impresta

Hello,

So I brought my GLK in for second servicing and got a call from Benz dealer that my rims were badly bent. They say I will feel a lot of vibrations when I drive and screw up my alignment a whole whack of other stuff. They want me to fork out $3000 CAD for 2 new rims.

Can you guys help me out and give me some ideas as to what I can do? I went under my car and looked at all the rims and could not notice any noticeable bending on the rims. $3000 is a big rip off...

icool007

Wow.. that's crazy...
How do you drive your glk? Do you like drift all the time and high speed run in the dirt field or like the move transporter style driving...?
You can't have bent rim from normal daily use....or can you?

impresta

I don't drive Transporter stylez lol...I drive grandma style!

They say I bent them so I'm taking their word for it. But I don't want to pay $3000 for 2 rims. Any suggestions?

ble2716

What is the size of your rims??
If it's 19 inches, you can ask these folks.
Maybe they can give you a good deal for the rims.
check out this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/glk-class...res-500-a.html

Good luck!

emdem

Really? You have to ask? $3000 CAD or US is a ripoff anywhere on the planet for OEMs. I'll guide you through the process.

#1. Retrieve your vehicle from the dealership.
#2. Go on eBay or use "the internet" to find rims.
#3. Take new rims and have them put on your car.

Seriously, for 3k you could these with a $1000 left over...

http://dealbird.com/groupbuys/voseen-vvscv3-78

venchka

ps: Are you experiencing any gross vibrations at 70-80-90 MPH? If not, I say they are full of manure.

Wayne

venchka

My reply from yesterday got lost.

1. Get a second opinion.

2. If the second opinion dealer/indy shop says the wheels are ok, then tell the world who the dealer is that gave you the bad advice.

mr.mbenz

impresta,

where are you located?
do you have pixs of your rims?
is the damage done inside of the rim or on the outside?

btw...how much did you pay for the second service...mine is due soon

impresta

Hey Mr. mbenz

I'm from Edmonton
Apparently the damage is inside the rim, they say the rim is really warped but when I went under I didn't see anything.

my 2nd service was a major service, aparently there is one every two years according to the service manual plus a brake fluid change once every 20000km or 2 years which ever comes first. In my case it was the 2 years. All together it was $897+tax

impresta

I feel slight vibration at around 80MPH but I don't drive that fast on the highway. But then again who doesn't feel vibrations going that fast? To me it feels like regular road vibrations. But I could be wrong?

venchka

Neither of my cars with good wheels and balanced tires show vibration between 90 & 100. Always smooth. If not, I know it is time for rotation & balance.
I still say get a second opinion. Even if the second people validate the first assesment, it is worth knowing for shure. I wonder if it is possible that the wheels were warped from the start?
Wayne

ejsheltra

Were they checked on the car or mounted on a balancing machine? They could have been improperly mounted. I have seen that before especially in places like NTB where the turnover is high or with new service techs at the dealer. Get the second opinion like all here are telling you.

impresta

Ya I'm trying to get a second opinion but all the places require me to bring in wheel only when I need my car everyday.

MBRedux

First, are they the 20" wheel?



or



or the 19" wheel?



The 20" will bend or warp more easily than the 19" if you were to hit a large pothole or curb. But they will also warp (egg shaped) or twist if the tires were ever replaced. Certain tire mounting/dismounting machines apply outward pressure on the inside of the wheel, while others do not. Depending on the type used, the experience of the tire technician etc., these large diameter wheels can easily be damaged and will only be detected (by eye) when the wheel is spun on a balancer.

Plus, you can find these wheels at a great discount on .... good luck! http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Wheels-T...z&Model=GLK350

venchka

According to the internet, you have two dealers in Edmonton:

These folks....
http://www.davidmorrisfinecars.com/index.htm

and these folks.....
http://www.webermotorsltd.com/

You didn't say which dealer told you that your wheels were warped. Take you GLK to the other place. Ask them to check your wheels+tires for any abnotmalites. Don't give them any clues. Just ask them to check your front wheels+tires assembly.
Assuming the first dealer was correct, verified by the second dealr, and you must take only the wheel to the wheel repair folks (something I find very odd), then rent a car for a week. $500-$600 to get the wheels fixed plus a rental car is a lot cheaper than $3,000 for two wheels. That assumes that wheels can be repaired. If they can not be repaired, good luck.

Wayne

MBRedux

Good advice, but as soon as the second dealer punches in your VIN number, they will read what the other dealer discovered, and most likely back them up. I would take it to a reputable tire and wheel shop.

Plus if they are indeed the 20" wheel, the dealer will charge you between $900 and $1,100 per wheel. Or you can buy two new wheels (even though they may be remanufactured, chances are they were taken off wrecked GLK's or traded) for less than $400 each

venchka

What? Collusion among dealers? Grinning.

OK, find out what Tires R Us has to say?

Good luck!
Wayne

MBRedux

There is no "collusion"... every car since the mid 1980's has been tracked by the Government (NHTSA), the manufacturer, State MVA's and the dealer network. Every time your car is either serviced, emissions tested, inspected, etc. etc., the VIN is logged in along with the service/test that was performed and any other notes, especially when the customer refuses service.

venchka

OK, I get that part. It is the "Dealer #2 will back up Dealer #1 no matter what" that I find troublesome.

Wayne

MBRedux

Fully agree! ^ They're no different than the men/women in blue.... white.... etc... they stick together unless it's a blatant case of fraud.

MKenM

Last year I had noticed while I was braking a vibration that I thought had something to do with the rotors. I turned out to be a bent rim. I had it replaced at the stealership. $750.00 for the rim plus labor. I saw the rim after they took it off the car. It was bent, the symptoms were not what I would have expected but glad I had it replaced.

cindyclk

Almost any bent wheel can be repaired for less than $200. I'm not talking about a wheel that has been in an accident or has a crack. Before spending $750 check around. I would bet that the dealership sold the bent wheel to their wheel repair shop and they sold it again.

venchka

Stupid/Not Stupid at all idea:

It's November. In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Buy 4 17" wheels and 4 snow tires.
Have the 2 summer wheels repaired at your leisure.
You will have full use of your GLK at all time.

You don't need to thank me.

Wayne