Two weeks ago I put a set of 18" rims on my e320 4matic. Well yesterday I hit a mother of a pothole and you guessed it, a flat and a bent rim! The rim has a nice half moon the size of a quarter and I haven't looked too closely at the tire yet but it is probably no good. My question is with the 4matic and the ESP it is not good to drive it with the 16" spare right? How bad is it though ? I drove it @6-8 miles to get home and already ordered another rim and 2 new tires. I plan on putting a new rim and tire on and then getting the bent rim fixed and putting a new tire on it and using it for a spare. Anyone know how much rim fixing costs? A new rim is $150 so if fixing the old one is $125 or so I think I would just rather buy another new one.

DANGER, DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!

No, you can't do that - no telling what the car will do with 1 out of 4 being 2" different than the other 3. Think it through...

After I finsih this thread input, I'm ordering 16" wheel & tire combo (uprgrade from the 15" stock) from Luke and I'll be ordering 5 sets - its for the wife's 560SEL and I don't need to think of or hear about the spare not matching (trust me, I get enough flak about other crap).

For me, 4 good ones is cool. Bad flat/wheel means Shank's Mare to the nearest bar and wait for the vaunted MBUSA free road service available to any MB still on the road.

DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONE WHEEL 2" DIFFERENT.

Kevin

P.S. - I guess I'm showing my age - "Shank's Mare" = walking.

Please note: a second class ride is still better than a first class walk...

Regards

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"Dangerous with a wrench...and not smart enough to know it"

Stable (in order of acqusition):
'84 500SL, 280SEL (Euros)
'77 280SE. '90 560SEL
'79 450SEL 6.9,
'95 C280 (totalled by daughter 8/07)
'81 280SL (rescued) '88 300CE
'86 560SEC '95 C36
'01 CL55

DD's: '04 S500 4Matic (SWMBO)
'04 F150 Crew

There seems no mention of tire size fitted on the 18" and 16" rims. If they sum up having compatible rolling diameters, would work (well at least as a spare just to get home)?

Rim size is not that important. It is tire diameter (very Important) and it is most important on the drive wheels. If the drive wheels are different sizes your differential will get a workout.

I have owned my 300SDL for 2 months now. Is it still covered by MBUSA? What services do they provide and how do I reach them in an emergency?

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Don Martin
Bakersfield, CA
87 300SDL

The Roadside service numbers:

US: 1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or 1-800-367-6372.
Canada: 1-800-387-0100

I'm in Canada and this is how the dealer explained it to me:

Any MB owner can call for the roadside assistance, 24x7, regardless of the vehicle's age.

The roadside assistance is free if the vehicle is under the original factory/extended warranty. Otherwise, the owner has to pay for the repair.

Not sure if that's how it works in US?

Welcome to the world of thin tires on big wheels. BTDT. Too much trouble. All my cars are now shod with 15s or 16s. All bigger wheels do is look good. And if you really think that they improve your handling, take a peek an Michael Schumacher's wheels some day.

Sorry for the rant, just trying to help a younger guy learn from my own exuberant car nut errors over the years...

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Thx/Reno
An American in France
88 300TD 5spd Sportline (lowered factory susp) - totalled by a flying deer
89 Range Rover V8 - the 4wd beast
02 Toyota minivan
05 Peugeot Partner 4x4 Dangel
88 International Harvestor 633SA
--Gone but not forgotten:
1970 250/8 C (sold to buy 450 SLC)
1972 450 SLC (sold after battling wiring harness problems too long)
1971 300 SEL 6.3 (sold after destroying two *very* expensive rear LS diffs)
1986 560 SEL (now my little brother's pride and joy)

Yep Impala, same here.

Was amazed, battery went dead. Called Sears, they didn't even have one, so I called MB, delivered and installed 140 bucks, not bad for a battery that size.

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KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

kknudson, thanks for letting me know.

Wow $140 for an OE battery, delivered & installed, was a super deal ! Guess they didn't make much on your order

I was shocked too, thats for a 1990 SL, and the guy was very polite, careful etc.


All you pay for is parts.

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KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

providing you plus sized correctly there is no issue with the spare tire use since it is the same overall diameter as your regular wheels and tires

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Please, call me to place orders or for more info
use my name for on-line orders

I think the best explanation is to get the smallest wheels that will fit over the largest brakes.

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods