Wheel nearly came off recently bought car

Trixter

Trixter

Trixter

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23 May 2005
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Poulton-Le-Fylde
Hi all, as title, I just bought a car from a dealership second hand 6 days ago, Id done 90 miles in it up until last night, I had a bigger journey to do and it was the first time taking it on the motorway, around 20 miles in the car started juddering and vibrating so I pulled of the motorway to fix what I presumed was a popped tyre to see the wheel was held on by 2 bolts only half way in, another few metres and they would have been out too.

What should I be expecting the garage to do about this ? the locking wheel nut is gone so Im expecting the dealership to replace them but is there anything else that would need checking like wheel alignment or anything ?

In this picture the steering wheel is straight.

 
Is that pic with the wheel nuts tightened?, as it looks like the wheel is still very loose (the disc is pointing forwards).
Did it come from a Merc main dealer?
I ask, as the 3 I've worked for wouldn't let a car go out with tyres cracked like that, let alone loose wheels.
Were the wheels refurbed by a 3rd party before you collected it?
The wheel bolts in the pic aren't genuine Mercedes items, are the wheels aftermarket too (they look it).
At the very least get them to check the threads where the bolts screw in as they could be damaged and need a tap running through, or the hub may need replacing.
Also get them to check the bolt holes in the wheel for damage.
 
No the nuts are not tightened there, thats exactly as it was when I stopped, it didnt come from a Merc main dealer, the wheels were refurbed before I bought it and Im not sure what wheels they are, better pic below, there is definite damage to the bolt holes at least one of them is oval shaped now.

 
Is that your wheel or a stock pic? The size is completely different.
They are aftermarket.
We at a Merc dealers had a problem with a load of sold cars coming back with vibration problems and one with a loose wheel.
It turned out that the refurb guys were powder coating the face of the wheel where it sits on the hub, and it wasn't true flat.
So we had to buff the coat off back to bare alloy.
It may not be the dealers fault, but I'd at the very least want a new set of alloys.
It may be worth taking a wheel off and checking to see if the above has happened.
 
That is my wheel, Im gonna go check sizes in a min, Ill have a look and see if they have painted the inside too.
 
The first pic shows a 255 35 18, and the 2nd pic a 225 40 18.
Most C and upwards run different sizes front to back, but not like that.
 
get a refund, i have been given a car for free so you can imagine what a heap that was and the wheels stayed on so i class it better than that dangerous car
 
That's bad, but this is why you should always be checking your car is roadworthy before setting off. It takes minutes and could potentially save your life and prevent you from some serious trouble with the police/courts.
 
Malevolence said:
That's bad, but this is why you should always be checking your car is roadworthy before setting off. It takes minutes and could potentially save your life and prevent you from some serious trouble with the police/courts.
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Too right, I always go round with a torque wrench and check all my wheel nuts before setting off.
 
robj20 said:
Too right, I always go round with a torque wrench and check all my wheel nuts before setting off.
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:cry: Someone did ask me yesterday why I didnt check they were tight before driving of the forecourt :confused:.

Just checked sizes and yes there different sizes but on opposite corners so looks like someones not paid attention while putting them back on after the refurb.

The inside has not been sprayed, its bare metal.

The bolt holes...


 
Malevolence said:
That's bad, but this is why you should always be checking your car is roadworthy before setting off. It takes minutes and could potentially save your life and prevent you from some serious trouble with the police/courts.
Click to expand...
Serious?

Last time you bought a car, you went round all corners with a torque wrench before driving it?
 
Looks like someone has massively overtightened them. That will cause the bolts to stretch and they wont fit right after that. Garages have been sued for wheels falling off after they had the car, its why they always check them now even if they didnt touch the wheels (well most do).
 
Not sure how you're going to get anything out of the dealer to be honest. Ring them and inform of the issue, but don't expect anything.
 
I thought all dealers gave you a slip of paper telling you to check your wheels after 25 miles? Last time me car was in at the main dealer, I got one of these. As it was, one of my wheels started to come loose before 25 miles was up.
 
Yaayuh! said:
Not sure how you're going to get anything out of the dealer to be honest. Ring them and inform of the issue, but don't expect anything.
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If he wants he had every right to hand the car back and full refund. That's what id do, any issues like that (simple stuff) early on isn't a good sign it's a reputable place.
 
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