Aftermarket Wheels in my 08 GL450

[Tommytrojan]

I have searched all of forums and found couple of helpful threads. However nothing complete for a rookie like me. I am planning on buying replicas from ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/22-Mercedes-...item35b9f794e7 Do you guys think it would work out fine for my 08 black 450? This is first time I would be changing wheels in any car. So far all of my cars had factory wheels & tires (boring). Now I want to update the look of my vehicle and tried searching for AMG's but they are very expensive for my budget. Somebody at work suggested replicas. Are they reliable? What would I need. 1. New Wheels 2. New Tires. 295/35/22? 3. Spacers? 4. Lug bolts? 5. Place to install and balanace tires? please help me put a list for it. I would get the project complete.

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[Tommytrojan]

Bump Bump. Looks like people know what they are doing. I am the only one who hasn't done this before.

[aeggroup]

I bought aftermarket wheels from Ebay seller (replicas) for my BMW X5.
I've had my lesson and will never do it again. It was impossible to balance them and my car was shaking after 65mph.
The only guy I trust is Jerry from ForMyMercedes.com

Good Luck.

[wlee69]

Honestly my guess is nobody has replied to this thread because there are so many factors that "affect" each other that its impossible thru this forums to help properly. Going to a place like Jerry at formymercedes.com is your only option if you want everything to be the way you want it. I'll try and explain why its hard to give you answers...

1) New tires - you could go 285/40/22 if you want to keep it closest to the same speedo speed. Some have gone 305/40/22 because there are more sizes available..you could go 295/35/22 if you don't care about the speedo being off.

2) Spacer depend on what the width and offset are of the wheels you are getting. The posting says "many offsets available" - personally I think a 10" wide tire with a 50mmET looks almost perfect, but its personal preference. These are 9" rims you can you calculate what the offset should be to get to the same gap.

3) Lugbolts also depend on the wheels you get. It will require a specific length that may be different from the OEM as well as a different shape (conical vs curved). Again, this depends on how the wheel was built as some try and use the OEM lugbolts and some do not.

4) Balancing is usually a tricky think on a GL - the slightest being off creates vibration. Just find a place with the roadforce balancing and thats half the problem solved. The other half is if the person is competent to know how to use that Hunter machine. Again - depends on the place and who is doing the work - for me, you can't go wrong at the dealer, but thats just me.

[Tommytrojan]

Originally Posted by wlee69

Honestly my guess is nobody has replied to this thread because there are so many factors that "affect" each other that its impossible thru this forums to help properly. Going to a place like Jerry at formymercedes.com is your only option if you want everything to be the way you want it. I'll try and explain why its hard to give you answers...

1) New tires - you could go 285/40/22 if you want to keep it closest to the same speedo speed. Some have gone 305/40/22 because there are more sizes available..you could go 295/35/22 if you don't care about the speedo being off.

2) Spacer depend on what the width and offset are of the wheels you are getting. The posting says "many offsets available" - personally I think a 10" wide tire with a 50mmET looks almost perfect, but its personal preference. These are 9" rims you can you calculate what the offset should be to get to the same gap.

3) Lugbolts also depend on the wheels you get. It will require a specific length that may be different from the OEM as well as a different shape (conical vs curved). Again, this depends on how the wheel was built as some try and use the OEM lugbolts and some do not.

4) Balancing is usually a tricky think on a GL - the slightest being off creates vibration. Just find a place with the roadforce balancing and thats half the problem solved. The other half is if the person is competent to know how to use that Hunter machine. Again - depends on the place and who is doing the work - for me, you can't go wrong at the dealer, but thats just me.

Thanks Wlee69, very nicely explained all of the factors. I am trying to reach out jerry but since he is not local it would be difficult to get everything right. Yes I can buy the wheels from him. Get tires from somewhere let's say tirerack or Costco . Go to dealer and get it installed and balanced? I would have to check that.

Also the TPMS should come out of old and get in new wheels. Looks like a time consuming and expensive project.

I would keep you all on it's update. Any Suggestions or contact in NJ is welcomed as I would prefer to put a face behind the install.

[Tommytrojan]

Originally Posted by Tommytrojan

Thanks Wlee69, very nicely explained all of the factors. I am trying to reach out jerry but since he is not local it would be difficult to get everything right. Yes I can buy the wheels from him. Get tires from somewhere let's say tirerack or Costco . Go to dealer and get it installed and balanced? I would have to check that.

Also the TPMS should come out of old and get in new wheels. Looks like a time consuming and expensive project.

I would keep you all on it's update. Any Suggestions or contact in NJ is welcomed as I would prefer to put a face behind the install.

Just went to USA Rims website and found out that they can give me wheels/Tire package for 1900$ which is already road forced balanced.

Should I take it? All they said I need after i receive the wheels it to mount it.

Wheels 22*9
tires 285/35/22 Nexen. They had other tire choices too

[aeggroup]

Originally Posted by Tommytrojan

Just went to USA Rims website and found out that they can give me wheels/Tire package for 1900$ which is already road forced balanced.

Should I take it? All they said I need after i receive the wheels it to mount it.

Wheels 22*9
tires 285/35/22 Nexen. They had other tire choices too

Google reviews from people who bought their wheels.

[ddcha]

Originally Posted by Tommytrojan

Thanks Wlee69, very nicely explained all of the factors. I am trying to reach out jerry but since he is not local it would be difficult to get everything right. Yes I can buy the wheels from him. Get tires from somewhere let's say tirerack or Costco . Go to dealer and get it installed and balanced? I would have to check that.

Also the TPMS should come out of old and get in new wheels. Looks like a time consuming and expensive project.

I would keep you all on it's update. Any Suggestions or contact in NJ is welcomed as I would prefer to put a face behind the install.

I'm in NJ. I only install with Scott. You can get aftermarket wheels and buy tires from him, or just bring both to him to get them mounted and balanced. Make sure you tell him you want HUNTER ROADFORCE balanced. http://ridgewood.patch.com/listings/...ormance-center

[Tommytrojan]

Ok,

found wheels and tires combo and installed it on 4th of July.

i like the way it looks. My 08 GL450 is revamped so much just by adding wheels

[aeggroup]

Looks good, but I think you mentioned you'd like 22" ? Those look like 20", but still very agressive.

[Tommytrojan]

Originally Posted by aeggroup

Looks good, but I think you mentioned you'd like 22" ? Those look like 20", but still very agressive.

You are right. I had difficult time getting same design 22 inch. Also since I am in NJ didn't want to change for winters. I am hoping this 20 would be all round the season.

Yes the styling is very aggressive.

[ysgi]

So where did you finally get the wheels and tires? We have the 18's and they need to be replaced. I got a whopping 12,000 miles out of our last Yoko Geolanders. So before I waste more money on the ugly 18's.

[Tommytrojan]

Originally Posted by ysgi

So where did you finally get the wheels and tires? We have the 18's and they need to be replaced. I got a whopping 12,000 miles out of our last Yoko Geolanders. So before I waste more money on the ugly 18's.

I Got it from Ebay. wheels + tires load balanced for 1500$.

[cdea]

Nice setup. I want to put the same size and style of wheels on my GL. are yours stamped AMG on them? what size tires are you running now? Any more pics you can upload?

thanks

[PorscheTT]

I bought a set from the same guys from Ebay...Actually, they are local so I went to pick it up...here's my observations:

1) You'll need the 9" widths front. I also went w/ 9" rear so I can rotate. You can run 10" w/ different tire widths in rear if you want.
2) Running 285/40/22 but front rubs on full lock..Just a little, nothing to worry about.
3) No spacers needed if you don't have the fender flares (ie 550). Perfect offset

Pics here:

GL550 Fender Flare Conversion (Step-by-step w/ pics)