socalsounds

Hello all. I recently had the five-star, 10 spoke 02-03 E Class rims put on my 1997 E320. The indy dealer had a hell of a time with the lug bolts, having to go to a shorter lug due to a severe clicking in the rear wheels. The clicking went away, (I don't think that they replaced all, or with short enough lug bolts) but does it sometimes now, and then only very lightly for a few minutes at slow speed.

What kind of lugs are proper for this application? There are a mix of chrome bolts and cheapies. Yeah, I know. Anyway, where can I buy the proper aftermarket bolt? Any ideas? They're these rims:

TuneTime

dude.... get those lugs out... that clicking is that the bolts are too long, so long that they are sticking out of the back of the hub and hitting the emerg brake cable... and thats the clicking you hear as they are spinning around... you dont hear it at high speeds b/c they are whacking the cable so fast..... you are causing damage, im surprised that nothing has broken yet... there are aftermarket bolts that are the same thickness but alot shorter... for about $1.00 a piece... get on that!!!!

raymond g-

i see warning flags. if you're using w211 rims....and your indy has simply
installed shorter bolts used for w210s, you've severely reduced the bearing
surfaces of the ball seat between rim and lug. the 211 rims are designed to be
used with slightly beefier 14mm diameter bolts and 14 radius ball.... versus your
210's 12mm diam and 12 radius ball.

verify the above with your indy and what he has installed. if my guess holds
true, you need to replace your existing bolts with hybrid lug bolts: 12mm diam
bolt utilizing a 14mm radius ball seat.

TuneTime

The clicking noise is that they are too long... Ive seen it time and time again... almost too often... and the reason they are shorter is that the seat in the wheel is further back then in the older wheels... lets say the "offset" of the seat.. some of the lugs for the newer cars look scary short next to the older models that are a few inches long...

socalsounds

Thanks, guys. My theory is that they replaced only some of them. Does anyone have a good location for a wide selection of bots, and any minimum length info? Thanks!

Chris

TuneTime

im in NY so im not sure where... but i would find a big rim/wheel shop... usually they have a wide selection... and they should be aware of the E Brake cables and all that other good stuff.... And the next time you have the rear wheels off look at the hub and cable, make sure there was no damage that that other shop might be liable for....

J

raymond g-

yes, the clicking noise usually indicates that the bolt length is too long - that's
a given. the simple fix is cut or find shorter bolt. but it's also important to note
that he's also using rims from a 211 on his 210 car. most people make the
mistake of simply using their existing 12mm/12R bolts to fasten the 14mm/14R
spec-ed wheels. they may find shorter 12mm bolts (or cut) to eliminate the
parking brake/clicking but that still does not resolve the fact that the ball seat
is still woefully mismatched. this is a double whammy/safety issue, not
solved simply through the purchase of shorter bolts.

OTISINCLA.COM is one source for 211-to-210 conversion bolts

TuneTime

agreed.... and well put....

socalsounds

Thanks for all of the input guys. I bought a set of 12-125 thread 14mm ball seat bolts that are 1.75 inches long from discount tire; they work beautifully!

Chris

ohlord

I thought this was going to be another post about some guy trying to fit Lexus rims with the wrong bolt pattern onto a w210 benz.
20's no less
ohlord

43fatman

+1

I have the same bolts. Here are my new wheels do they look familiar Raymond??

By matthew430

RichardM98

Try www.radusadirect.com.

OldNate

I liked the ones in your signature so much better

43fatman

Dam it thats what all of my friends said. I think im the only one that likes them.

romanse320

I really like them. I think it makes your 210 look sportier.

raymond g-

if you like sporty look, I agree, the split spoke AMGs do the job. for a dressier
look, the previous rims on your sig appeal to me. I'm thinking that the thicker
spokes seem sporty, whereas the finer (and more spokes) are for evening wear,
with dinner jacket and smoking jacket j/k

if I had the bucks, I'd go with forged, custom rims. but at $600-1500 each,
I opted to go with the 211 split spoked rims for much cheaper....apprx $3-400
each is what seems to be the going rate. it retains the German theme as well.