Facom 1/2" Drive Long-Reach Heavy Duty Convex 6-point Socket-17mm (NSB.17) - in 2017, Facom improved this socket. They finally increased the wall thickness of this socket (approx .75mm thicker) making it significantly stronger and more resistant to cracking with heavy duty impact use. Click on photos to enlarge. The Facom NSB.17 socket is the original factory tool for safe and effective removal of the convex ("flower head") lug bolts on late model Mercedes S-class (W221), GLK-class, M-class, CL-class and Maybach cars. The socket was included with the factory tool sets sent to each Maybach dealer. Use of standard 17mm hex impact sockets will likely damage these costly lug bolts. Surprisingly, very few Mercedes dealers stock this item.
I also stock the USAG/Facom NS.MB Specialty socket for the Mercedes vehicles with the flower head bolts. For lug bolts with little or no deformity of the aluminum cover, this socket will work fine and is quite a bit cheaper. Plus this one has a US warranty. For older bolts with deformity in the cover, you'll need to go with one of the Facom NSB.17 convex sockets.
Fitment Comments - this socket intentionally has a looser fit (8-9 degrees of play between the bolt and the socket) compared to the tight fit with a standard hex socket (3-4 degrees of play). The thin polished aluminum cover on the Mercedes bolts is easily deformed from the torque and impact blows during R&R. Once the cover is deformed, the tight fitting hex socket will no longer fit the bolt. The convex socket will be now required to remove the lug bolt. See photo details.
