atikovi

I kinda like collecting specialty tools, especially when the are pretty cheap, so I picked up a Hazet flower socket for the wheel bolts. Turns out they are pretty much useless if someone previously used a regular 17mm socket and even slightly deformed the bolt heads. And you can't really tell just by looking at them that they are deformed. ARRGH!

1bad540

the caps are cheap crap, I took them off my last 2 s classes.

ItalianJoe1

Spline drive 17mm socket works best, on both good ones and ones that have been deformed. That's what most of us use here at the dealership.

EasyPhil

One reason to use the correct tool!

Sean._.S

I realize this is a old thread but I was wondering what wheel bolts you put on your S classes instead of the flower bolts?

Shadly1

Mine are getting deformed even with using the right tool. Once I lose a cap, I'll replace the whole set with something aftermarket. There are some SKP bolts with the cap on RockAuto right now for $2.26 each. They are still the flower type. Amazon has a set of chrome plated hex for $48 but they're no-name. FCP Euro sells an OE style set from Bilstein for $132

BOTUS

don't forget two lengths of wheel bolts dependent upon the OEM wheels fitted by Merc...

as usual more terrible design by Merc, larger wheels with its wrongly made wheel hub, end up needing longer bolts, so now we get a massive chunk of metal and heavier bolts - ( I think the 18" rims are 4kg per wheel heavier than the 17" originals - that didn't break)

Yet the whole point of better, more expensive wheels, is mostly about improving the handing from reducing unsprung weight - its extraordinary how they can create such a massive weight, yet give us such useless corrode in front of your eye's budget alloy, and make theme deliberately susceptible to cracking under normal usage - got to love german manufacturing- pure alchemy, turning base metal to gold at the part counter

doni01

iTrader: (1)

I replaced mine with H&R ones from rcagarage.com

EasyPhil

I've taken my wheels off many times with no issues using the correct socket.

lkchris

My GL and my CL (2-door S-class) use the same spec wheel bolts. Early GL featured normal hex headed bolts.

I separately purchased the "flower" bolts for my GL and keep the older bolts to install whenever someone besides me is going to work on one of my vehicles.

Just buy the bolts you want from a Mercedes dealer. Those with online sales presence have pretty reasonable prices and it isn't worth the effort to search all over only to find inferior parts for very little less cost.

Shadly1

I'm allergic to the Mercedes dealer. FCP Euro has the factory ones.

If ARP made Mercedes bolts, I'd buy those in a heartbeat. They're indestructible. I have their fasteners all over my Jeep.

Polo35m

I had a similar issue with my car over half the bolts were slightly deformed and the special socket would not fit this is from people over the years using the incorrect socket along with an impact driver. The good news is you can take a sturdy block of wood a hammer and a small chisel and bang the slits on the chrome jacket three or four times each and the flour socket will fit on like new. I did all of my bolts one by one this way.