COLLAPSABLE SPARE WHEEL ON MY 2005 C200 KOMPRESSOR

[johnsco]

I've been having fun with my recently-acquired C200 Kompressor.
As I mentioned elsewhere, it has been rather poorly maintained - None more than in the the spare wheel area.
This is the first time I've encountered the collapsable spare wheel - Not MB's greatest idea.
The car's 16 years old.
The spare looks like it's never been used ----- Possibly never inflated.
First problem - Plugged in the lovely-looking MB electric air pump.
Did it work ?
Did it Hell-as.
Probably been sitting there 16 years and never switched on.
Took it to the work-bench --- Stripped it down ---- There didn't really seem much wrong with it.
Lubricated the moving parts and re-assembled it.
Result --- It works fine (although the instructions say you shouldn't run it more than 6 minutes due to over-heating risk)
Good old German engineering !

I inflated the very-strange spare wheel.
It's like something out of a horror movie as it slowly opens itself.
It didn't look too bad ... No splits ... It looked symmetrical.

One question - I have some bad experience of using an unused spare wheel (about 15 years old) from a MB W210.
It looked fine, but quickly developed side-wall splits due to deterioration of the 15 year old tyre.
Does anyone have any bad experience with an old collapsable spare ?

Last problem - I came to try it on the car.
The tool kit only contained 3 short bolts - rather than the 5 required.
Some owners - - - What are they like !! ??
I've ordered a set from the Bay.

I hope I never have to use it in anger, but, at least, I know it will be OK.

I can't say I like the collapsable spare
I can just see my partner struggling to get it out of the boot - knowing how to use and connect the electric pump - Inflating it BEFORE lowering the car.
Not really !

Just saying !

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I used the Collapsible spare wheel 6 months ago on my CLS when I hit a kerb, it must have been from 2011 but worked amazingly.

Have a good look at the tyre for any inperfections, in theory you should replace it when its 5 years old, but lets be honest 99% of the spares out there will be the ones which were orignally fitted to the cars.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I have the same collapsible spare on my 2006 148K mile C55 V8 AMG . I took the spare out , pumped it up with the supplied compressor ,let it back down again and vowed never to use it unless in a dire , dire emergency.

If the boffins at MB think it's OK on a V8 C55 , my guess is it's OK on a C200. let's hope neither of us have to prove them right ...or wrong anytime soon.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I have the same collapsible spare on my 2006 148K mile C55 V8 AMG . I took the spare out , pumped it up with the supplied compressor ,let it back down again and vowed never to use it unless in a dire , dire emergency.

If the boffins at MB think it's OK on a V8 C55 , my guess is it's OK on a C200. let's hope neither of us have to prove them right ...or wrong anytime soon.

Why a dire emergency? - It works as good as any other wheel (up to 50Mph) and its 100% better than a tube of filler.

 

[markjay]

A bit surprised - didn't know the collapsible spare wheel came also with the W203 - my W203 came with a standard space saver wheel, and 5 wheelbolts (you're not supposed to use the bolts from the road wheels with the space saver).

 

[KillerHERTZ]

 

[johnsco]

Thanks for your thoughts.
I inflated the collapsable spare three days ago.
By this morning, it had lost no pressure.
I've examined it carefully and there are no damages or signs of deterioration.
My replacement short wheel bolts (off the Bay) arrived this morning.
So - I can deflate the tyre - Pop it back in the boot - And hope that I never have to use it.

And - Yes - The car does have a wheel-nut wrench, a jack and a wheel-chock.
[and the special socket for the security wheel bolts]

The car is a Coupe - So has only limited boot space.
The spare sits at an angle in the boot-space.
The space-saver spare that I have in the E280 CDI Sports Estate would not fit in the space where the collapsable sits in the Coupe.

 

[GP801]

Our SLK has the collapsible spare. Fortunately never had to use it. Its somewhat irrelevant in an SLK as there is nowhere to put the alloy wheel you have taken off. So we now carry the collapsible spare and 2 cans of foam/goo just in case.