Brand new spare alloy wheel scratched badly

[perdikoyla888]

A couple of weeks ago I bought a spare 18" AMG alloy wheel to replace the dull 16" steel spare wheel in the boot compartment of my w203. However I have just noticed that my brand spanking new wheel is now completely ruined...! It has suffered bad scratches all over the area of contact with the spare wheel storage plastic flooring....

I am quite upset, I spent around 300 pounds for the spare wheel and never used it yet.

Did anyone else have the same experience?

Should I go back to mercedes and claim a new spare wheel since the damage occured during storage in the spare wheel designated area?

I mean spare wheel compartment should be designed in such way to protect the spare wheel during storage...

Your views ragarding this issue would be highly appreciated.

 

[500E]

Hi there,

Your 18" wheel is too large for the spare wheel area, hence it has been damaged. These areas are usually designated for ligher, smaller wheels which saves weight - which is why a 16" steel wheel was placed here.

Did you Mercedes-Benz dealer inform you that the wheel will fit without damage? If so, then you might be able to return, although I dont think you will be able to otherwise.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[perdikoyla888]

It does not matter the size of the alloy wheel. Even if it was 16" alloy, it would still get scratched as the spare compartment does not offer adequate scratch protection (the outer side of the alloy wheel sits down and rubs against the plastic florring of the spare wheel compartment). Trust me it does not have to do with the size of the wheel but with the inadequate protection of the spare wheel in the spare wheel compartment. It should not sit upside down or at least it should be a padded flooring in the spare wheel compartment for added protection.... Still I belive that it is not designed well, taking into consideration spare wheel scratch risk.

Even if we assume that the spare wheel compartment is designed to accomodate the dull steel wheels that noone cares if they get scratched still it is design fault. What happens in case you get a flat tyre when you drive? You have to use the spare wheel and place your alloy wheel with the flat tyre in the spare wheel compartment... Then when you replace the tyre and you use your alloy wheel again you notice that it has been scratched badly...

Any more opinions?

 

[Rory]

If the car had a space-saver then there should have been a protective bag to wrap the alloy wheel in, in the event of a puncture. This just sits in the boot until the tyre could be repaired.

If the car had a standard size spare, and the 18" wheel fits in the spare wheel well, then if you had secured it properly it wouldn't have been able to move around and get itself scratched.

 

[perdikoyla888]

the spare wheel was secured properly however the plastic backet and the plastic scew (due to the plastic material) flex and vibrate when you drive and this causes scratches to the alloy wheel.

 

[Will]

I hate to say so but I would have thought that common sense would be enough.

When I have put alloy wheels in the well as spares I've always considered this and put an old sheet/towel in first to protect the face from scratches.

How bad are the scratches and could they be polished out?

Will

 

[glojo]

Your views ragarding this issue would be highly appreciated.

Hi,
Unfortunately you have asked for our views and these are sometime not what you want to hear. I am sure that every opinion that has been voiced has been thought through and given in a polite, unbias manner. I sadly agree with the majority and suggest the responsibility rests with you. I tend to put a large metal tubular bar in the boot to help get the blooming wheel nuts off. That metal bar is wrapped in protective wrapping which ensures it does not rattle, nor cause any damage. My choice to do this, my responsibility to ensure nothing gets scratched. You made a decision to put this wheel in the boot and sadly the responsibility should rest with you to ensure it was safe, secure and not prone to movement. In this modern age you might be able to sue 'someone' for recompense as nothing now surprises me.

I am genuinely sorry to hear about the scratch marks, you are someone that clearly take a pride in their motor car, and seeing those marks must be very disappointing.

Good luck getting this issue sorted,
John

 

[Howard]

Yes, i have an old towel in my 'well' to protect the wheel too...

Any metal on metal contact is always going to result in scratches ....

 

[miro]

I am quite certain that Mercedes will replace it for you if you can demonstrate an instance of them supplying an 18" alloy rim as a spare tyre in a C-Class.

IFAIK that wasnt the case since the 1999 W210 E55.

 

[perdikoyla888]

Thank you for your views guys. my car did not come with a towel / soft cloth.
I should complain to them since it is their mistake not to supply with the car the appropriate protection.

 

[Shude]

Thank you for your views guys. my car did not come with a towel / soft cloth.
I should complain to them since it is their mistake not to supply with the car the appropriate protection.

If the wheel was in perfect condition when they supplied it then I'm afraid you will struggle to get any kind of compensation from the supplier.

The reason why people have soft towels, cloth or carpets in their spare wheel wells is simply because they have the common sense to protect the wheel while it is in storage!

 

[glojo]

Thank you for your views guys. my car did not come with a towel / soft cloth.
I should complain to them since it is their mistake not to supply with the car the appropriate protection.

Whilst your at it I would sue the owner\driver of the vehicle. The car was supplied no doubt in pristine condition and if it was parked in a nice warm sterile atmosphere the paintwork would not become chipped, the oil would not get dirty, the tyres would not get worn, all these things are directly a result of the driver. Sue them for every penny.

John

 

[Flash]

Space savers are perfect - no worry what so ever and they dont really get scuffed but means only sticking to 50MPH to get yoruself safely back home again.