kkarunan

Hi everyone

So last night I got a flat tire on my brand new 2013 ml350. I had the worst experience with MB roadside assistance.
Each call I had to make, I had to hold for at least full 10 mins until I spoke to someone. They first told me the guy would arrive within 45 mins or less. Waited, still nothing and called again and again telling to wait for another 20 mins. I had enough and called CAA.

The CAA guy and the MB guy arrived at the same time, both from the same towing company. CAA only took like 20 mins to arrive. MB guy stayed changed the tire for me, and again ran into some more problems. He couldn't use his jack or the jack that came with the vehicle to jack up the car.

I urge everyone with a new ml350 to check the jack that came with the car as its too tight to loosen and turn to jack up.

As I was making a turn inside a parking lot, the rear passenger wheel went over a curb, no damage to the rim though. I get out and check it out, there's a small hole and went flat in like 5 sec.

Will MB replace my tire? only had the ml for a week and only 550km on it. any suggestions?

would appreciate a lot.

shortspark

I don't know if MB will replace the tire or not but you should try. As far as jacks are concerned, I bought this one for another vehicle because it had pretty good reviews:
It lifts one side of a pickup truck very easily with the push of a button so I'm sure it will be no problem to lift a side of the ML. I plan on carrying it with me whenever I make a trip of over 100 miles because I never trust the OEM jacks furnished with a car. It is pretty big so I do not carry it around at all times, only for trips. I don't see this model as currently available at Amazon.com where I believe I bought mine several years ago but there are very similar 12v jacks everywhere. Just plug it in an accessory socket, place it under the wheel frame and push a button - up she goes.

If you had bad service with the MB roadside assistance you should have pushed the MBrace button on the ML. I still have MBrace under the trial period (as I'm sure you do since you have a 2013 model) and every time I have called them for something such as downloading maps they have come right on the line with no waiting. So I think MBrace may be more responsive but then again, for all I know they might be the same people you get with the roadside assistance number.

nosnoop

MBrace is not available in Canada (and there is no button).
This is pretty disappointing considering BMW Assist has been available in Canada for so long.

kkarunan

what are the chances of me not having to pay for a new tire? will I have to replace the other rear tire? will I need a wheel alignment?

Im surprised that it lost air so fast with a hole considering it just went over a curb. This is my first SUV and first MB, I expecting better quality and service from MB.

shortspark

MBrace not available in Canada? I did not know that. I'm not saying I will subscribe after the trial period because I make very infrequent long trips. However, I can see it as a valuable service for those that travel a lot.

YYZ-E55

Unless you purchased the tire and wheel insurance, the dealer will not replace your tire at no charge. You hit a curb!

If the tire was defective, it would be a different story.

kkarunan

Yes I understand I hit the curb, but can cause it blow a hole and run flat so fast? what if I took this thing off-road, all four tires blown?

I just can't fathom a pop like that...given its an SUV and all and its brand new.

I've been waiting to get an ML for a long time and to see this happen....it sucks!

YYZ-E55

Of course hitting a curb can cause a blow-out. As could a pothole. Whether it's a Mercedes-Benz or a Lada, tires are not indestructible.

katiesdad7

Its like asking for a new bumper if you hit a shopping cart after only having the car a week.

GregW / Oregon

As YYZ says, accidental damage is only covered with the tire/wheel insurance. It is unusual for this to happen, but it can happen. Just be glad you did have a spare. Since your tires are pretty new, you can just replace the one damaged one, but it should be with the exact same tire make/model.

fabbrisd1

The fact is the sidewall of the tire got "pinched" and yes sidewall holes deflate a tire like in a nano-sedcond.

Your dealer may be able to replace the tire under "good will"with Mercedes approval - you can always ask/

Keep the faith !

katiesdad7

Good wil and Mercedes. Can you use both those words in the same sentence? :-)

bdyyz

At least you have a spare. My 2011 has been left stranded waiting for MB Roadside twice, once for 2 hours on the side of a freeway. In both instances the tire failed catastrophically. I guess when you mix a 5000lb car and a sharp curb with low profile tires you are prone for a massive flat.

katiesdad7

I used the MB roadside service twice. Both times they were there in about 40-45 minutes.

stas2007

Does anyone know if ML comes with nitrogen or air in tires?

YYZ-E55

Air from the factory.

MLee

Yep. Both. Well actually, air is mainly nitrogen. 78.09%
So are you concerned about the other 21.91%

dougiebear

Sometimes you guys crack me up LOL
And with a straight face too. Careful how u say stuff though or u might get a pee pee slap.

fabbrisd1

In the US factory "air" is replaced by NitroFill at the dealer before delivery and a NitroFill card added to the owners pacakage...

YYZ-E55

Not true. Depends on the dealer.

hutch300

many MB's never had nitrogen from the dealer

GregW / Oregon

Yes, and it's more hype than value for a street car.

kkarunan

ok so an update to what happened:

I forgot to mention that when the MB guy was changing the wheel, he dropped the wheel on its face and made a couple of scuff marks and...while he put the wheel in the back he touched the roof liner and was left with grease marks. Just careless.

After I emailed my report of what happened to the dealer, it got escalated to Head Office and they took it from there. MB Canada contracts their roadside assistance to Sykes Canada. Sykes rep called me and offer to refinish rim and clean up roof liner at no charge and offered $100 gas card.

Dealer mounted the tire at no labour cost and only charged cost price of the tire.

venchka

It is filled with 78% nitrogen. Which is only slightly less than the nitrogen content of tires filled with nitrogen.

Did you take up the tire problem with the folks who made the tire?

Wayne

GregW / Oregon

Sounds like you got treated well in the end.