C63 - Cracked Rims anyone ?

[apex]

Hi,

Cars in for service and dealership have pinged across a visual inspection video indicating one of the 19" alloys has a hairline crack on the the inner side of the rim.

I can't find anything definitive on here about this being a problem so thought I'd ask via a post. For anyone that's been in the same situation, infact anyone with a view did you stump up for a new wheel from Merc or elsewhere /, live with it (its not losing air), or get a repair done.

I'm based in North Leeds if there's a wheel specialist you'd recommend IF you reckon this is a safe option....

Fabulous cars btw, came to mine (a 2012 with P30 pack) from a Z4M Coupe and it's a step change up from that. I know the engine is the main talking point but it has far better steering feel and balance than that as an out and out 2 door sports car had....

Cheers ...

Edited by apex on Wednesday 22 October 16:21

Edited by apex on Wednesday 22 October 16:23

[Alex L]

Check out the link below, it's a known issue with the 19s

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/amg-lounge/180222-m...

[apex]

Cheers mate, missed that thread.....

Merc wouldn't entertain a warranty claim, but the dealer offered a level of good will against retail for a replacement....

I may have been driving around with it like that for months, but now I know its broken I'm not sure I could fully trust a repair..

Clearly given its happening with other owners there's an issue here in terms of the combination of car/wheel design/tyre profile/british roads... If I remember correctly didn't previous model RS4's have a similar issue which Audi turned a deaf ear too...

[JimmyR1]

Interested to know what tyre pressures you have been using? According to the tyre pressure sticker on the back of fuel filler door the recommended pressure for the rears on 19s fully laden/high speed driving is over 50PSI. I have always erred to the top end of the recommended pressures for everyday driving. However at these high end pressures I found the ride quite brutal on 19s, so I have been running pressures at the low end of the range ie 38 F 42 R. This has made the ride more bearable in everyday use, however if these pressures are not protecting the rims I will have to revise my pressures, so to speak.

[apex]

.... was running them 39 fronts, 41 rear for the same reasons you state, i.e the ride became pretty brutal in the mid forties. Given its the rears that seem to suffer upping them to 43 and the fronts to now to 41..

Lessons. Hindsight I guess, but will definitely think about wheel insurance if going for that type of profile on our unique roads, or dropping down to 18"'s (which seem ok ?)

[likesachange]

That's my topic linked above.

It's the only downside to the car is the badly engineered or weak alloy design. And I'm struggling my to think of a preferable way of getting round it.

I was wanting to refurb the wheels prior to finding out they were cracked. Although they've been professionally welded and repaired they very vulnerable to crack again! Very frustrating.
Now I could buy a set of the 18's but I don't think they look very AMG and have a new set of 19" conti's.
I don't want to refurb these wheels or pay around £2500 for a new set for them to crack again.

So am currently looking at other options but am abit confused on what will fit nicely and suit the car without looking tack

[JimmyR1]

I don't think it is due to a manufacturing or design fault. I think it is more a case of large diameter alloy wheels demanding ultra low profile tyres. For example I also recall a similar endemic "fault" with the 19 inch wheels on the E90 or whatever it was 3 series BMWs. By the time you get down to 30 profile sidewalls there is really very little margin for error so to speak ie the wrong shaped pot hole in combination with pressures a little on the low side (for that wheel/tyre combination) and any wheel will eventually fail.

[likesachange]

JimmyR1 said:

I don't think it is due to a manufacturing or design fault. I think it is more a case of large diameter alloy wheels demanding ultra low profile tyres. For example I also recall a similar endemic "fault" with the 19 inch wheels on the E90 or whatever it was 3 series BMWs. By the time you get down to 30 profile sidewalls there is really very little margin for error so to speak ie the wrong shaped pot hole in combination with pressures a little on the low side (for that wheel/tyre combination) and any wheel will eventually fail.

I'm not so sure. The wheels are designed so that they have 30 profile tyres on like many other manufacturers, surely a forged wheel would have been much more stronger? Or a stronger inner rim design
Vauxhalls even sell Astras with 20" wheels and I don't think there as common to crack as these wheels...