Hi! New member here & wheel covers

[Cantstandzya]

Greetings Everyone

I am brand-new to this online community. I got my yellow smart Pure back in October and really like it a lot. I love the way it handles and simply the "feel" of the steering wheel in my hands.

I originally went to the dealer last March, and was told it was an average of 18 months wait time to get one. That was fine by me; I told the folks there I could wait that period of time. Long-story-short: I bought an "orphan" car. It is great, but I have a few issues with it. One is how to remove the wheel covers. My car has the standard steel rims and for the life of me, I can't figure out how to remove them without damaging them(?).

I would like to remove and "re-clock" them with respect to the valve stem, as they have not been very carefully aligned. It makes it difficult to check tire pressure without scraping up the edges.

Anyway, I mostly wanted to introduce myself here. If you have any advice on my posted question, I would certainly welcome your feedback and/or input.

Thanks in advance,
Cantstandzya

(Please don't take offense to my login handle; in actuality I can more than stand most people )

[jwight]

Welcome! Don't have a Pure but I seem to recall the owners manual having some info on removing the wheel covers.

[jimvw57]

Welcome! I never put my covers on. I like the black center caps and added some silver and yellow paint to the raised emblem.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...caps-wheel.jpg

[smark]

Go to page 165 in the Operators manual. You will have to get a tire tool to take off the plastic cover. Be careful not to crack the cover.

[Cantstandzya]

Thanks to you three nice folks who replied so far. I may indeed leave the "wheel trim caps" off once I can remove them.

I did get to my manual and looked up page 165. There is some information, but I was hoping for more than simply:
"> Removing: Carefully remove the wheel trim cap from the wheel rim with both hands."

I'll give it a try, but if I begin to feel like something is going to crack, I will back off. I have a "Plan B" on this; another smart car owner at my work place has a silver Pure. He recently removed the wheel trim caps and left them off. I don't know him, but I was thinking of leaving a note on the windshield introducing myself, and then inquire how it was accomplished.

BTW, jimvw57 (is that like, 1957 VW? An oval-window?) that is a sweet looking center cap! It's like it should come from the factory. Thanks for sharing

Cantstandzya

Originally Posted by smark

Go to page 165 in the Operators manual. You will have to get a tire tool to take off the plastic cover. Be careful not to crack the cover.