't help you with your current situation.
OK, here's a story that may make you feel better...
At my local country club one evening, a guy pulls up in his Ferrari 460 Modena Cabriolet. Has the trophy wife/gf in the car dolled to the nines, top is down, he's got his fancy shades on and making a grand entrance to let the valet park his ride. Blips the throttle - the Ferrari sounds WONDERFUL, all eyes on him and his hot woman. As he comes up to the valet, the unmistakable sound of those very expensive Ferrari wheels grinding the concrete curb drowned out the burble of his Challenge exhaust and in an instant - his cool was gone.
OK, here's a story that may make you feel better...
At my local country club one evening, a guy pulls up in his Ferrari 460 Modena Cabriolet. Has the trophy wife/gf in the car dolled to the nines, top is down, he's got his fancy shades on and making a grand entrance to let the valet park his ride. Blips the throttle - the Ferrari sounds WONDERFUL, all eyes on him and his hot woman. As he comes up to the valet, the unmistakable sound of those very expensive Ferrari wheels grinding the concrete curb drowned out the burble of his Challenge exhaust and in an instant - his cool was gone.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
GLK350 4MATIC
Sorry to hear that. You are not the first/only one.
MB made rim an inch wider (compared to 19's) but didn't put wider tires. They should really have 255 instead of 235 to give a little more protection. I have one scuff from barely touching a curb entering parking garage after one week. It's barely noticeable after I cleaned it. I thought I'd get more scuffs before repairing it, but knock on wood nothing after that. My old car had aftermarket rims that I had a lot of practice with (they were really scuffed up). Now I'm extra careful around curbs and have small mirrors for parking by curbs.
Not sure what Infiniti you had but they have narrower and smaller rims. I know new FX has 18 by 8 rim with tires 265mm wide. MB has 20 by 8.5 with tires 235mm wide. So there is less side wall both ways to protect the rim.
Good luck with repair and watch out for those curbs. Post some pics if you get a chance.
MB made rim an inch wider (compared to 19's) but didn't put wider tires. They should really have 255 instead of 235 to give a little more protection. I have one scuff from barely touching a curb entering parking garage after one week. It's barely noticeable after I cleaned it. I thought I'd get more scuffs before repairing it, but knock on wood nothing after that. My old car had aftermarket rims that I had a lot of practice with (they were really scuffed up). Now I'm extra careful around curbs and have small mirrors for parking by curbs.
Not sure what Infiniti you had but they have narrower and smaller rims. I know new FX has 18 by 8 rim with tires 265mm wide. MB has 20 by 8.5 with tires 235mm wide. So there is less side wall both ways to protect the rim.
Good luck with repair and watch out for those curbs. Post some pics if you get a chance.
I had a 2001 i30t with 17" wheels. So maybe it was the tires that helped protect the rims? I hope my driving hasn't got that bad with the MB.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Northern NJ
GLK 350 / Porsche 993
I actually expected worse than it is tho. 2 months and 1300 miles on crappy roads hitting a few potholes and tires are fine...that's because I got the tire/rim insurance so nothing will happen to them for next 5 years.
As for scuffs it's not that your driving got bad, you just need to be a little extra careful around curbs. I saw a guy in new VW Eos paralel parking, he got too close and his wheel just went onto curb. If he did the same thing in GLK...oh man half of the wheel would need to be repaired.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 106
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From: Houston, TX
GLK350 4MATIC
and the latest on the rear passenger side
I know, doesn't look much in the pictures, but this is my baby ...........
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2013 C63 Coupe P31 2021 GLC63s Coupe
Ouch. When your tires wore out I recommand getting new tires that have rim guards build in like the Goodyear F1, F1 all season, etc. It will help reduce the chances of you curbing the wheels.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Northern NJ
GLK 350 / Porsche 993
I don't think it's that bad, I'd save $280 for now. It'd suck even more to fix and then get another scuff. I have a scuff on the actual spoke about 1/2 an inch away from the end of the rim. I'll post a pic in near future. Andy, as I'm sure you know better than I do form your experience, dings/scratches/scuffs are like wear and tear, they heppen to daily driven cars can't do much about it.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 678
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From: Vancouver WA
'14 GLK250 Diesel
I find it bemusing that nobody here has mentioned that the real problem is MBUSA's decision to make 19's and 20's the only choices for the American market.
This car comes with 17's as standard in the EU. First thing I'd do after getting one home would be to replace the wheels/tires with something that makes sense....the MBUSA OEM choices are all for show, and YOU pay the price.
This car comes with 17's as standard in the EU. First thing I'd do after getting one home would be to replace the wheels/tires with something that makes sense....the MBUSA OEM choices are all for show, and YOU pay the price.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 115
From: Northern NJ
GLK 350 / Porsche 993
I find it bemusing that nobody here has mentioned that the real problem is MBUSA's decision to make 19's and 20's the only choices for the American market.
This car comes with 17's as standard in the EU. First thing I'd do after getting one home would be to replace the wheels/tires with something that makes sense....the MBUSA OEM choices are all for show, and YOU pay the price.
This car comes with 17's as standard in the EU. First thing I'd do after getting one home would be to replace the wheels/tires with something that makes sense....the MBUSA OEM choices are all for show, and YOU pay the price.
. If edge puts 22's and Toyota Venza has 20's and FX37 has optional 21's. And then there are people on this forum taking 20's off and putting 22's and others aksing if 24's will fit. No one would take it with 17's. I thought I'd never get 20's, but they are better looking, easier to clean and come with better tires than 19's. 20's are also wider and will fit wider tires later on.But I will be getting 17's for winter, 17's + Blizzaks. And the 20's will get wider (255) summer tires.
Plus low profile tires make hadle less like and SUV.
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Toronto
GLK350
I never had any issues with scuff or road rash on rims on the cars I own. You just need to be careful
If I get after market wheels, I typically pick tires that have some rim protection features like Kumho Escta so there are less chances of wheels getting scratched. I ran over some potholes and things. When I sold my wheels there are no scratches as all
Cdn GLK have tilt down right-side mirror so there is almost no chance that I would damage the wheel due to parallel parking to the curb.
If I get after market wheels, I typically pick tires that have some rim protection features like Kumho Escta so there are less chances of wheels getting scratched. I ran over some potholes and things. When I sold my wheels there are no scratches as all
Cdn GLK have tilt down right-side mirror so there is almost no chance that I would damage the wheel due to parallel parking to the curb.
