Got a new set of 18" alloys/tires from The Tire Rack recently. Time to have them rotated and balanced. The Benz was ready for her 1st service, so I thought I would have this all done at the same time. The dealer has a history of damaging wheels (either with an air wrench or balancing machine). Took the service guy out and showed him that there was not a scratch on any of the wheels. He just about freaked out and said "their machine didn't do a very good job on 18" wheels." I asked him how they did all the AMG cars with 18's. He said it did OK on factory wheels.

He suggested that I go to a custom wheel shop to have them balanced. Isn't that pitiful? That a "state of the art" Mercedes-Benz dealer cannot/will not properly balance your wheels without damaging them.

Where does one go to get a proper balance job without damage? How is it that Tire Rack can mount and balance tires and wheels without a speck of damage?

Any thoughts?

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2000 E430 Sport (European Delivery)
Brilliant Silver/Ash Leather
Brabus Leather/Wood Sport Steering Wheel
PowerChip
Euro Front Bumper Strips, Debadged
E55 "Carbon Fiber" Door Pillar Trim
E55 Tail lights
E55 AMG/Bilstein Shocks
Eibach Springs, #1 Pads
H & R Sway Bars
Speed Yellow Calipers
18" x 8" SSR Integral Wheels
245/40ZR 18 Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Tires

1986 Porsche 944 Turbo
88K miles

I would try to find a place that sells 18" custom wheels. It may be as simple as visiting a couple/few tire stores and see what they have on display. No matter what you end up doing - make sure that they do not put an impact wrench on the lug nuts when they remount the wheels.

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Jim