Is it best to run with no spare and all the BS that comes wqith it? If Iget a flat I will call AAA any way. How much do these items pound out to be?

Ummm, like we have a choice, our cars don't come with spares, but newer ones do. Late 2004's and for sure the 2005s.

The newer ones only come with a donut spare , as far as I know anyway. I dont think its that big a deal. WHy are you calling AAA when you have merc roadside?

Its funny when ive been used to merc roadside then i see my sister getting bills to extend her roadside servce with bmw.

My E55 came with a spare that needs to be inflated with an included compressor (that sits in the middle of the wheel in the trunk)!

Mine as well. but I have not visualy confirmed.

I've been running with no spare since Feb. But I'm not happy about it. When I was about a week from pick-up I asked my salesman if car had spare and he assured me it did until it was delivered without one. Then the story was that MB was no longer putting spares in... but now they are?

It's time to write MB and complain.

Can you answer a question for me first? The tire well in your trunk that your spare tire sits in...is it round or square?

Thanks

AAA, Merc roadside? I understand if you don't have a spare.... but I'd feel like little girl calling AAA or Merc roadside just because of a flat tire. It takes about 10 minutes to do it youself.

I will call you next time I have a flat! AMG I do not want to open any of the bags or use the spare. NO Story cars from me........

watch u dont break a nail buddy. By the time aaa or merc gets there you couldve been long on your way. God forbid you get your hands dirty. I cant believe someone who drags doesnt like to get his hands dirty..at allll.

I just picked up my e55 two days ago. It does have a compact spare that is uninflated and a small air compressor comes with it. It even comes with a pair of gloves so you won't get your hands dirty. I don't think the well in the trunk has changed shape from the previous e55's that did not have a spare, but the battery has been relocated over toward the right side of the tire well. A previous posting on this site describes how to relocate the battery so their is room for a space saver spare tire. Several people on this forum have described getting flats and then waiting hours for someone to show up and some have had to order a replacement tire and wait days for it. Personally I want a spare. I can change it myself in ten minutes.

not true at all, last year on christmas eve I got a flat in Quenns, NY, I called roadside assist and they came and had the tire changed in under 45 minutes. It sure beats doing it yourself

45 mins versus 10? I value not sitting on the side of the road a bit more than you apparently...30 mins is the minimum youll save by doing it yruself. Most of the time, it will be closer to an hour.

But what if you're flat occurs on the freeway, just last night some guy in Houston go killed when he walked out of his disabled car on the shoulder of the freeway. I'd just as well have some other guy take the risk.

lol risk? just be smart. If u think youre gonna venture off in the road..then by all means wait for the other guy.

I see that in a number of MB cars that previously did not have a spare (including a donut spare) that MB is going to the inflatable spare. Well at least that is a spare. In the event of a flat and lengthy wait for roadside service (or if out of cell phone range in the middle of nowhere) at least you have a spare you can change yourself.
In my M5 there is an air compressor, plastic gloves, and a can of "fix-a-flat". And using the fix-a-flat screws up the inside of the tire. So one is forced to use roadside assistance - which is okay as long as not out of cell phone range. Some M5 owners carry a portable or full-sized spare on long trips. Wish I had an inflatable spare.
Now to the point of this post, a recommendation for any car owner with an air compressor, you might want to test the air compressor to make sure it works before you need it and discover it doesn't work.

I know its asking alot but could someone with a W211 E55 spare tire setup post a pict of the tire and well in the car so that I can twist my dealers arm into a retro-fit?

Thanks

Pics have been posted already, just search for them. I carry an extra wheel in my trunk at all times since my blowout fiasco when the car was 1 1/2 months old.

An added advantage is the weight of the spare tyre will help with traction too!

kort677 not true at all, last year on christmas eve I got a flat in Quenns, NY, I called roadside assist and they came and had the tire changed in under 45 minutes. It sure beats doing it yourself


You had a good experience with roadside assist changing your tire in 45 mins. This has not been the experience of everyone here however. Some have reported waiting several hours only to have roadside assist show up and not have a tire or spare and then have to tow their car on a flat bed truck. Some have had to wait several days for a replacement tire. For me give me a spare and then I at least have options. I can elect to call for assistance or do it myself. It probably depends where you are when you call for assistance. I frequently travel rural areas and getting roadside assistance in but****k egypt can sometimes mean a long wait.

It may be easier for MB Roadside assistance to change the wheel for non AMG cars. The probability for them to encounter a non-AMG vehicle is greater so they probably carry those wheels with them.

kort677, on what vehicle did they change your wheel?

If one of my tires goes flat, I don't want to take any chances with MB Roadside assistance. That's why I fitted a spare myself.

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=65830