MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
Mercedes-Benz offers a Roadside Assistance program that allows customers to have a Mercedes-Benz representative travel to their location and help them with whatever roadside needs they may require. If you do not have the Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance program, however, knowing how to change a flat tire on your own is beneficial. Changing a flat on a Mercedes-Benz is easy; following these instructions will ensure you and your car are back on the road quickly.
What you will need
Instructions
- Park your car in a flat, dry place to jack the car up easier. Ensure your car is parked on the shoulder of the road in a safe and isolated spot to avoid oncoming traffic as much as possible.
- Move the shifter into “Park,” pull the parking hand brake and turn on your hazard lights.
- Open the trunk of the car. Lift the trunk floor, and you will find a Mercedes-Benz spare tire, a lug wrench, and a car jack.
- Using your lug wrench, loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire. Be sure not to remove the lug nut completely. Loosen them approximately one turn.
- Locate the jacking points on your Mercedes.
The Mercedes-Benz manual will have guided pictures if you have trouble finding them. - Raise the Mercedes-Benz until the flat tire hovers roughly three (3) inches off the ground.
- Assuming all lug nuts are loosened as described in step 4, use the lug wrench to completely remove all five lug nuts.
- Pull the tire straight out and carefully remove it. Gently kick the rubber part of the tire to get it off the wheel hub.
- Place the spare tire on the wheel hub. Align the lug nuts holes with the corresponding holes. In your spare tools kit, you may have a wheel stud guide like this one. Thread it into one of the lug nut holes. Now push the spare tire in and make sure it is seated properly against the brake rotor,
- Put the lug nuts on. Screw them in as tightly as possible, so the spare is firmly attached to the car’s wheel assembly.
- Lower the Mercedes-Benz to the ground by cranking the jack counter-clockwise. Remove the jack from underneath the car.
- Once the car is lowered to the ground, tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern: tighten the top lug nut first and then its opposing lug at the bottom. Tightening the lug nuts in a star-like pattern ensures the tire is secured tight and straight.
- Drive your Mercedes for a few minutes and recheck the lug nuts. Make sure the lug nuts are securely fastened.
The Mercedes-Benz manual will have guided pictures if you have trouble finding them.
I can’t get the Mercedes tire off.
If the tire is not coming off, there are some quick fixes to remedy the situation.
- Try spraying WD-40 on the lug nuts and let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Use a rubber mallet and lightly hit the inside part of the tire, not the rim, and break up the corrosion and built-up rust. Avoid a metal mallet/hammer to dent or damage your car.
Can’t get Mercedes lug nuts loose
One problem Mercedes-Benz owners may face is that they can’t get the lug nuts loose. Over time the lug nuts may corrode or refuse to come off. The lug nut wrench that Mercedes installs on these cars is inadequate to loosen these lug nuts and can bend easily. Here is a lug nut wrench bent when we tried to change a Mercedes-Benz tire.
To avoid this problem, consider using an aftermarket lug nut wrench that will not break and is extendable. For example, any Telescoping Lug Nut Wrench would be an excellent choice. It has four different socket sizes that you can use on any car. Most importantly can be extended, which makes getting Mercedes lug nuts to lose a breeze.