Jmcintire217

Hello, I wanted to pose a question to the forum members regarding my 2018 S560 4Matic Sedan. I picked the car up last November 2017 at the beginning of the month and drove it until December at which time I switched the run flat summer tires with a set of Pirelli run flat winter tires. When I optioned the car, I chose the AMG package with the 20 inch multi-spoke wheels. Needless to say, we had a very bad winter in Pittsburgh, PA and I ended up bending two wheels and cracking a third wheel on the car due to the severity of the pot-holes in the local roadways, and in addition to the rim issues, I had to have two of the front winter tires replaced due to there being a "bubble" which was formed in the sidewall of the tires, I guess as a result of the rim damage.

Luckily, I opted to pay for the wheel and tire package, which took care of the damaged wheels and tires. But there is one caveat; the last time I had the car in to be checked on February 26, 2018, I hit another pothole, the service writer told me that I had bent another wheel and instead of putting in a claim with Mercedes-Benz to replace the wheel, which was covered, he had the tech at the dealership "straighten" the wheel instead of replacing it. Since that time, the car has never really had the smooth as glass ride it had when it was new. There is a vibration coming from the back of the car that I can feel up through the front seat of the car when I drive it on the local interstate highway near my home when traveling to and from work.

I was told by the Mercedes-Benz service writer and the service manager, my back winter wheels were "cupping" and that is why I felt this dull, thumping vibration.

Fast forward to about 3 - 4 weeks ago, I ordered a new set of non-run-flat Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 tires, staggered 20 inches, for the car. They were mounted and balanced by the local Mercedes-Benz garage and I also had a 4 wheel alignment performed contemporaneously. However, when I got the car back, I had a vibration coming from the rear of the car, up through the driver's seat between 40 - 75 mph. So, I took the car back to the garage and spoke with the service manager, who took the car back, re-balanced all of the wheels and personally test drove the car giving it an "all clear" and stated on the service invoice the car rode just fine.

Well, I got back into the car drove it home on the highway last night and I am still feeling the same dull vibration/thumping, although it is much less severe than what it was before.

I am hoping that one of the forum members would be able to tell me that the wheel that was straightened at the dealership is sill some how not quite right, or I'm thinking I might have done some type of damage this winter to the suspension when I hit those potholes? The funny thing is, is that, when the dealership replaced the bent/cracked wheels, the car rode just fine, but since they straightened the one back wheel, the car has not ridden the same as it was when new. The car currently only has approximately 4,800 miles on it and at this point, I'm unsure what to do.

I have a good relationship with the service manager and the sales manager at the dealership, but after several attempts to "fix" the issue, I feel a bit funny going back to them to tell them my car is still not right. I was thinking about driving a new S Class on the dealership lot and then driving my car back to back to see if I'm being hyper-sensitive or I really have an issue.

I also noted that back in February, the service writer, when I went back to the dealership after they had straightened the back wheel that was bent told me the tech put new wheels/tires from a different 2018 S Class on my car, drove it and felt nothing....so I'm thinking that back wheel must be the culprit?

When I spoke to the service manager last Saturday, he said they check the rims/wheels for "out of round" and that it would show-up in the balancing, because their computerized balancing machine would pick-up a bent rim.

Any help, advice or assistance from the forum members would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your assistance in advance.

jenz

hyperion667

I hate dealers with all my heart, absolute dummies!

Jan AMG

100%

sam9187

They should have replaced the wheel. You should go back and have them replace it.

Streamliner

Jan AMG

Haha, exactly. I think Mr. Streamliner has put it well - you have two choices. Either buy 18" wheels or lobby to have your roads repaired.

AppleFan1

I wouldn't buy a car with 20" wheels if you paid me several $thousand. I don't understand why people like those large rims. They do not at all appeal to me. I guess, I'm too old to like them. Heck, the way it's going some will be riding on nothing but rims and no rubber. "Give me comfort or give me no car"!

Jan AMG

And some people buy 22" and larger rims. I guess they are compensating for something

mb1000

I have 53R 20" wheels and P Zero RF tires on the car. The tire pressure is 28PSI/front and 29PSI/rear set by MB. That's too low with heavy car and low side wall on 20" wheel. I have damaged 4 tires in the past. If outside is colder, e.g. 30F lower than the temperature in the garage, the tire pressure can be reduced by at least 3PSI (~1PIS every 10F) when going out.

Lesson learned.. Now, I have set 44PSI/front and 45PSI/rear during the cold seasons and 42PSI F / 43PSI R in warmer seasons and got much better result in terms of protecting the tire and the wheel from damaging. The max cold pressure for P Zero RF and most 20" tires are 50PSI, so 44/45 will be ok in the cold days.

Thought this is worth to share.

AppleFan1

I'm not at all trying to be disrespectful toward you, but could you please tell us old fogies why you like the 20" wheels? Isn't the ride uncomfortable especially with those high psi's? I'm just trying to understand the thinking here. Thanks!

Wolfman

Larry1979

I agree with Wolfman. I have driven a S550 with 18" wheels on Michelin tires and I have a S63 with 20" wheels on all season Continental DWS 06 tires and there is no appreciable difference in ride quality. I have not experienced any issues with bent rims even with potholes nor have I experienced a change in ride quality. S550 had Airmatic and S63 has ABC. Both cars are W221 and not W222, however, I would not expect the two to be that different as it relates to rim size.

Rim size is a personal preference. There is no one size fits all approach. These cars are large with a huge wheel well gap and for me 20" wheels fill that gap good enough without lowering. To others, 20" wheels still dont fill the wheel wells good enough to give them their desired look so they lower the car. I am not one to lower a car but I do like a car that rides well and doesn't have a huge gap between the tire and wheel well. My car came with 20" wheels from the factory.

1bad540

I switch wheels on every car that I buy, I usually go with the larger sport wheels. I swapped my 19" for 20" on my lasr 2 s classes w no noticeable ride difference. If a 21" was an option Id have them.

mb1000

compared between 18" non rf on my w221 and oem 20" p zero rf on w222, there is no ride quality issue w 20" on good or average roads. 20" p zero rf oem has much less noise on the concrete roads. This could be the improved rf tire or w222 has better sound isolation.

The only issue to me w 20" is the pothole damage. Just have to watch the tire pressures and road. True to any size of wheel that potholes may not damage tires but can kill wheel alignment

rediesel

To the OP I hit a pothole on 19 in South Hills that bent one of the 19" wheels on my E63. It immediately had a shudder at speed over 40MPH. I took it to the dealership and they said all of my wheels were somewhat bent , but that one was especially bad. $600 later the shake got better after straightening, but not back to stock. I could feel vibration above 70MPG. Last week I took off the winter wheels/tires, and low and behold that wheel looks terrible on the inside and I can see where it bent. My summer wheels/tires fixed the issue and the car drives like it used to. I might have that wheel repaired again, or get a new one.

Jan AMG

Jmcintire217

I hit the same pot holes on 19 south in the South Hills as we'll. They still haven't made any attempt to fix the roads out that way, just patched the worst spots,v and I travel that road everyday to the T Station to downtown. I'm taking a different way home just to avoid that stretch of road between Donaldsons Cross and Morganza Road where the new Toyota dealership is. I had one of the loaner cars from the garage when my car was in the shop for a wheel repair and bent the wheel on the E Class loaner they gave me to drive because the road is so bad out that way. The folks on this thread have no idea just how bad the roads are in PA. 😂

MTrauman

Jan AMG

You guys need to be driving M1 Abrams with road conditions like these!