SL/R230: This will be the last car I ever put rims on.
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From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
This will be the last car I ever put rims on.
Hit a huge pothole last week.....bent a rim. It still holds air, but my steering wheel is now shaking somewhat at certain speeds, so it did damage. The pothole also cut a wire going to one of my orange sidemarkers. Of course, while I was getting that fixed, I noticed a bend on the inner part of my other front rim too. Unfriggin-believable......$1200 PER RIM too. I'm moving to Chicago in a month where the roads suck.....this is definately the last time I ever put rims on a car, it's not worth it when they bend....and around here, they WILL bend.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
Maybe I am more frustrated that I post this yet know I probably will end up getting rims on my next car anyways 
despite the fact that I know I'll bend them. I just won't get as expensive rims.
I heard someone say I-Forged are supposed to be stronger rims or ? I am submitting a claim against the city I hit the pothole in to see if they will pay for the 1.
Hey Brabus, quick question for you as I saw you had a 6 series. How did you like it? I am thinking of selling my SL once I move and leasing a 6 series (I didn't lease the SL because I was driving way too many miles by not living in Chicago....120 mile roundtrip).
despite the fact that I know I'll bend them. I just won't get as expensive rims. I heard someone say I-Forged are supposed to be stronger rims or ? I am submitting a claim against the city I hit the pothole in to see if they will pay for the 1.
Hey Brabus, quick question for you as I saw you had a 6 series. How did you like it? I am thinking of selling my SL once I move and leasing a 6 series (I didn't lease the SL because I was driving way too many miles by not living in Chicago....120 mile roundtrip).
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that's the exact reason why I buy cheap rims for all my cars and simply replace them once every 12-18 months.. bought my newest set for $999 shipped (20x9 and 20x10.5) and are already bent to crap thanks to living in downtown seattle, but i don't let it bother me.. considering what i paid..
i used to go the expensive route, but it would **** me off to no end when i ran into potholes daily, had valets scrape them, etc..
and while yes, technically you can repair some wheels, this isn't always the case.. my last set had 2 huge bends from potholes, that repairing them was impossible..
attached is a picture of my $999 including shipping rims.. all bent already.. i'll probably replace them in about 6-8 months.. better than spending $18,000+ a year on wheels for all 3 cars..
in terms of the city paying for the damages.. good luck.. tried that route before.. what a waste of time that was..
i used to go the expensive route, but it would **** me off to no end when i ran into potholes daily, had valets scrape them, etc..
and while yes, technically you can repair some wheels, this isn't always the case.. my last set had 2 huge bends from potholes, that repairing them was impossible..
attached is a picture of my $999 including shipping rims.. all bent already.. i'll probably replace them in about 6-8 months.. better than spending $18,000+ a year on wheels for all 3 cars..
in terms of the city paying for the damages.. good luck.. tried that route before.. what a waste of time that was..
Hit a huge pothole last week.....bent a rim. It still holds air, but my steering wheel is now shaking somewhat at certain speeds, so it did damage. The pothole also cut a wire going to one of my orange sidemarkers. Of course, while I was getting that fixed, I noticed a bend on the inner part of my other front rim too. Unfriggin-believable......$1200 PER RIM too. I'm moving to Chicago in a month where the roads suck.....this is definately the last time I ever put rims on a car, it's not worth it when they bend....and around here, they WILL bend.
Last edited by seattlecarfreak; Apr 11, 2007 at 09:11 AM.
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2003 SL500 2005 G55
I have had a set of black diablo lionharts that I paid $2500 for on my 03' SL for 2 years now. I never had a problem with them. I used to have the davin spinners on it when I first bought the car 4 years ago and they screwed up my car pretty bad.....dented the wheel wells, flat tires every week etc. My friend owns a car customs shop and he wanted me to get the new lowenhart LSR's. I told him its not worth it, they want like $8000 for them and around here in boston they will get wrecked easy.
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From: N.Y.C.
05' sl 500
i learned that lesson a while ago on my clk 430. i put new 18" amg monoblock chrome rims (up from 17") with new low profile pirelli tires and in less than 2 weeks BAM! i was doing about 20 mph after a stop sign and the construction idoits left a square cut out about 4 inches deep in the road. i blew out both tires and cracked both rims on one side. what a waste! thats why i have stock 18" cheap rims on my sl now. it make not look as hot as 20's but my ride and piece of mind is much better
Thread Starter
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From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
They are Lowenharts glennbaz, which are true 3-piece rims (aren't they?). However, the problem with repairing those from what I've heard is that it is very hard to reseal them perfectly....
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From: So Cal
2010 RRS ; BMW K1200R; 14 E350 ; 14 RRS on order
There was a guy in a CLS that sued the city successfully for the cost of his wheels. Do a search. It actually never went to court now that I think of it, he just asked them nicely, but in Chicago they'll laugh at you cause they don't want to set the precedence, can you imagine everyone with wheel damage in Chicago suing. LOL
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
This was in a suburb and to be honest, I think I have a very good chance of recovering. You need to know how to do it, though. I have a legal background so I have a better knowledge of it.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Don't feel bad, I was at the post office last week in a heavy down poor and slowly idled back into a curb; I put a nice 2 inch small scrape in the rim and a tiny piece of tire also came off. Needless to say being born with a bad case of perfectionism syndrome, I ordered a new rim and tire for about $2000.00.
Last edited by RJC; Apr 11, 2007 at 11:42 PM.
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i learned that lesson a while ago on my clk 430. i put new 18" amg monoblock chrome rims (up from 17") with new low profile pirelli tires and in less than 2 weeks BAM! i was doing about 20 mph after a stop sign and the construction idoits left a square cut out about 4 inches deep in the road. i blew out both tires and cracked both rims on one side. what a waste! thats why i have stock 18" cheap rims on my sl now. it make not look as hot as 20's but my ride and piece of mind is much better
