E63 AMG Alloy Buckling
Discussion
Hi My local Merc dealer told me last August that my front nearside and rear nearside alloys were buckled, I replaced them as was told it was tricky to repair, last week ATS told me that both my front alloys were buckled, I drive on normal roads at normal speeds, I've not been aware of hitting any major potholes so I'm wondering if there is some design fault/weakness with AMG 19" Alloys, I did raise it with Mercedes UK the first time, and they basically said tough luck. Am I just unlucky or is something else going on here?
I've just been to another alloy 'specialist' and he said basically to ignore the diagnosis, as indeed, wobble would be felt if there was a real problem with buckled alloys, so as long as I don't get overtaken by one of my own wheels whist driving along, I'll live with it. Thanks for your input.
nickbie said:
I've just been to another alloy 'specialist' and he said basically to ignore the diagnosis, as indeed, wobble would be felt if there was a real problem with buckled alloys, so as long as I don't get overtaken by one of my own wheels whist driving along, I'll live with it. Thanks for your input.
Not sure what that means. Either the wheel does have a kink/buckle in it or it doesn't. It's very simple to check: you put the wheel on a balancer and look at the inside and outside edge to check for out of round kinks. If there are kinks it WILL be causing vibrations, it just depends how fussy you are.
Potholes will buckle these 19’s. I think these AMG’s are over alloyed for our crap roads. It is likely bulged on the inside. So long as the tyre holds air you should be fine at legal speeds but another knock could push it over the edge. I hit a pothole with both n/s rims and immediately switched my display to tyre pressure. I noticed I had lost about 20kpa straight away. On the way to work it continued to drop, slowly at first, enough I thought to get me to work to change the wheel, then I went around a corner and it suddenly lost a whole amount very quickly! Fortunately I was able to pull into a pet cemetery and change the wheel. I bought a new rim and tyre, then on the dealer ramp, the rear was buckled, not enough to lose air but again, driving at speed I wouldn’t want to risk it so I bought another new wheel and tyre. Lepsoms alloys said they can repair a small buckle for £69.
Here is a pic of mine which will show you what you’re looking for.
Ps, no vibrations or any other malladies were felt.
Pps, in case you were wondering...
And a bill of over 2k!
Here is a pic of mine which will show you what you’re looking for.
Ps, no vibrations or any other malladies were felt.
Pps, in case you were wondering...
And a bill of over 2k!
Edited by NITO on Wednesday 21st March 20:25
We’ve had a fair amount of correspondence, they offered £900 as a goodwill gesture, I have load of photos and reports, the hole was reported a couple of weeks before and the same area was reported again this year by me and others and they took weeks to sort. I haven’t got around to writing back but I’m disinclined to accept £900 when I’m in for £2300. Might end up going to court which will be the next action. Have taken loads more pics this year which confirms a total lack of duty of care. First brand new car I’ve ever bought and this happened at about 1500 miles. Was totally gutted. Love the car but should have bought a GLE with the state of the awful country lanes near me, especially as we are out in the country!!
NITO said:
We’ve had a fair amount of correspondence, they offered £900 as a goodwill gesture, I have load of photos and reports, the hole was reported a couple of weeks before and the same area was reported again this year by me and others and they took weeks to sort. I haven’t got around to writing back but I’m disinclined to accept £900 when I’m in for £2300. Might end up going to court which will be the next action. Have taken loads more pics this year which confirms a total lack of duty of care. First brand new car I’ve ever bought and this happened at about 1500 miles. Was totally gutted. Love the car but should have bought a GLE with the state of the awful country lanes near me, especially as we are out in the country!!
100% stick to your guns. Its actually an insult to offer you 900 pounds. Had 4 of my wheels checked and all of them have slight buckles in them. Audi want 800 a wheel. I know people can say they can be refurbished but once an alloy is; its no the same, thats a fact, especially when its heated to be bent back to shape.
Complete abuse of the driving public and tax payer as far as I am concerned.
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