Useless spare tire?
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Useless spare tire?
So... tonight I’m out for a drive, and my left front tire decides to quit work early. OK, I’ve got AAA. Their phone system is aggravating enough that while I’m wading through automated prompt after automated prompt, I figured, what the hell, I’ll just change it. So I did. And then discovered that the wheel lug bolts are about half an inch too long to mount the spare.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to put the flat back on while I waited for the flatbed to take it back home.
So... is there supposed to be another set of shorter lug bolts with the spare? There isn’t... hasn’t been since I bought the car. At least I found out the spare... well... isn’t... a mile from home and not in the middle of nowhere.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to put the flat back on while I waited for the flatbed to take it back home.
So... is there supposed to be another set of shorter lug bolts with the spare? There isn’t... hasn’t been since I bought the car. At least I found out the spare... well... isn’t... a mile from home and not in the middle of nowhere.
#2
Senior Member
So... tonight I’m out for a drive, and my left front tire decides to quit work early. OK, I’ve got AAA. Their phone system is aggravating enough that while I’m wading through automated prompt after automated prompt, I figured, what the hell, I’ll just change it. So I did. And then discovered that the wheel lug bolts are about half an inch too long to mount the spare.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to put the flat back on while I waited for the flatbed to take it back home.
So... is there supposed to be another set of shorter lug bolts with the spare? There isn’t... hasn’t been since I bought the car. At least I found out the spare... well... isn’t... a mile from home and not in the middle of nowhere.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to put the flat back on while I waited for the flatbed to take it back home.
So... is there supposed to be another set of shorter lug bolts with the spare? There isn’t... hasn’t been since I bought the car. At least I found out the spare... well... isn’t... a mile from home and not in the middle of nowhere.
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MikeKerr7 (04-03-2021)
#3
as above.... the other bolts are part of the jack, wheel brace and gloves kit
#4
So... tonight I’m out for a drive, and my left front tire decides to quit work early. OK, I’ve got AAA. Their phone system is aggravating enough that while I’m wading through automated prompt after automated prompt, I figured, what the hell, I’ll just change it. So I did. And then discovered that the wheel lug bolts are about half an inch too long to mount the spare.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to put the flat back on while I waited for the flatbed to take it back home.
So... is there supposed to be another set of shorter lug bolts with the spare? There isn’t... hasn’t been since I bought the car. At least I found out the spare... well... isn’t... a mile from home and not in the middle of nowhere.
Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to put the flat back on while I waited for the flatbed to take it back home.
So... is there supposed to be another set of shorter lug bolts with the spare? There isn’t... hasn’t been since I bought the car. At least I found out the spare... well... isn’t... a mile from home and not in the middle of nowhere.
Do yourself a favor and get the AAA app. It works quite well.
#5
Super Member
Thread Starter
I may do that. I spent WAY too much time dealing with their automata, then the live person asked all of the EXACT SAME questions. Texting was no better. The first time I called I was talking to a guy who was sitting about half a mile from me in their call center. When I called back, I guess they had switched to a cell center in the Philippines or somewhere, I don't know, but it was pretty obvious. And of course person #2 had NONE of the information I had given person #1, or their automated system... twice... sigh.
#6
Been there done that. The app is nice. Pick your car, it locates you with GPS, asks where you want it towed to and it sends text messages keeping you updated. It supposedly can show in real time where the tow truck is but I assume that is company specific. Only human I had to talk to was the towing company telling me they are on the way. Beats the hell out of trying to punch in that 16 digit code or yapping with a call center in a situation that has a situation of added stress.
Did have sort of a laugh when my S600 was towed. He acted like it was the space shuttle. Didn't know how to change gears.
Did have sort of a laugh when my S600 was towed. He acted like it was the space shuttle. Didn't know how to change gears.
#7
Super Member
Thread Starter
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#8
Super Member
Thread Starter
So.... does anyone have a part number or measurement for the short bolts? The EPC doesn't show them as part of the tool kit, doesn't show the donut spare, and I'm having no luck with my Google-Fu today. I have dozens of hits to my queries, and not one single one leads to an actual answer. Plenty of "Use the same ones as your regular wheels" - obviously false. Plenty of "No, they are shorter". Great. HOW MUCH shorter? Actual length? Part number? Anything? Hoping someone here either knows, or would be kind enough to walk out to their car, pull the spare lug bolts, and tell me the part number OR the length of the shank from the tip to the head (not including the head).
That wheel needs to be repaired anyway. Today I tried to air it up, and found where the rim had punched through the tire -- apparently I hit a pothole or manhole cover (around here they can be 1-2" below pavement level) just right going around the corner, and blew the tire. I'm honestly surprised. It wasn't a particularly bad road (for Omaha), and I wasn't going fast or cornering hard. It's covered by Costco's road hazard warranty, and it was mounted less than 5K miles ago. But, I needed to get that wheel fixed and refinished anyway. I want to put the spare on, take the wheel to get fixed, THEN get the tire replaced. But to do that, I'll need bolts that work.
That wheel needs to be repaired anyway. Today I tried to air it up, and found where the rim had punched through the tire -- apparently I hit a pothole or manhole cover (around here they can be 1-2" below pavement level) just right going around the corner, and blew the tire. I'm honestly surprised. It wasn't a particularly bad road (for Omaha), and I wasn't going fast or cornering hard. It's covered by Costco's road hazard warranty, and it was mounted less than 5K miles ago. But, I needed to get that wheel fixed and refinished anyway. I want to put the spare on, take the wheel to get fixed, THEN get the tire replaced. But to do that, I'll need bolts that work.
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MikeKerr7 (04-05-2021)
#10
Super Member
Thread Starter
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Mercedes calls that part number a "spare parts box". It's a package with the five bolts. All over Ebay used for $35-$40... or I can order it brand new from my favorite M-B dealer for $15.99.
#11
No problem and you gave me a good laugh out of it. Ordered dipstick tool and it came today. When I went looking for the lugnuts I found a dipstick the PO left new in the bag with the tool kit and stuff. And then I remembered seeing it before but forgot about it. Doh!
Here's another bit of useless of trivia. PO also left a Maybach tool kit which of course is much nicer. Has a different sized tow hook that is larger and doesn't fit.
Here's another bit of useless of trivia. PO also left a Maybach tool kit which of course is much nicer. Has a different sized tow hook that is larger and doesn't fit.
#12
Super Member
Thread Starter
I went back to retrieve my wheel chock today, and got a look at the intersection where the tire blew. Sure enough, there is a pothole there. I didn't see it last night -- black pothole, at night, in a blacktop road. Its not that big (for Omaha, meaning there isn't an overturned Volkswagen in it yet) but apparently it's pretty deep. I'm going to send the city the bill for the wheel repair; they might pay it, they might not, but it won't cost me more than a stamp and an envelope to do it.
#14
Newbie
Is the spare wheel on S600 steel or cast aluminum? When a wheel on my S65 cracked in badly fixed spot and I had to drive home 200 miles on the spare, I used the original bolts.
#16
Newbie
#17
Super Member
Thread Starter
My sympathies. The V12 is a fairly efficient engine, I think. I get decent mileage -- between 19 and 21, depending on wind and terrain -- even at 85+ MPH on the highway. I get far better than EPA estimated fuel economy all around, in fact. EPA says 11 city, 17 highway. I get about 15 in town and, at the 75 MPH speed limit, 21 or better on the highway. The terrain around here is all rolling hills, not much flat ground, and there's usually a pretty good crosswind. It's not like driving in FL or TX. I've been pretty impressed that it does so well, really.
#18
Trip computers are renowned for making up a fuel use display that makes you think the world is a better place than it is. But even so those numbers seem optimistic
https://www.onlineconversion.com/fuel_consumption.htm
1 gallon USA = 3.785411 ltr or 1 gallon ROW = 4.546090 ltr
I would expect these actual fuel consumption figures for a w221 in USA MPG
tractor = ave 20.8, long run 26.6, hard use 17.5,
v8 = ave 17.5, long run 21.6, hard use 13.3
v12 = ave 13.3, long run 17.5, hard use 7.5,
https://www.onlineconversion.com/fuel_consumption.htm
1 gallon USA = 3.785411 ltr or 1 gallon ROW = 4.546090 ltr
I would expect these actual fuel consumption figures for a w221 in USA MPG
tractor = ave 20.8, long run 26.6, hard use 17.5,
v8 = ave 17.5, long run 21.6, hard use 13.3
v12 = ave 13.3, long run 17.5, hard use 7.5,
#19
Super Member
Thread Starter
You'd be wrong.
Not being completely ignorant, I have validated the fuel totalizer's numbers against the actual fuel used on trips. The numbers are spot on.
Not being completely ignorant, I have validated the fuel totalizer's numbers against the actual fuel used on trips. The numbers are spot on.
#20
my v8 never went above a displayed 21.8 (usa) mpg on any long journey in the first 4 years & 20k miles. (And is about all one should expect of this engine and car) In year 5, I had reset it and with some roadworks on a highway with 20 miles at a constant 50mph (covered by ave distance speed camera zone), I then chose to dawdle at 62 mph for the remaining 25 miles and that was the first ever time it displayed anything higher... getting to 24.2 (usa) mpg
Same trip without the limits and an ave 85mph is does 20.8 which makes you wonder if slower is worth the effort
Same trip without the limits and an ave 85mph is does 20.8 which makes you wonder if slower is worth the effort
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#24
Super Member
Thread Starter
Over the weekend we took a trip down to KC, about 175 miles each way. We averaged 19.7 MPG round trip, including a little city driving, at 75-80 on the highway. That was also in fairly heavy rain for a good portion of the trip, which of course affects gas mileage due to the increased drag and rolling resistance.
And I'll say I was wrong about the city mileage. I hadn't been driving in town for awhile. I average about 13.5 generally, and that does include the occasional "spirited" driving, as they say. Still substantially better than the EPA estimates, which is very unusual.
And I'll say I was wrong about the city mileage. I hadn't been driving in town for awhile. I average about 13.5 generally, and that does include the occasional "spirited" driving, as they say. Still substantially better than the EPA estimates, which is very unusual.
#25
Senior Member