Late Model MB wheel cross-over
Late Model MB wheel cross-over
I want to put later model MB factory rims on my W126 300SD and am curious about the whole offset issue and how it works. I believe that the W126 is 23, and I have seen the majority of MB rims at 36 offset. I know what people say about those spacers that you can install, but mechanically I can't see the harm in them - solid steel part, bolted directly to your hub with studs in them, and the spacer itself is the similar thickness to the hub...
'Jurgen' - 1982 300sd cream paint with palimino MB tex interior. Now running with new cooling system
.......discovered oil cooler has pinhole @#$%@
Nitrile gloves back on......'Otto' - 1985 300sd anthracite? grey/silver? with grey leather interior. (heated front seats!!!!
) Euro headlightsMods are in the works...
Telecommbrkr
05-30-2008, 12:22 AM #1I'm sure this has been covered in depth in the other forums, but I thought I'd ask it here anyways.
I want to put later model MB factory rims on my W126 300SD and am curious about the whole offset issue and how it works. I believe that the W126 is 23, and I have seen the majority of MB rims at 36 offset. I know what people say about those spacers that you can install, but mechanically I can't see the harm in them - solid steel part, bolted directly to your hub with studs in them, and the spacer itself is the similar thickness to the hub...
'Jurgen' - 1982 300sd cream paint with palimino MB tex interior. Now running with new cooling system
.......discovered oil cooler has pinhole @#$%@ Nitrile gloves back on......'Otto' - 1985 300sd anthracite? grey/silver? with grey leather interior. (heated front seats!!!!
) Euro headlightsMods are in the works...
ForcedInduction
05-30-2008, 01:59 AM
#2
Spacers are fine. I use Late W126 (86+) wheels on my W123 without issues.
I recommend using aftermarket wheels made for your car unless you got a smoking deal on somehting newer. The cheapie spacers are like 20-40$ and you will need longer bolts. The cheapest you will get those for is $50-100. Don't forget to factor this in when buying the wheels. If you want I have two sets of longer bolts.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
The problem with spacers is that they generally lead to a little wobble. You need to have the tires balanced on the car every time you take the wheels off. Not using spacers means a narrower than stock stance which is pretty dangerous in sweeping curves at highway speeds.
I recommend using aftermarket wheels made for your car unless you got a smoking deal on somehting newer. The cheapie spacers are like 20-40$ and you will need longer bolts. The cheapest you will get those for is $50-100. Don't forget to factor this in when buying the wheels. If you want I have two sets of longer bolts.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
'Jurgen' - 1982 300sd cream paint with palimino MB tex interior. Now running with new cooling system
.......discovered oil cooler has pinhole @#$%@ Nitrile gloves back on......'Otto' - 1985 300sd anthracite? grey/silver? with grey leather interior. (heated front seats!!!!
) Euro headlightsMods are in the works...
Telecommbrkr
06-01-2008, 08:33 PM #4So how does backspacing work? What is the math behind it? I would assume that the et# on the back of the rim is the mm's of the back spacing? If my car is a 23 and I've got rims that are a 36 lets say, would a 13mm spacer be needed? Is it that simple? :?:
'Jurgen' - 1982 300sd cream paint with palimino MB tex interior. Now running with new cooling system
.......discovered oil cooler has pinhole @#$%@ Nitrile gloves back on......'Otto' - 1985 300sd anthracite? grey/silver? with grey leather interior. (heated front seats!!!!
) Euro headlightsMods are in the works...
2005 CDI heavily modified 1984 300TD - Myna pump/TMIC/enlarged PC's/HX30Super/W126 II front brakes/Vogtland springs/EGT +Boost gauges/H4 Hella's
I think you'd need half of the 13- as the other half will be on the outside. I don't know for sure. If someone has ET 50 rims on with spacers then they may be able to tell you. It's really a rim by rim question. Height and width also come into play to clear the fender, calipers and suspension.
2005 CDI heavily modified 1984 300TD - Myna pump/TMIC/enlarged PC's/HX30Super/W126 II front brakes/Vogtland springs/EGT +Boost gauges/H4 Hella's
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
ET0 is dead center of the wheel. ET+ is measured from the center to the outside of the car. You have to take into account the width of the wheel as well.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
I will say the handling is slightly better than the 14's but I want it to handle like on rails.
I've got a line on a set of funnel spokes and tires that I will install. 17" wheels and of course proper lugs. No spacers needed since the diameter of the wheel allows it to clear the tie rod ends.
17" wheels are the largest size you can run before running into rubbing issues as well as ride quality. I drove my friends CE when he had 18" CLS wheels and it cornered like nothing else but the ride sucked.
I'm running a set of early C280 wheels on my car with 5mm spacers up front, 5 mm spacers in the rear would probably help as well(not for function but for looks)
I will say the handling is slightly better than the 14's but I want it to handle like on rails.
I've got a line on a set of funnel spokes and tires that I will install. 17" wheels and of course proper lugs. No spacers needed since the diameter of the wheel allows it to clear the tie rod ends.
17" wheels are the largest size you can run before running into rubbing issues as well as ride quality. I drove my friends CE when he had 18" CLS wheels and it cornered like nothing else but the ride sucked.
There is no need because of clearance, however your geometry is going to be offset.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
winmutt No need for spacers with larger wheels?it depends on the ET and diameter of the wheel.. I know with 17" funnel spokes spacers are not needed because added diameter nullifies the issue with the tie rod and wheel making contact issue.
There is no need because of clearance, however your geometry is going to be offset.
my 15" wheels would contact the tie rod if not for the spacer
winmutt No need for spacers with larger wheels?it depends on the ET and diameter of the wheel.. I know with 17" funnel spokes spacers are not needed because added diameter nullifies the issue with the tie rod and wheel making contact issue.
There is no need because of clearance, however your geometry is going to be offset.
my 15" wheels would contact the tie rod if not for the spacer
EDIT: What about 16" 500SL rims?? No idea what year though.... They look 80's...
EDIT: Or 1985 380SL rims?... Might be 16"?
GREASY_BEAST
07-31-2008, 07:21 PM #10anyone know what it would take to put 16" 2004 E320 rims on a W123? Can it be done? Would it be worth it? Its getting time for me to get new tires, and I would like to upgrade the handling while I'm at it... Any advice appreciated. Thanks guys.
EDIT: What about 16" 500SL rims?? No idea what year though.... They look 80's...
EDIT: Or 1985 380SL rims?... Might be 16"?
GileadGarage
09-23-2008, 07:33 PM #11Everyone here probably knows this, but 2000CLK 16x7's fit perfectly and they're a great looking wheel. I have not installed mine yet, but I have seen plenty of pics of 123's with them. I bought a perfect set on ebay for $400.
I had to make some wheel spacers
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.coastalboatsales.com/jfraley/gallery/SL300D?page=7">http://www.coastalboatsales.com/jfraley ... 00D?page=7</a><!-- m -->
there is a CAD drawing I created and some photos of the finished product
cars
1991 W126 350SDL turbodiesel
1987 W124 E300D turbodiesel
1987 W126 300SDL turbodiesel
1984 W107 SL300D turbodiesel
1974 W115 /8 300D diesel
trucks
2001 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4 Cummins turbodiesel
boats
1974 Uniflite "Salty Dog" powered by
2x OM617.951 Mercedes Benz 5Cyl turbodiesels
oel_brenner
10-18-2008, 09:58 AM #12to put 2006 SL500 wheels on my 1984 380SL
I had to make some wheel spacers
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.coastalboatsales.com/jfraley/gallery/SL300D?page=7">http://www.coastalboatsales.com/jfraley ... 00D?page=7</a><!-- m -->
there is a CAD drawing I created and some photos of the finished product
cars
1991 W126 350SDL turbodiesel
1987 W124 E300D turbodiesel
1987 W126 300SDL turbodiesel
1984 W107 SL300D turbodiesel
1974 W115 /8 300D diesel
trucks
2001 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4 Cummins turbodiesel
boats
1974 Uniflite "Salty Dog" powered by
2x OM617.951 Mercedes Benz 5Cyl turbodiesels
'Jurgen' - 1982 300sd cream paint with palimino MB tex interior. Now running with new cooling system
.......discovered oil cooler has pinhole @#$%@ Nitrile gloves back on......'Otto' - 1985 300sd anthracite? grey/silver? with grey leather interior. (heated front seats!!!!
) Euro headlightsMods are in the works...
Telecommbrkr
06-09-2009, 09:14 PM #13Was looking for big brake kits and found that brembo offers some very nice spacers for our cars in varying thickness'
'Jurgen' - 1982 300sd cream paint with palimino MB tex interior. Now running with new cooling system
.......discovered oil cooler has pinhole @#$%@ Nitrile gloves back on......'Otto' - 1985 300sd anthracite? grey/silver? with grey leather interior. (heated front seats!!!!
) Euro headlightsMods are in the works...
(05-30-2008, 09:26 AM)winmutt The problem with spacers is that they generally lead to a little wobble. You need to have the tires balanced on the car every time you take the wheels off.does keeping the spacer in the same relative position to the wheel solve this problem? maybe just epoxying the spacer to the wheel would avoid having to rebalance?
(05-30-2008, 09:26 AM)winmutt The problem with spacers is that they generally lead to a little wobble. You need to have the tires balanced on the car every time you take the wheels off.does keeping the spacer in the same relative position to the wheel solve this problem? maybe just epoxying the spacer to the wheel would avoid having to rebalance?
I use cheap 3mm shims with no wobble. I have some 1cm and those were wobble city.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
This only needed if you have crappy spacers. I use cheap 3mm shims with no wobble. I have some 1cm and those were wobble city.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
(06-13-2009, 12:26 AM)shredator(05-30-2008, 09:26 AM)winmutt The problem with spacers is that they generally lead to a little wobble. You need to have the tires balanced on the car every time you take the wheels off.does keeping the spacer in the same relative position to the wheel solve this problem? maybe just epoxying the spacer to the wheel would avoid having to rebalance?
I initially had this problem with a set of 5/16th thickness. Also on another related note, managing to run the wheel bolt in through a free spacer I found to be a real PITA if I was taking the tires off all the time for other reasons.
I took the wheel off and glued the spacer to the back of the rim with some ultra grey silcone, then rebalanced the tire with the spacer attached. After that, the wobble went away, and it was a lot easier to put the tires on.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
(06-13-2009, 12:26 AM)shredator(05-30-2008, 09:26 AM)winmutt The problem with spacers is that they generally lead to a little wobble. You need to have the tires balanced on the car every time you take the wheels off.does keeping the spacer in the same relative position to the wheel solve this problem? maybe just epoxying the spacer to the wheel would avoid having to rebalance?
I initially had this problem with a set of 5/16th thickness. Also on another related note, managing to run the wheel bolt in through a free spacer I found to be a real PITA if I was taking the tires off all the time for other reasons.
I took the wheel off and glued the spacer to the back of the rim with some ultra grey silcone, then rebalanced the tire with the spacer attached. After that, the wobble went away, and it was a lot easier to put the tires on.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
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