Wheel bolts - genuine or non genuine

[SilverSaloon]

Hi

I need a full set of wheel bolts. Mercedes want approx £50 for a full set.

Online non-genuine bolts look just as good for half that.

Whats the general opinion - are non genuine bolts just as good?

Any recommended, reasonable priced suppliers?

thanks

Derek

 

[Chris Murray]

RAD GmbH make the highest quality bolts but aren't widely available.
Anything shiny will corrode > general rule is optical brilliance is inversely proportional to corrosion resistance.

 

[6pot]

Hi

I need a full set of wheel bolts. Mercedes want approx £50 for a full set.

Online non-genuine bolts look just as good for half that.

Whats the general opinion - are non genuine bolts just as good?

Any recommended, reasonable priced suppliers?

thanks

Derek

which one of your cars derek? i want to see how much i can do them for with postage. if you dont mind

 

[C240Sport97]

RAD GmbH make the highest quality bolts but aren't widely available.
Anything shiny will corrode > general rule is optical brilliance is inversely proportional to corrosion resistance.

I bought RAD bolts from Under Construction

They have been excellent.

 

[SilverSaloon]

which one of your cars derek? i want to see how much i can do them for with postage. if you dont mind

They are for the R107 but for W124 wheels that are going on it. I've read all about different bolts needed but i've checked with my own W124 alloys on the R107 and they appear to fit fine and the threads are the same.....

The bolts need to be thread length 35mm to clear the offset and have plenty of thread to go into the hub, but not enough to foul the parking brake.

they also need to have the shorter head (approx 12mm, rather than the longer thread that would sit too proud of the wheel).

This is the size and style of bolt i need:

 

[6pot]

hmm. the spare bolts i have here are 65mm long 15mm wide the thread part is only 20mm long.

Ive looked at the correct alloy bolts for w124 (the current part number not the chrome topped one) and they are 12mm width 60mm length 20mm of thread.

 

[johnsco]

£50 for a set of 20 bolts doesn't surprise me.
£2.50 per bolt.

They need to be made of the correct grade of steel.
There is the machining cost (obviously a mass-produced item).
There is the heat treatment.

I would like to think that they were then given a post-heat-treatment crack-detection and magnetic comparator test (But who knows ??)

What worries me is all this Chinese rubbish on the components market.
I worry about bolts made from monkey-metal - poorly-machined - incorrectly heat-treated - Not properly inspected.

But ... Maybe I'm just a worrier.

 

[Mike Walker]

I bought RAD bolts from Under Construction

They have been excellent.

I have some of theirs - 2 years old and rust all over the heads

 

[wemorgan]

I read somewhere that you can buy bolts with stainless steel caps.

 

[Chris Murray]

£50 for a set of 20 bolts doesn't surprise me.
£2.50 per bolt.

They need to be made of the correct grade of steel.
There is the machining cost (obviously a mass-produced item).
There is the heat treatment.

I would like to think that they were then given a post-heat-treatment crack-detection and magnetic comparator test (But who knows ??)

What worries me is all this Chinese rubbish on the components market.
I worry about bolts made from monkey-metal - poorly-machined - incorrectly heat-treated - Not properly inspected.

But ... Maybe I'm just a worrier.

RAD bolts are indivudally PACE tested.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I read somewhere that you can buy bolts with stainless steel caps.

yes i have some of these ones on my W124. i'm not sure if MB do them anymore.

 

[C240Sport97]

I have some of theirs - 2 years old and rust all over the heads

mine are 18 months old and absolutely fine.

 

[npuk]

Mercedes have stopped doing the stainless steel capped ones. You can buy stainless steel caps though to put on your bolts.

There was a seller on ebay.de that had some sets left of the mercedes stainless capped ones but they have all been sold. You canpick up a full set of genuine mercedes bolts on ebay for about £35.

Mercedes bolts seem to tend to rust more.When I was looking for the A-Class I dont think I saw a single car without bolts with rust.

On my previous car I use bolts from the company below. European made and TUV approved.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20-Alloy-Whee...Wheels_tyres_Trim_Nuts_ET?hash=item414ee5d994

 

[SilverSaloon]

Thanks for all the advice.

The following ebay seller:

20 Wheel Bolts Radius M14x1.5x35mm MERCEDES/VW - TUV on eBay (end time 01-May-10 21:29:58 BST)

is sending me 1 bolt to test with. If it fits and appears fine, then i'll go with them i think. These ones are TUV approved aswell and the seller has been very helpful so far in answering my questions and the offer of a free one to test before i buy.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

Dealers have lots of wheel bolts hanging around as when new cars arrive they have to fit the locking bolts required by UK regs. The spare ones end up in buckets usually although sometimes they are put in the locking bolt box as spares. Check with your dealer if they are in current use.

My dealer prefers not to give the spares back to the customer where the spare wheel uses different, usually shorter, bolts. In his experience, drivers use the spares as they are with the wheel lock instead of using the special ones stowed with the spare wheel.

Merc have a continued problem of rusting bolts. In fact, cars under warranty will have them replaced if the owner requests it. Even though they are plated this is knocked off by the first use of an impact gun.

As for the original question.......... Remember your life could be in the hands of your wheel bolts everyday! Remember also to always torque them up properly.

 

[BTB 500]

I've posted this before, but it shows what the M-B bolts with stainless steel end caps look like (right hand one - these are off my SL). I think they were discontinued on cost grounds ...

 

[renault12ts]

Here:

Alloy Wheels Direct Ltd | Wheel Bolts and Locking Bolts | RAD Bolts

 

[Chris Murray]

Thanks for all the advice.

The following ebay seller:

20 Wheel Bolts Radius M14x1.5x35mm MERCEDES/VW - TUV on eBay (end time 01-May-10 21:29:58 BST)

is sending me 1 bolt to test with. If it fits and appears fine, then i'll go with them i think. These ones are TUV approved aswell and the seller has been very helpful so far in answering my questions and the offer of a free one to test before i buy.

Aside from being too short, they're the incorrect thread pitch.
Nice shiny zinc plating to corrode too.

Post back on here when you're ready to listen to expert advice.

 

[trando]

I bought a replacement set of bolts for my car a couple of weeks ago from here http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/option/bolt_packs.

No hassle - quick delivery and rustproof bolts look great.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Post back on here when you're ready to listen to expert advice.

i am listening but you've not replied to my email yet