Had problems with this thing on 2 different occasions when I was at the dealership. Customers used them then couldn't get them to come off. Material is really weird, you'd think it was just aluminum, must be magnesium or something, hard to cut. IIRC the owners cross-threaded them and then couldn't even get the wheel on because they were crooked!
Gilly

The tool may be helpful for some folks when mounting front wheels because the front rotors have a tendency to turn as you align the bolt holes, but that's certainly not the case with rear wheels. Frankly, I find the tool more trouble than it's worth. Used it once, and never again.

I find it more time consuming to use this tool than to simply line it up and hang it on the flange, to each his own.

They are always on EBAY..

M12x1.5 for older cars, M14x1.5 for newer cars.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wheel-Stud-Mounting-Tool-M12-x-1-5-Mercedes-BMW-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3f0341a74aQQitemZ270637573962QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

x2 - its ok on the fronts back hardly worth getting out for the back
plus as mentioned its light alloy, wouldn't want to drop a wheel on the end of it...

cheers!
balge

My '93 W201 came with the tool in the tool wrap sealed in a plastic bag.

Just to be the counterpoint, I love this tool and use it all the time. In my pre MB days I bought an aftermarket version for my old BMW 5 series, because the stock tool kit in my car did not have one. Our German cars have "hub centered" wheels rather than lug centered wheels.

As far as I'm concerned this tool has saved me countless minutes of fussing trying to line up the holes in the wheel with the holes on the hub. And I've watched many a wheel jockey at the tire shops struggling with lining things up when they could have just used one of these tools. Of course these are the guys who do not know how to use a torque wrench either!

Rgds,
Chris W.
3 x W124

when i have my time.... the wheels seem to go right on...

when i am in a hurry... i can't get them on without this tool

lol