Beware!!! Problem with jack on 07' S65
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Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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From: SF Bay Area
2008 S65 Flint Grey/Black. Wife's car: 1/5/10 2010 E550 Palladium Silver/Natural Beige Leather P2 +
Beware!!! Problem with jack on 07' S65
Last week I was lifting the car to remove the wheels so I could wash the inside of the rims of brake dust. I have had around 5 MBs in my life and have done this many times. My caution to my fellow 07' S65 owners is that the jack can not hold the car up. By the time you lift the car high enough to clear the tires, the jack slips out from the plug where you place the white plastic jack hinge.
This happened on both the front and rear passenger side wheels. On the rear wheel it did not harm anything but it did break the plug. However on the front wheel the jack slipped again and the threaded screw on the jack cracked the rocker panel. I called my dealer and told him this is a severe problem with the design. I also told them they owe me two new plugs, a new passenger rocker panel painted mounted and redo the 3M protective film. I ended up having to remove all the plugs and using a scissors jack from another one of my cars to finish the job. But dammit...I have clean wheels.
But seriously...be careful. I told them this is a design flaw. The tires are so wide that the jack they provide simply can not hold the weight of the car due to the severe height needed to clear the tires to remove them. By the time you get there the plugs break and you are hosed. God forbid you get a flat tire on the road. I did this in my garage and I was just cleaning the wheels. You have been warned!!!!!!!!!
This happened on both the front and rear passenger side wheels. On the rear wheel it did not harm anything but it did break the plug. However on the front wheel the jack slipped again and the threaded screw on the jack cracked the rocker panel. I called my dealer and told him this is a severe problem with the design. I also told them they owe me two new plugs, a new passenger rocker panel painted mounted and redo the 3M protective film. I ended up having to remove all the plugs and using a scissors jack from another one of my cars to finish the job. But dammit...I have clean wheels.
But seriously...be careful. I told them this is a design flaw. The tires are so wide that the jack they provide simply can not hold the weight of the car due to the severe height needed to clear the tires to remove them. By the time you get there the plugs break and you are hosed. God forbid you get a flat tire on the road. I did this in my garage and I was just cleaning the wheels. You have been warned!!!!!!!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,271
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From: CA
2010 CL65
Thx for the heads-up
....this issue will prob also apply to S/CL600/63/65....all the 4600lb-5000lb cars w/19-20" tires....
Have never had flat on-road; but, given the number of guys killed every yr while changing a flat roadside (lots of inept drivers out there), prob is never advisable to try to change own flat....
Would stand far away from any disabled car and roadway while observing oncoming traffic and while calling for roadside assist and/or flatbed&limo (if car needs to head to dealer)....
Cars are disposable; one's health/safety isn't....
....this issue will prob also apply to S/CL600/63/65....all the 4600lb-5000lb cars w/19-20" tires....Have never had flat on-road; but, given the number of guys killed every yr while changing a flat roadside (lots of inept drivers out there), prob is never advisable to try to change own flat....
Would stand far away from any disabled car and roadway while observing oncoming traffic and while calling for roadside assist and/or flatbed&limo (if car needs to head to dealer)....
Cars are disposable; one's health/safety isn't....
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 771
Likes: 13
From: USA
E550
Guys, the jacks any of the manufacturers provide are mostly POS, with few exceptions. Do yourselves a favor if you change or remove your wheels often, go to a store (i got mine at Sears) and buy a good hydraulic jack and a few jack stands. The jack and stands shouldn't be more than $75 total and is much easier and safer than using the supplied jack.
Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
2007 S
Exactly. Why would ANYONE /want/ to use the factory OEM jacks to change a car when you don't have to ? They are generally the flimsiest jacks that they could provide to hopefully be capable of changing a tire when you need it. They certainly aren't made to be used regularly like washing/waxing/cleaning. You could almost argue that they are pseudo disposable in the sense that they aren't designed to be used more than a few times tops. . . I would definitely use a high quality bottle or scissor and not the supplied jack if I was planning on doing anything with a car. Come to think of it - I don't think I have /ever/ used the supplied jacks of /any/ car I've owned outside of changing a flat tire away from home.
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
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From: Los Angeles, CA
06 612 Scaglietti
When i switched my 18" s550 wheels to 19s, i used the original jack. I just put a cloth under the Jack so it doesnt slip. I think it might have slipped. Maybe since yours are 20s, and are much wider then mine, that might have caused it.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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From: SF Bay Area
2008 S65 Flint Grey/Black. Wife's car: 1/5/10 2010 E550 Palladium Silver/Natural Beige Leather P2 +
I took the car to dealer and dropped it off. Thankfully I have bought several cars from these guys over the years and they know pretty well. So they said they will keep it until they hear back from the MBNA regional guys. I told them it was a safety issue. I agree you should call roadside assist but at the end of the day if they are going to supply you a jack it should work. After spending over $200K for a car one should not feel as though an aftermarket jack is required. As far as why I did twice...the first time I did not damage the rocker panel and I thought it was operator error on my part. Again I have used the same MB jack many times without incident. Who knew? That why I thought I would send out this message to save you the hassle I am going through. I am going to insist they consider this a product design flaw and create a permanent fix.
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Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 771
Likes: 13
From: USA
E550
I disagree, these jacks are NOT meant to be used to change wheels back and forth, they are for emergency situations ONLY. Just because you spent $200k for a car doesn't mean that MB is obligated in anyway to provide you with a jack that isn't a POS meant for minimal use. I think that they either expect you to bring your car in so they can charge you a few hundred dollars to change your wheels, or for you to make a $75 investment (considering you just spent 200 large on a car, i hope that isn't a problem for you).
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
2008 S65 Flint Grey/Black. Wife's car: 1/5/10 2010 E550 Palladium Silver/Natural Beige Leather P2 +
Well the jury has come in. MBUSA says it was operater error. So it's at the body shop getting fixed on my dime. Lesson learned. I will be getting a heavy duty jack this weekend. If you get a flat tire on the road call MB assist to come and change your tire. I wouldn't want to see this happen to someone else MB.
