MBKLUE

Air Force captain dies after damaged tire explodes in her lap

By Geoff Ziezulewicz Stars and Stripes


Published: April 3, 2010

RAF MILDENHALL, England — An England-based Air Force officer died Thursday from injuries sustained last week when a damaged car tire exploded in her lap during a trip to Scotland.
Capt. Jenna Wilcox, and her husband, Capt. Scott Wilcox, pulled into a garage at about 6 p.m. March 27 in Dalkeith, just outside of Edinburgh, after changing a tire on their BMW Z3 approximately 100 miles earlier, according to Inspector David Muir, a spokesman for the Lothian and Borders police in Scotland.
Jenna Wilcox was in the passenger seat and had the damaged tire on her lap when it suddenly exploded, blowing out the car’s windows and roof, he said.
She was taken to Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, where she succumbed to her injuries Thursday, Muir said. She was 27.
Scott Wilcox, who was outside the car when the tire exploded, sustained minor injuries from the shattered windows, Muir said.
While an investigation remains under way, Muir said there appears to be no foul play involved.
“All indications are that this is a tragic accident,” he said.
Jenna Wilcox, assigned to RAF Mildenhall’s 100th Civil Engineering Squadron, is originally from the Buffalo, N.Y. area, according to Capt. Lindsey Hahn, a spokeswoman for Mildenhall’s 100th Air Refueling Wing.
A few weeks ago, Wilcox had returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, where she worked on a provincial reconstruction team.
During her time downrange, Jenna Wilcox kept a blog. In it she reflected on the counterinsurgency and her role outside the wire. She had escaped injury when her convoy hit a roadside bomb and, in one post, she wrote about receiving the Army Combat Action Badge.
As the end of her deployment neared, her blog posts turned to thoughts of home.
“This deployment has been very wearing and I feel a lot older (and have more gray hairs to prove it),” Wilcox wrote in a Feb. 15 post. “I just have to stay focused until the very end, when I can kiss the UK soil and my sweet Scott.”

Rascally Wabbit

Yikes!! Wonder what caused it to detonate. Definitely will go with the tyre inflator & keep the wheel out of the passenger seat. Nitrogen inflated issue here or?

bop11

9mm from outside the window

MBKLUE

I can only imagine that maybe they did some sidewall damage and changed it as a precautionary measure. A flat tire (no more air pressure) is, of course, no danger.

RedlineAZ

I've had two corvettes, and at no point would I ever bring the logic of "corvette owners are ok with them" into the conversation. Corvette owners (me being one of them) don't buy corvettes for comfort, unlike the GLK where you want comfort and luxury. Corvettes are raw and the humming and harsh run flats aren't a big deal because the engine and exhaust are significantly louder and the suspension is stiff as well, so it doesn't matter. If my 2013 GLK had run flats I would be pissed. It is such a smooth and quiet ride, the run flats would probably significantly ruin the ride quality.

ColoradoDriver

So now that US GLK250 vehicles are being delivered, what tires do they come with?

Bob338

Just went to my dealer today to review paperwork and pick up lease and sale docs so I could evaluate. Went over the details of my car and the documentation clearly states tires are run-flats. Commenting on that my dealer offered to swap them out to regular tires after it gets here from Europe where I'm taking delivery 5/21.

I have run-flats on my E350 now and don't find them at all objectionable, but then I like a stiff and firm ride and suspension. I have the Sport package on the E350. I'll reserve judgment after I've driven it almost a month over there. I still have an antipathy for run-flats and would prefer regular tires and a spare, but that's just an old-fashioned oddball quirk. I'll reserve judgement.

HotRodW

Well, now that is really disappointing. I'm not saying standard runflats are necessarily a deal breaker for me, but it definitely goes in the "negatives" column. I purchased my X1 despite the runflats, and I hated them so bad I spent $900 mounting conventional rubber. I too like a firm ride, but I don't like a jarring, teeth-rattling ride. And I can certainly live without the additional risk of damaged wheels. Despite other BMW owners claiming they aren't so bad, I contend they only say that because they have never experienced the same car with conventional tires.

Alex Bel

I went today to the local dealership in Michigan and took a few pictures from the two new GLK250 they just received over weekend. Both have Dunlop 235/50R19 GrandTreck Touring A/S MO Extended Tires (Made in Germany with label RunOnFlat Technology). The sticker says 19-Inch Wheels, All-Season Tires, Mobility Extended Tires. I've scheduled for tomorrow a test drive and will take a look inside.

Alex Bel

Did your dealer charged extra for the ED? I've just started asking questions today about my choices like Factory order or ED and salesperson mentioned that the factory order will be done with $250 extra as for special order. I was asking about regular factory order without any "special order" items. Is it true or they are trying to make extra money?

Are you going to drive here just with regular tires without spare?

Bob338

Your sales guy is trying to pick up a few extra $$$ from you.

No, there is nothing 'extra', just license and taxes, and fees that go along with any typed of financing. This is my third Euro delivery and I've never been charged anything extra. Wouldn't pay it. Read the details on their website. They give you a straight 7% off MSRP, no delivery prep which is done at the MB prep centers. All the dealer will do is wash and detail from the transport from the conversion at their prep center, where ever that may be, Baltimore, Brunswick or Long Beach, and turn it over to you. They still get their dealer markup and bonuses.

When it gets here I'll decide which way to go on tires but so far I have no problems with the run-flats on the E350 so likely I'll stay with them. I'll evaluate after the drive in Europe where I expect to drive about 4000 miles, as two years ago. Should I go to regular tires I'll carry air and repair kit. I've driven many miles in the West. I was a road warrior for many years driving about 50K miles yearly. In recent years I've also put on many miles annually, mostly winter driving. I have yet to change a flat on the road so while lack of a spare makes me uncomfortable, realistically it's not mandatory.

Bob338

There is also room to negotiate a further discount or incentive from the dealer beyond what MBUSA gives you. I understand some dealers will give as much as an extra 2%. Their still making most of the money they make on all cars they sell.

HotRodW

I just noticed the Appearance Package for the US GLK250 comes with rather boring 19" wheels instead of the beautiful twin spoke 20's you get on the 350. And yet the package price is the same??? You also only get 19's on the AMG styling package. I assumed it was because they're discouraging 20" runflats, and yet they still offer a 20-inch accessory wheel. Puzzling.

Appearance Package 19" wheels


AMG Appearance Package 19" wheels


20" accessory wheels

Bob338

Don't like that accessory wheel at all. Reminds me of a bicycle tire!

I got the AMG package but I like the stock wheel as well or better!

ashwats

i would take the appearance package wheel. with inlay color matched to vehicle! it looks very unique.

Alex Bel

****
Had a first test drive today with GLK250BT. The vehicle drives great, engine powerful ( but I can hear the sound) and smooth. Ride is much better than my current Toyota RAV4 Sport with RFT. The trunk area is not big and under the trunk floor cover there is small space with a collapsible shopping crate. Under the second floor cover just a fuse box and a AdBlue tank lid. This AdBlue tank takes place of the spare tire.
****

Alex Bel

The California dealer is offering an additional 3% "dealer loyalty discount" on the top of all MBUSA discounts for ED with the final US delivery with the dealer of my choice in my state. Is it a good deal?

Also he suggests that if I do the order now in May the expected ED delivery will be scheduled sometime in August with NEW 2014 GLK250 model, but the Base price could be different (I suspect could be more than current $38,590).

I think that it will be very very hard to get 10% off for the diesel with regular US order... Do you agree?

Bob338

Darned sure do! What dealer and where? Best deal I've heard of in a couple of years.

Alex Bel

Herbert Haemmer, MB of Escondido

Bob338

Mixed reviews on him. I couldn't get him to return my phone calls but I've heard good things about him, along with some bad.

Alex Bel

Before I pull the trigger could you point me to "some bad" things"? I don't care about good reviews, just would like to analyze bad...

Bob338

Other than the the fact he didn't return my calls when I was clearly a buyer, I can only pass judgment on that. He posted on another board, was banned, and lots of people piped up on him. Passing on what others said without knowing all the details, would not be fair. I ended up being referred to Austin, Texas and ultimately bought locally when my dealer matched the best deal I could get. Made things much easier.

I understand the guy is German. He can pass on things the Mercedes Travel Office doesn't have. I understand he's older and travels back to Germany frequently so that knowledge can be helpful, especially if you want to do oddball things in Germany. Only thing I can tell you is, be a skeptic. Examine all the fine print and details so you don't get any surprises. I 'trust' my guy at the dealer where I've bought but he's on his 3rd redo of the lease for the little bitty curve ***** they throw in there and there was quite a few comments about that in that thread elsewhere a couple of years back. I only got his voice mail, left messages, and I NEVER talked to him, so I have no further opinion about him. Except he's rude and I'd never go back!

Bottom line is, they are all car salesmen. Hold on to your wallet.

Alex Bel

At least his offer could be used as "reference" in negotiation with local dealers.

Bob338

Just a passing comment on European Delivery.

This will be my third time. I can safely say without any reservations, that this time has been the easiest for all the help and concern I've gotten not only from the Travel Office in New Jersey, but from the lady that's the principal for the Euro Delivery. They have been most accommodating, have initiated all the contacts with me and all have clearly gone above and beyond. It's been a significant change from the last time, which was a nightmare with the persons in the European Delivery office in New Jersey. The travel office has always been good but have improved on that. I've been really impressed and could neither ask for, nor expect any more than they've given me this time. Hope your experience is just half as good as mine has been. I'm a week and a half away from leaving and I have all my documents and everything arranged already. Absolutely no pressure other than what to pack!! Still haven't totally resolved acquisition but I've been presented 3 alternatives by my dealer and I'm quite happy with them as well. The delay on that is in my court, not theirs.

Bob338

Yep. Try him. Some folks were really high on him.