Recently had new Michelin Pilot Super Sports installed on the rear of my E55. Stock size. So far, love the tires, nicely done. Big improvement over the Continentals that were on there, they hook up way better than even the bald (slicks!) Contisports.

Problem is - upon road force balancing, the right rear rim is BENT! I can feel a vibration when cornering harder left, so it's got to be that rim.

The tech showed me the rim and tire assembly on the machine - the outer face (side you usually see) runs true, however the inner side is almost "egg shaped" - someone must've drilled a pothole at some point in the cars life. It stands to reason that the weakest part of the rim is the inner most edge as it is farthest from the center rim structure. I am trying to describe this as best I can without being wordy. The "Circle" that is the rim where the tire bead meets the aluminum is fine on the outside edge, but has visible lack of being circular on the inside tire bead/rim mating surface.

My local dealer claims that these rim can be "straightened" for a nominal fee plus mount-dismount-balance of the tire.

I told my indy shop owner about this and he had the same reaction I did -

The dealer acted as if this was relatively common, and they have the machines and so forth to correct it.....

My thinking is let them try it, worst case I need a new rim anyway.

If it doesn't work, I can ask around on here for someone that has a single rim they would sell me off of a front end wreck that is known to be straight and true, or even buy a pair of rear rims, and use the worst of the 4 I now own for a set of slicks, and the two best ones for regular driving.

So - anyone got a rim? lol

Thoughts?

 

You would have to weigh the cost of having the rim repaired, as to buying a new one.

 

As long as the wheel is not cracked and it is not badly bent, it can be repaired. It is safe, (as long as it is done correctly) we do it at my dealer very often. obviously its better to replace the wheel however the cost to benefit, repair is usually the better solution. Some amg wheels can cost $2000 and the dealer usually pays less than $75 to repair then they charge you $350

 

ttt

Thanks, anyone else?

 

As stated by the other member, a wheel can be straightened providing the damage isn't sever enough to have caused cracks. Another option would be Ebay where you can find people selling single wheels.

 

It sounds crazy on paper, but it worked. Some black magic by the dealer.

 

I had a similar problem on my 2007 E63 with chrome 18" oem AMG wheels.

My front right rim had a hairline crack on the inside lip just like yours, it was losing air slowly over a course of a few days.

I decided to try to repair it, but some rim repair shops are pretty shady and the price to repair at some reputable shops was very expensive. And I figured a repaired rim is no where near the same safety and load capacities

So I shopped around for the stock 18" AMG wheel that came on my car, it was $1100 with my discount at most places for just one rim, plus the extra $400-600 for chrome dipping or whatever to match my other chromed wheels. I would've preferred non chrome but the car came with them CPO.

So I thought about getting new rims, and ended up with a set of 18" x8.5"F, x10"R full set of Forgestar F14's in gunmetal for less than $1,000.

Good luck, check out all your options. In my scenario due to the chroming and amg wheel being very expensive, I just got a full new set of rims, and ended up selling all 4 amg wheels including the cracked one for the same price I got my new ones for, and the guy who bought them from me paid to get them repaired.

 

I am not sure what they did, but I had no cracks - just a bend from an obvious pothole encounter.

The whole thing sounded nusto, but the dealer was so cavalier about it being "no big deal" and "routine", so I decided not to look at the man behind the curtain and let them do that voodoo that they do.

End result? Car is smooth. $150 is a lot cheaper than a new rim, lest a set of them.

If I had my druthers, the new E63 5 spokes would be on there.

 

I get my BBS's straightened a lot. Crappy roads and soft metal = bends. As for the cracked rims, I have a welded rear that has held up great. Welds don't come apart contrary to all the naysayers and nannies all over the internet. Sadly I'm pretty sure the fools putting my PSS's on are the ones that clamped too tight and cracked it.

Chris - they basically heat your rim up and and bend it back until it runs out true or within spec...

 

Surprised as to how many wheels on these cars are bent. You also would be surprised to know how much better they ride when they are round. You need a quality wheel guy and a sharp tire store, you will be surprised at the ride quality of four round wheels with four properly mounted tires.

 

Nice! I wish we could all get together and throw our cracked, bent, out of spec wheels at Mercedes. Maybe that would send them a message to stop throwing crappy wheels on a car that costs half my house.

 

well said citylightva, I totally agree with infantry.......... I have one front wheel welded and one repaired from a pot hole and it needs it again............the softest wheels I have ever encountered. But I can still bounce off the electronic limiter without incident...............time for a tune