6 wheel cracks...

[Giraffebread3]

So after a year of ownership in pothole ridden Hampshire I have managed to acquire a total of 6 cracks (3 in each) in my stock rear alloys.
After having them all professionally welded I have obviously lost confidence in their structural integrity and am looking at solutions..

Original rear replacements are around £1150 each if I can find somewhere that actually have rears in stock.
A full set of replica wheels matching stock specs (but slightly different ET) are £1k+

Lastly with the idea of preventing this happening again, I run higher PSI and of course now drive hyper aware of humps/potholes/etc, are there any aftermarket options for suspension mods that may soften up the ride?
Or, could I perhaps run a higher profile tyre without fouling/rubbing, would love to hear if someone has already done this successfully rather than trial and erroring.

The sparkle of ownership isn't the same when you are constantly worried about coming back to a flat tyre and driving like miss daisy on residential/country roads.

Any suggestions welcome.

TIA

 

[W1ghty]

Dropping to 18” wheels will stop all this .

 

[SpikyMikey]

Dropping to 18” wheels will stop all this .

Wish that was the case. One of my 18's on the back is now cracked. A pox on you, 35 series tyres
And a pox on you, Sussex roads
And a pox on you, Mercedes wheels made of cheese

 

[W1ghty]

Wish that was the case. One of my 18's on the back is now cracked. A pox on you, 35 series tyres
And a pox on you, Sussex roads
And a pox on you, Mercedes wheels made of cheese

Well they crack less than the larger ones . I personally prefer 17 summer 16 winters

 

[st13phil]

Unfortunately, the standard 10-spoke wheels on the facelift W/S212 E63's are not that robust. I had a couple buckle after incidents with potholes, but fortunately no cracks.

FWIW, the 5-twinspoke forged wheels that were on the pre-facelift car and an option on the facelift are much more robust and I never had any problem with them on my own pre-facelift W212. My suggestion would be to seek out a second-hand set of those in good condition and fit them. If you think the standard facelift wheels are expensive new, you'll have a coronary if you see the new price of the 5-twinspoke ones.

 

[AMGeed]

I ran the 10 spoke E63 facelift alloys for 3 years on Dorset's rubbish road surfaces without a single crack.
I must have been fortunate.

 

[pioneercollector]

I can relate to this from the original poster, When i recently had the MOT done it was discovered that i had a crack in one of my front wheels..... So i ditched the 19" wheels and got some secondhand stock 18" wheels, and had them refurbished, they look great, the car handles better and the road noise has been reduced.... Still i can remember the pot hole / crater i hit in Buckingham.... Grrrrrr

 

[Giraffebread3]

I can relate to this from the original poster, When i recently had the MOT done it was discovered that i had a crack in one of my front wheels..... So i ditched the 19" wheels and got some secondhand stock 18" wheels, and had them refurbished, they look great, the car handles better and the road noise has been reduced.... Still i can remember the pot hole / crater i hit in Buckingham.... Grrrrrr

Did you stick to the same width of 9'' front and 9.5'' rears?

Finding some nice replicas that are staggered with the same widths for a reasonable price is proving difficult, I have my eye on some second hand merc wheels on eBay

 

[ALFAitalia]

Original rear replacements are around £1150 each if I can find somewhere that actually have rears in stock.
A full set of replica wheels matching stock specs (but slightly different ET) are £1k+

Not sure why you would even consider straight replacements of what are clearly inferior quality wheels. You could get a cracking (or not!!....sorry) set of quality aftermarket wheels (with tyres) for the cost of 4 Merc alloys.

 

[Giraffebread3]

Not sure why you would even consider straight replacements of what are clearly inferior quality wheels. You could get a cracking (or not!!....sorry) set of quality aftermarket wheels (with tyres) for the cost of 4 Merc alloys.

You are right, I am not going to be getting straight replacements, I'd rather give alternate Merc wheels a crack or as you said aftermarket.
My confusion now is just whether the wheel widths need to match or rather what can I get away with.

 

[st13phil]

My confusion now is just whether the wheel widths need to match or rather what can I get away with

If you check in the Owner's Manual it lists all the approved wheel and tyre size combinations.

If you step outside the manufacturer approved combinations, make sure you inform your insurance company as it will be classed as a modification.

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , Whilst on holiday in Norway in 1959 my dad came across a Humber Super Snipe that the wheels had collapsed leaving the car in a ditch.

My dad stopped to make sure the driver was OK ( the failure has occured the previous day ). The driver was fine and he was checking up on his car all OK ( apart from the wheel ).

Cutting the story short, Roots group where perplexed that this had happened there solution was simple , customer was getting a new car deliver to his house in Oslo.

I believe the problem with alloy wheels are two fold , the design of the wheels in some cases is incorrect and choice of casting method is paramount.

Years ago I worked for a company that had one of the largest tanker fleet In the country and we had to reduce the unladen weight of the vehicle so we could achieve a 20 tonne payload.

Solution was to fit alloy wheels , so we thought , but no because the initial wheels had issues and by the time we strengthen the wheels the weight was as good as dam it the same as the steel wheels.

I am sure again many years ago , a magnesium alloy wheels was supplied that had a finite life and the wheels had to remade.

I don't know if other cars manufactures have potential problems with alloy wheels !

I wrote to various UK government departments regarding wheel issues and it was like a hot potato, passed from person to person.

I did receive a reply from a certain individual who said no further action would take and the had closed my complaint.

 

[Red C220]

Ultimately forged wheels are far more robust, but equally far more expensive.

UK roads (certainly the ones around where I am in Kent/Surrey) are just not suited to low profile tyres and 20+ inch rims.

Unfortunately that's what's fitted to most nice cars these days. A conundrum.

 

[ALFAitalia]

If you step outside the manufacturer approved combinations, make sure you inform your insurance company as it will be classed as a modification.

I think that with most insurance companies after market alloys are classed as a mod even if they are factory sizes....They are so fussy these days. My friend had to declare his carbon wrapped alfa roof (some have real carbon....his didnt).....they classed that as a mod....its a bloody sticker ferchrisakes!!

 

[st13phil]

I think that with most insurance companies after market alloys are classed as a mod even if they are factory sizes....

Yes, indeed most do.

 

[Dickster]

I’ve had the issue too recently. Car was mot’d and both near side wheels found to have small cracks

I have the 5 spoke split rims which I understand are prone to cracking - and the roads in north Kent are shite.

I’ve had a quote for repair and refurbish but I worry about further damage. So now I don’t know what to do, I just can’t make my mind up. Get some different oe wheels that I’m not too keen on or go for something completely different.

 

[Giraffebread3]

I’ve had the issue too recently. Car was mot’d and both near side wheels found to have small cracks

I have the 5 spoke split rims which I understand are prone to cracking - and the roads in north Kent are shite.

I’ve had a quote for repair and refurbish but I worry about further damage. So now I don’t know what to do, I just can’t make my mind up. Get some different oe wheels that I’m not too keen on or go for something completely different.

Curious, did you end up replacing your wheels?

I am close to pulling the trigger on some Bola ZFRs, just need to find a reputable place that can test fit then fit them if the fitment is right (don't fancy using a random garage to test fit in case I need to return them), if anyone knows a place in/near Hampshire would be much appreciated!!

 

[ALFAitalia]

Be careful with the test fitting....Ive known wheel dealers refuse to take them back with any sign that they have been fitted...marks in the bolts holes or on the mating surfaces.

 

[Dickster]

Curious, did you end up replacing your wheels?

I am close to pulling the trigger on some Bola ZFRs, just need to find a reputable place that can test fit then fit them if the fitment is right (don't fancy using a random garage to test fit in case I need to return them), if anyone knows a place in/near Hampshire would be much appreciated!!

Reluctantly yes. I love the split rims but can’t risk using them where I live. One bonus is a much better ride on the 18s.

I do think they need an update and I’m thinking body colour.

 

[Giraffebread3]

Reluctantly yes. I love the split rims but can’t risk using them where I live. One bonus is a much better ride on the 18s.

I do think they need an update and I’m thinking body colour.

They look good as they are to me. Enjoy the smoother ride