Rusting wheelnuts

deramore · 07-31-2007

After just over two years, the wheelnuts on my SLK are all rusting through the thin layer of silver paint which they came with when I bought the car new. My wife's RAV4, in contrast, came with classy chromed nuts.

Does anyone have any suggestions for refurbishing the wheelnuts? Do Mercedes sell a chromed or alloy set? I haven't tried a dealer as I am too embarrassed to ask and scared of what these might cost. However, it is irritating that this is happening on a car that cost me £41,500!

**etyu** · 07-31-2007

Found this site in UK for chromed dome wheel nuts: http://www.graystonengineering.com/wheelnutmenu.htm

I do not know the specs of the wheel nuts for the SLK however.

Banned · 08-01-2007

It´s a warranty problem, please contact your dealer. Rusty caliper nuts - yes, but never heard of rusty wheel nuts before.
BTW: @all: if you see rusty undertrousers, there is no reason to go to the Mercedes workshop. It´s no reason for a complaint.

nmslk · 08-07-2007

All of my wheel lug nuts were replaced under warranty because they were all rusty.

-Michael

deramore · 10-22-2007

Thanks to nmslk (see previous post), I finally got around to visiting my dealer today to complain about rusting wheel nuts on my 2005 SLK 350. Dealer replaced them while I waited and threw in a free valet as goodwill (car washed, windows cleaned inside and out, vacuumed and dash cleaned). While I waited, got chatting with one of the sales staff and heard about the facelifted SLK coming next year. Apparently the 350 may get toe 308bhp CGI engine currently in the CLS. Anyone know if this is true?

**mobidutch** · 10-10-2008

The previous owner of my SLK350 drove it in New Jersey..so I'm guessing it has seen its fair share of snow. All my lug bolts are completely corroded. I called 3 dealerships around Houston...there's all saying that Mercedes doesn't cover this under warranty anymore

.

Original lug bolts were quoted to me at $9 each, so that would total $180. Hmm...I'm guessing I can find a cheaper set online somewhere....

**etyu** · 10-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobidutch

The previous owner of my SLK350 drove it in New Jersey..so I'm guessing it has seen its fair share of snow. All my lug bolts are completely corroded. I called 3 dealerships around Houston...there's all saying that Mercedes doesn't cover this under warranty anymore

.

Original lug bolts were quoted to me at $9 each, so that would total $180. Hmm...I'm guessing I can find a cheaper set online somewhere....

Try a local tire place like America's Tire Co.

mtiede · 10-10-2008

Or maybe even TireRack.com

**mobidutch** · 10-11-2008

I found these on eBay..seems like a pretty good price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-...=p4506.c0.m245

nmslk · 10-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobidutch

I called 3 dealerships around Houston...there's all saying that Mercedes doesn't cover this under warranty anymore

.

I had all mine replaced under warranty because they were rusty.

I would press them a little on it.

-nmslk

**Dolebludger** · 10-15-2008

Here's another solution to this problem. I bought chrome finished lug nut covers for both our MBs when they were new. I don't like the look of those silver painted lug nuts -- even when new. The covers seem to be protecting against rust as well as giving the wheels a better look. A set cost about $27 + shipping from www.performanceproducts.com and can also be purchased from your dealer.

**mobidutch** · 10-17-2008

Where can these covers be found on the site? I can find the wheel center caps, but no lug bolt caps...

**etyu** · 10-17-2008

Try this link: http://www.performanceproducts4benz....377&pid=101508

I am actually considering the chromed lug bolts from LA Wheel and Tire for a few dollars more and it includes the "key" type lug bolt.

**mobidutch** · 10-17-2008

Thx for the link. Huh..interesting...looks good, but I just received my set of chrome lug bolts from LA wheel, and the caps would not add any value to that. They have that same shiny chrome look as these caps. Looks like quality stuff. Some of them have a few little dings and scratches, because they arrived in one large plastic bag, not in some separate packaging of e.g. 4 bolts at a time. I suppose that's one thing LA wheel could improve on. But you'll have to get close to the wheel to see it.

I got a set of 20 bolts (4 of them the lock type, plus one key) for $34.80 shipped from CA to TX, definitely a decent price! I'll have them installed when I get my brake pads replaced.

**Dolebludger** · 10-17-2008

Also, relative to product-finding on the performance products site, I'm an old fashioned kind of guy. And I know that they change their site frequently. So I just get their too free number off the site and call them.

I think these coverts make my car's wheels look much better for a small price.

07-31-2007	#1 (permalink)
deramore SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Vehicle: slk 350 Posts: 16 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Rusting wheelnuts After just over two years, the wheelnuts on my SLK are all rusting through the thin layer of silver paint which they came with when I bought the car new. My wife's RAV4, in contrast, came with classy chromed nuts. Does anyone have any suggestions for refurbishing the wheelnuts? Do Mercedes sell a chromed or alloy set? I haven't tried a dealer as I am too embarrassed to ask and scared of what these might cost. However, it is irritating that this is happening on a car that cost me £41,500!

07-31-2007	#2 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Found this site in UK for chromed dome wheel nuts: http://www.graystonengineering.com/wheelnutmenu.htm I do not know the specs of the wheel nuts for the SLK however. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

08-01-2007	#3 (permalink)
Banned Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,167 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It´s a warranty problem, please contact your dealer. Rusty caliper nuts - yes, but never heard of rusty wheel nuts before. BTW: @all: if you see rusty undertrousers, there is no reason to go to the Mercedes workshop. It´s no reason for a complaint. Last edited by Banned; 08-01-2007 at 05:14 PM.

10-22-2007	#5 (permalink)
deramore SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Vehicle: slk 350 Posts: 16 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Wheel nuts/Facelift Thanks to nmslk (see previous post), I finally got around to visiting my dealer today to complain about rusting wheel nuts on my 2005 SLK 350. Dealer replaced them while I waited and threw in a free valet as goodwill (car washed, windows cleaned inside and out, vacuumed and dash cleaned). While I waited, got chatting with one of the sales staff and heard about the facelifted SLK coming next year. Apparently the 350 may get toe 308bhp CGI engine currently in the CLS. Anyone know if this is true?

10-15-2008	#11 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 547 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Here's another solution to this problem. I bought chrome finished lug nut covers for both our MBs when they were new. I don't like the look of those silver painted lug nuts -- even when new. The covers seem to be protecting against rust as well as giving the wheels a better look. A set cost about $27 + shipping from www.performanceproducts.com and can also be purchased from your dealer. __________________ The SLK -- What the SL was supposed to be.

08-07-2007	#4 (permalink)
nmslk Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Vehicle: '05 SLK55 Posts: 207 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	All of my wheel lug nuts were replaced under warranty because they were all rusty. -Michael

10-10-2008	#6 (permalink)
mobidutch Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Angleton, TX USA Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 +C/H Posts: 100 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	The previous owner of my SLK350 drove it in New Jersey..so I'm guessing it has seen its fair share of snow. All my lug bolts are completely corroded. I called 3 dealerships around Houston...there's all saying that Mercedes doesn't cover this under warranty anymore . Original lug bolts were quoted to me at $9 each, so that would total $180. Hmm...I'm guessing I can find a cheaper set online somewhere....

10-10-2008	#8 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,642 Thanks: 100 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Or maybe even TireRack.com

10-11-2008	#9 (permalink)
mobidutch Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Angleton, TX USA Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 +C/H Posts: 100 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	I found these on eBay..seems like a pretty good price: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-...=p4506.c0.m245

10-17-2008	#12 (permalink)
mobidutch Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Angleton, TX USA Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 +C/H Posts: 100 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Where can these covers be found on the site? I can find the wheel center caps, but no lug bolt caps...

10-17-2008	#13 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Try this link: http://www.performanceproducts4benz....377&pid=101508 I am actually considering the chromed lug bolts from LA Wheel and Tire for a few dollars more and it includes the "key" type lug bolt. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

10-17-2008	#14 (permalink)
mobidutch Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Angleton, TX USA Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 +C/H Posts: 100 Country: Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Thx for the link. Huh..interesting...looks good, but I just received my set of chrome lug bolts from LA wheel, and the caps would not add any value to that. They have that same shiny chrome look as these caps. Looks like quality stuff. Some of them have a few little dings and scratches, because they arrived in one large plastic bag, not in some separate packaging of e.g. 4 bolts at a time. I suppose that's one thing LA wheel could improve on. But you'll have to get close to the wheel to see it. I got a set of 20 bolts (4 of them the lock type, plus one key) for $34.80 shipped from CA to TX, definitely a decent price! I'll have them installed when I get my brake pads replaced.

10-17-2008	#15 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 547 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Also, relative to product-finding on the performance products site, I'm an old fashioned kind of guy. And I know that they change their site frequently. So I just get their too free number off the site and call them. I think these coverts make my car's wheels look much better for a small price. __________________ The SLK -- What the SL was supposed to be.

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