C63 Cracked Rear Wheel

[StephenSJason]

Fun and games.

Today I decided to get the wheels off as part of a full detail. I hadn't used the car in a little while so as I hadn't really looked at it, I was surprised to find that the drivers side rear tyre was pretty flat and I'd not noticed before.

I whipped the wheel off, expecting to find a nail in the tyre but nothing so, I clean up the wheel and I find a crack in it. What I also found on the wheel was a bloody great plate welded over an old crack which was done pre-buying the car; so it's been an issue before apparently.

I pumped up the tyre, held pressure fine without any hissing but to be sure it was the crack that deflated the tyre, I put a small amount of soapy water over it and behold, bubbles so that's the culprit.

Question: Car is main dealer bought 4mths ago, with warranty also. I expect normally they'd decline a cracked wheel as a warranty repair and blame it on pothole damage however, do I have any leverage seeing as the wheel had already been crack repaired, and badly at that?

Pic of crack:


Pic of previous repair:


Pic showing relation of crack and repair. Crack is adjacent to the "H" in "Michelin"

 

[brucemillar]

Personally! I would be going back to the dealer and looking for some goodwill. That looks like a poor repair that has been done. The crack should have been cut out, welded and ground back.

Good luck.

 

[def90cars]

Main Dealer!!!!!!!!!!! I would want new wheels no questions!

 

[Beno]

I've found in the past dealing with MB that if you go in being reasonable and expressing how disappointed you are, explain that you bought the car from a main dealers to avoid this type of issue, and that you can only presume that it might have missed with there inspection because obviously they wouldn't sell such a prestige car with cracked/repaired rims. You stand a much better chance of them resolving it than going in all guns blazing.
It worked for me

 

[StephenSJason]

Thanks guys.

Yes, softly softly to begin with I think is best and to curb the hot head for a while . I bought from a main dealer to avoid stuff like this but looks like I was naive.

Do you recommend just taking the wheel down or the whole car? The rest are fine.

That previous repair is some ugly job I tell you.

 

[The _Don]

Request a new alloy no ifs no buts.

 

[StephenSJason]

Ok, so I've finished the bodywork and I'm very happy with that; it's tip top up close and personal. That's the good news, as when I got round to wheel #4 (the other rear wheel) I find two disgusting welds on that too.

Front rims are good but I'm going to try and push for a complete new set as I have no trust in them.

 

[Dieselman]

Front rims are good but I'm going to try and push for a complete new set as I have no trust in them.

Based on?

When writing, can you please try to use the correct tense, it makes reading posts easier.

 

[StephenSJason]

Based on?

When writing, can you please try to use the correct tense, it makes reading posts easier.

Wow, ok.

1. Scrubbing them down and checking them for cracks, visually; there IS nothing. The nearside rear wheel HAS two thick welds on it, much like the offside. The front wheels HAVE no welds.

2. As far as I AM aware, what I HAD written in my original post IS correct. It WAS written using my phone during a break in detailing the car so there IS a probability that some spelling IS incorrect or it IS grammatically incorrect, either by auto-correction, pure laziness or perhaps that as I WAS covered in brake dust I just DIDN'T care however for that, I apologise and also for RUINING your weekend.

Must do better next time.
Must do better next time.
Must do better next time.
Must do better next time.
Must do better next time.
Must do better next time.
Must do better next time.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

DM you are getting picky in your old age

Based on?

When writing, can you please try to use the correct tense, it makes reading posts easier.

 

[StephenSJason]

DM you are getting picky in your old age

I guess anyone with the time to write nearly 34,000 posts, needs a holiday.

 

[Dieselman]

I always find it amusing that anyone who asks posters on here to not use Gutter speak, gets lambasted.

 

[StephenSJason]

I always find it amusing that anyone who asks posters on here to not use Gutter speak, gets lambasted.

To be fair, I think it's more the way you go about it. I've taken no real umbrage; 'tis only the Internet.

Anyway, on with the wheel saga which I will continue with tomorrow.

 

[Mrhanky]

I would not be happy with those wheels, especially as you will have paid a premium purchasing via the dealer network.

Luckily you dont use the car much, otherwise you might have experienced worse.

 

[Aoraki]

The existing welds look ok and should not be a problem, you would only flat down the welds if on the outside for cosmetic appearance no need to bother on the inside.

 

[RWDpetrol]

DM you are getting picky in your old age

It's not age, it's all the thought going into considering a Tesla.

Cozy, looking forward to seeing pictures of the detailed car. Re the cracked wheels, I would approach MB requesting to fix the problem (losing air?) rather than the fact they sold you a car with cracked wheels because they may say cracked/repaired is OK anyway.

 

[Charles Morgan]

The question I'd ask myself is why on earth do the alloys keep cracking? Bad batch, wrong tyre choice, wheel size, suspension setup etc. In 31 years of motoring I've had only three alloy problems, one a 17 year old wheel and the others poor tyre choice with no compliance causing pothole shock to be transmitted to wheel.

 

[StephenSJason]

It's not age, it's all the thought going into considering a Tesla.

Cozy, looking forward to seeing pictures of the detailed car. Re the cracked wheels, I would approach MB requesting to fix the problem (losing air?) rather than the fact they sold you a car with cracked wheels because they may say cracked/repaired is OK anyway.

I will upload some once it's sitting back on all four alloy wheels. I almost can't bear to look at it with a Space Saver on there.

I've spoken to a helpful guy this morning who has advised me to bring the car down for visual inspection. The issue has already been escalated to the Sales Manager without prompt from me, given the purchase wasn't so long ago so, I'm hoping that it is being taken seriously.
I'm not looking to fight with them or rip them off, only to get a fair result such as a quick resolution without leaving me horrifically out of pocket. Pot hole damage, no question that's my issue however, these wheels appear to have had their structural integrity compromised prior to my ownership and now another one of the hairline cracks has decided to open over time.

I guess I was hopeful that things like this wouldn't pass the PDI but whatever, it's not about the issue, it's about how it's fixed so I'll make my judgement based on that.
Lesson learnt? Physically lay under the car in the dealer forecourt that you intend to purchase. I always do this with private sales to check for whacks underneath, damaged lines, rust and what have you but I figured I'd be safe with an MB main dealer.

The question I'd ask myself is why on earth do the alloys keep cracking? Bad batch, wrong tyre choice, wheel size, suspension setup etc. In 31 years of motoring I've had only three alloy problems, one a 17 year old wheel and the others poor tyre choice with no compliance causing pothole shock to be transmitted to wheel.

I agree. All cars that I've owned have had large diameter wheels with low profile tyres and I have had no issues but, this cracking issue seems somewhat of a late generation issue particularly for BMW and now MB.


I'll update a little later after my visit to the dealer.

 

[Felstmiester]

Maybe the materials used nowadays trying to cut cost. When we had the Range Rover I used to read on the forums that even the high end wheels like overfinch was prone to cracking. Granted there on a much heavier car but it wasn't in common for a couple of wheels to crack after being on for less than 6 months.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Its poor that many times we hear about faults after purchase which should have been picked up by the stealer PDI...one of the reasons I generally buy private and get my own pre-sale indy inspection for piece of mind.

TBH the forum guys are that good that I often see people will look at a car for you if its local to them, which I think is what forums are all about

I will upload some once it's sitting back on all four alloy wheels. I almost can't bear to look at it with a Space Saver on there.

I've spoken to a helpful guy this morning who has advised me to bring the car down for visual inspection. The issue has already been escalated to the Sales Manager without prompt from me, given the purchase wasn't so long ago so, I'm hoping that it is being taken seriously.
I'm not looking to fight with them or rip them off, only to get a fair result such as a quick resolution without leaving me horrifically out of pocket. Pot hole damage, no question that's my issue however, these wheels appear to have had their structural integrity compromised prior to my ownership and now another one of the hairline cracks has decided to open over time.

I guess I was hopeful that things like this wouldn't pass the PDI but whatever, it's not about the issue, it's about how it's fixed so I'll make my judgement based on that.
Lesson learnt? Physically lay under the car in the dealer forecourt that you intend to purchase. I always do this with private sales to check for whacks underneath, damaged lines, rust and what have you but I figured I'd be safe with an MB main dealer.



I agree. All cars that I've owned have had large diameter wheels with low profile tyres and I have had no issues but, this cracking issue seems somewhat of a late generation issue particularly for BMW and now MB.


I'll update a little later after my visit to the dealer.