C63 19'' Wheels Buckled!
Discussion
Morning All
last week my 2014 C63 (W204) went into mercedes for the big A service. its just hit 22k.
the advisory on the service sheet was that both my front wheels were buckled - this is confirmed by the small vibration i get through the steering wheel at motorway speeds.
The car was bought from a Mercedes dealer, i have got it on a service plan for two years and it still had a years left of used approved warranty. While the warranty doesn't cover wheels, tyres and bodywork etc, i was looking for some sort of good will gesture because of the above. i was not expecting a freebie.
i was met with a very abrupt service manager who was incredibly resilient in helping me what so ever. after making my point a bit clearer, i was offered 10% off a £475 wheel, which id need times two. Good, but i dont think thats good enough really.
..anyone have any experiences with this? i know the optional 19'' wheels are prone to cracking, but buckling? i find it an odd coincidence that both front wheels have cracked when the car only has 22k and is used for motorway commutes..although i appreciate it can happen anytime.
I took the matter to Mercedes online and explained the above, they returned to me this morning extending apologies on the abruptness of the manager and reluctance to help me at all, and also apologized for the fact i had to return to the dealer as they failed to turn my service light off before handing the car back. The chap on the phone did state that its down to the dealer to offer any discounts or 'deals' and that the dealer claimed margins were too tight on the wheels to give any discounts.
mad thing is i had a wheel changed under warranty over Christmas as it started to corrode! although tyhis is classed as a manufacturers fault. Several searches online make it clear these wheels crack and buckle quite commonly which says there must be a design issue with these? or that the tyre and wheel combo just is not for uk roads?
Looks like il be getting stung for replacement wheels. whats your experience with this or similar?
last week my 2014 C63 (W204) went into mercedes for the big A service. its just hit 22k.
the advisory on the service sheet was that both my front wheels were buckled - this is confirmed by the small vibration i get through the steering wheel at motorway speeds.
The car was bought from a Mercedes dealer, i have got it on a service plan for two years and it still had a years left of used approved warranty. While the warranty doesn't cover wheels, tyres and bodywork etc, i was looking for some sort of good will gesture because of the above. i was not expecting a freebie.
i was met with a very abrupt service manager who was incredibly resilient in helping me what so ever. after making my point a bit clearer, i was offered 10% off a £475 wheel, which id need times two. Good, but i dont think thats good enough really.
..anyone have any experiences with this? i know the optional 19'' wheels are prone to cracking, but buckling? i find it an odd coincidence that both front wheels have cracked when the car only has 22k and is used for motorway commutes..although i appreciate it can happen anytime.
I took the matter to Mercedes online and explained the above, they returned to me this morning extending apologies on the abruptness of the manager and reluctance to help me at all, and also apologized for the fact i had to return to the dealer as they failed to turn my service light off before handing the car back. The chap on the phone did state that its down to the dealer to offer any discounts or 'deals' and that the dealer claimed margins were too tight on the wheels to give any discounts.
mad thing is i had a wheel changed under warranty over Christmas as it started to corrode! although tyhis is classed as a manufacturers fault. Several searches online make it clear these wheels crack and buckle quite commonly which says there must be a design issue with these? or that the tyre and wheel combo just is not for uk roads?
Looks like il be getting stung for replacement wheels. whats your experience with this or similar?
Same with mine at 27k miles. At the last service I reported a slight vibration at 80-90 mph, service representative came back with 'its got 3 buckled wheels sir and it will be £1400 to replace them'. I've got the optional extra cost black wheels so enquired if the standard silver ones were cheaper, on no she said, that was the price for the standard wheel, the black ones are more expensive. I then had to point out that were they really going to fit 3 silver wheels and leave me with one black one? I declined the offer and left, only to get the 'Top Oil when you next stop' message come up after just two miles. Email to Milton Keynes and got a stony silence as a response.
I've yet to put the wheels on a dial gauge to check for run-out and roundness, they look in very good condition inside and out but I suspect, like a lot of alloys today, they're prone to getting pot-hole damage from the state of British roads.
I've yet to put the wheels on a dial gauge to check for run-out and roundness, they look in very good condition inside and out but I suspect, like a lot of alloys today, they're prone to getting pot-hole damage from the state of British roads.
Dog Star said:
Just get them straightened
This ^Mine is 2013 (63 plate) C63 Coupe on 19s. Last time I got the tyres changed, the tyre fitter at F1 told me the front's were buckled but they did what they could to balance them out. A week later, I was charging up the autobahns at 140mph and no issues.
This year I've been to Le Mans for the 24 and then down to the south of France + Monaco and back to blighty. Again, no issues. When it becomes an issue then I'll get them repaired.
TBH, unless you live, work and have driving holidays exclusively on the M6 Toll or some French toll road, then rims from 17" upwards will, at some point, buckle. If they're diamond cut then add corrosion to the overall headache.
Edited by Chest Rockwell on Wednesday 2nd August 17:28
These 19" AMG alloys are super brittle - I've had my C63 coupe for coming up to 3 years now and have had two cracked alloys repaired (£60 each time). The common suggestion I've had from the repairers was if you're going to run reinforced tyres, drop the pressures a little so there is some sidewall give and if you're running non-reinforced keep the pressures topped up in line with the manual ~45 psi, to protect the alloys.
Fingers crossed I don't have any more issues, but once you've been through this process, you'll forever be dodging those potholes I assure you.
Fingers crossed I don't have any more issues, but once you've been through this process, you'll forever be dodging those potholes I assure you.
daveyc86 said:
These 19" AMG alloys are super brittle - I've had my C63 coupe for coming up to 3 years now and have had two cracked alloys repaired (£60 each time). The common suggestion I've had from the repairers was if you're going to run reinforced tyres, drop the pressures a little so there is some sidewall give and if you're running non-reinforced keep the pressures topped up in line with the manual ~45 psi, to protect the alloys.
Fingers crossed I don't have any more issues, but once you've been through this process, you'll forever be dodging those potholes I assure you.
Nothing to do with the rims, more to do with low profile tyres and crappy UK roads.Fingers crossed I don't have any more issues, but once you've been through this process, you'll forever be dodging those potholes I assure you.
Not at all specific to MB either. There isn't a brand out there without the same issue,except, perhaps those who don't fit big rims with low profile tyres. In the UK.
Lowering the pressure won't help, only your last sentence makes any sense.
Chest Rockwell said:
TBH, unless you live, work and have driving holidays exclusively on the M6 Toll or some French toll road, then rims from 17" upwards will, at some point, buckle.
OT but not all French toll roads are good! Some are, but not all.The crap roads in France are why you rarely see sporty cars with French plates in France, i see more British-plated sportscars even down in the Languedoc where you see few Brits.
50% of our roadtrips have required a degree of repair or realignment afterwards.
giggity said:
I'm looking to buy a C63 and it comes with 19" wheels,
Should I avoid it and look for a car with the 18s
I'm seeing many reports of cracking / buckled wheels.
Decisions decisions...!!
Nope, buy it and then buy some proper forged wheels from BBS or the likes. Sell the OEM 19s. No more issues.Should I avoid it and look for a car with the 18s
I'm seeing many reports of cracking / buckled wheels.
Decisions decisions...!!
I had a total of 3 cracked/buckled AMG IV split rims (yes the ones that retailed for nearly £5K a set when new) on my R230 SL before buying a set of BBS CH-Rs.... never had a problem since. And IMO they look just as good as the IVs!
Big wheels and low profile tyres = equal buckled wheels.
Every manufacturer suffers and unless, as someone above has suggested you go out and buy a set of forged rims or keep getting them straightened after you hit a pot hole unfortunately it's either suck it up or pay up.
Not sure why you're expecting the dealer to care or offer you a discount? You've driven 22k and obviously hit a few holes in the road resulting in a buckled wheel? It's got more to do with the council than the dealer.
Every manufacturer suffers and unless, as someone above has suggested you go out and buy a set of forged rims or keep getting them straightened after you hit a pot hole unfortunately it's either suck it up or pay up.
Not sure why you're expecting the dealer to care or offer you a discount? You've driven 22k and obviously hit a few holes in the road resulting in a buckled wheel? It's got more to do with the council than the dealer.
Bad wobble above 90 on my E63. Drove across Europe in 1 day vibrating badly (impatient!). Called MB who booked me into Lugano MB. €1400 for a replacement to a supposedly warped wheel they suggested. I deferred and got all balanced at another independant. Perfect after €100
This is a scam by MB franchisee. Porsche slime also very bad for it.
This is a scam by MB franchisee. Porsche slime also very bad for it.
Edited by Ali2202 on Monday 18th September 01:42
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