Big Trouble! Wheel locks stripped and flat tire - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-21-2002, 10:16 PM

My procrastination is giving me a headache, a 86 300E i bought has dry rott tires and slowly leaking air, instead of filling it, i let it go all the way flat, since i was going to change all new tires anyway.

But there are wheel locks are the car!! And i have a tool that I found in the truck but it doesnt work and kind of stripped. How do I remove a hubcap type wheel lock?

There is a small hubcap cover, you use this special tool to remove the cover, then you unbolt the chrome RIM and change the tire. But without the tool, i cant get the small hubcap cover off to expose the nuts!

I cant drive the car now cause of the complete flat and cant get the wheel off to use the spare, HELP!

#2 11-21-2002, 11:53 PM

I had a set of wheels with that sort of "lock" and I think the "key" for it was a five-fluted Allen wrench. If it's the same with yours, the cheapest way to take the weird screw out is to jam a small flat screwdriver in the hole across two of the flutes and turn the screwdriver counter-clockwise with a pair of channel-locks.

The other option is to push a piece of gum in the hole to get an impression and then go to a tire store that carries the same brand. They probably won't sell the wrench separately, but they may sell you a set of locks with a wrench included.

M D "Doc" Nugent
http://www.carcentric.com/Ludwigproject.htm

speedy300Dturbo · #3 11-22-2002, 12:19 AM

Worst case scenario:

Weld a 90 degree bent piece of metal to the stripped bolt. Works every time!

joel · #4 11-22-2002, 01:09 AM

save yourself the trouble, have your car towed to
the closes tire dealership. they know what to do!!

#5 11-22-2002, 08:06 AM

Thanks for the help.

Doc Nug, i tried the trick with the flat screwdriver a few minutes ago and it worked just fine! as a matter of fact on the other side of the tool is a flat screwdriver and the lock wasnt stripped, it was the tool that was stripped, not the bolt, whew!!! what a relief

Now the center cap is a plastic type material and it looks like the chrome was painted on and flaking at the hole. Is it easy to respray these chrome peices?

#6 11-22-2002, 08:08 AM

opps,

actually i would like to buy a new one if possible to save me the trouble of respraying it, etc. but i dont know where to find them, i tried many web sites and its just a weird design and cant find it.

Its a circular center cap thats plastic with chrome painted and 6 inches from one end to the other end. It says made in taiwan and w1855 any ideas?

G-Benz · #7 11-22-2002, 01:08 PM

Do you have the chrome 8-hole wheels?

If so, it sounds like the type of center cap I have. The PO got them at Discount Tire...

..sorry, this is the only pic I've got, so it might be hard to see the wheels...

#8 11-22-2002, 05:45 PM

G benz,

Your right on the money! the rims i have are not 8 hole, they are 5 spoke, but the center cap looks EXACTLY like yours. It looks like your are 6-inches and has the MB star in a gold outline, right?

Do you know if i can just buy the center caps just like yours or do you have a part number for it?

Cause if i try to repaint chrome its not going to look that great, so i want to replace it.

G-Benz · #9 11-22-2002, 06:30 PM

I found the original invoice for the wheels, and they were purchased in 02/97. Very little text info on them (15x7 5-112), but the Discount Tire code for the wheels is #68920.

The gold "star" on my caps is actually metal. It is bolted onto the cap in the center (as yours probably is). With that in mind, I would reasonably guess that the cap is manufactured as a generic item, and then the specific application gets the vehicle logo bolted on.

I wish I could give you more info, but I'm heading out for the holidays as we speak, so I won't be near my W124, or MercedesShop for about a week.

Good Luck!

#10 11-22-2002, 07:55 PM

Thanks G,

You have been very helpful, i will do some reasearch and see what happens.

Have a nice and safe holiday...