scorchie

For the W203 C-class, you should use a BMW kit as you mention. However, your statement of "BMW and Mercedes use 12x1.5 wheel bolts studs" isn't quite correct. They do both use that. But the majority of the Mercedes sold in the USA today use 14x1.5 bolts. Only the C-class, CLK-class, and SLK-class use the 12mm bolts. The S-, CL-, CLS-, E-, SL-, ML- and G-classes all use 14mm lugs.

-s-

nukblazi

Steve? Thanks for the additional info! You're right, I shouldn't have left that so general.

GGM

Up until this MB I have always owned Chryslers. I was just wondering if there is an advantage to lug bolts rather than lug nuts. It would seem that there is a reason German automakers use them.

Thanks.

GGM

vadim

I must have been on the other side Mostly Euro cars (BMW, Volvo, MB) with a temporary deviation towards Japanese (Nissan, Mitsubishi). All of them use(d) lug bolts. Honestly, I do not know if there is real advantage other than the ability to use a wider variety of wheels (that may require different bolt lengths).

nukblazi

Cleaner looking? Really they are a real pain in the ***. Trying to line up an aftermarket wheel, hubcentric ring, line up the holes, and thread the bolt... F that! The strip easier, all different wheels need different size bolts, it's a mess. All performance oriented owners of BMWs, Audi's, and VWs switch to studs, same with Porsche too I think.

Anyway, I am glad I finally got around to looking that up. I am ordering a set from Rouge tonight.

nukblazi

Cleaner looking? Really they are a real pain in the ***. Trying to line up an aftermarket wheel, hubcentric ring, line up the holes, and thread the bolt... F that! The strip easier, all different wheels need different size bolts, it's a mess. All performance oriented owners of BMWs, Audi's, and VWs switch to studs, same with Porsche too I think.

Anyway, I am glad I finally got around to looking that up. I am ordering a set from Rouge Engineering tonight.

GGM

I watched the guy trying to install the wheels after rotating and balancing a few weeks back and thought "what a pain." Then I thought, "what if he strips them?" Then I thought "what if I ever have to do that on a dark road at night?" I hadn't really noticed or thought about it until then--luckily I have never had to change a tire on this car (knock wood ).

GGM

vadim

Oh, come on! It is not so difficult to line up the holes. You just notice where they are on the hub and on the wheel, and then adjust the wheel by rotating it on the hub while peeking inside one hole until the holes match up. That's it.

If you have to do it in the dark, you still need a flashlight - whether it is studs or bolts.

Jim Banville

My Nissan, my Sequoia and every other car I've ever owned or driven (mostly Amercian) uses lug nuts. Lug bolts are truly an oddity in the US.

firstkill

Does your car come with a little back bar that u can attach so it lines up teh wheel automatically for the remaining 4 bolts?



~fk

wherman

Guys and girls:
I recently went to put my summer rims/tires back on and had a bit of a problem. When I removed the summer rims there were two lug bolts missing from the drivers side front. I thought that (without checking) that the new rims used the same size lug bolts as the summer rims (2005 SS Rims). I was wrong. Anyway, I cannot find what the correct size is anywhere on the web or on the forum. Would any of you happen to know?

Thanks,
Bill

C240-Merc

I believe the diameter of the lug nuts used for your wheels is 12mm.

vinamg

12mm

wherman

Thanks. Do you happen to know the length as well, I wasn't specific in my request, but that was the difference between the new and old rims.

Thanks.

Bill

wherman

I think I found it myself. I measured it out and it came to 1.5" or just over 38mm. So since there are only 34mm and 40mm, I'm belive the 40mm are right.

Thanks,
Bill

Burnt Toast

hey,

whats the thread pitch on our stock bolts? is it : 12mm 1.50? or is it 14mm?

i think its 12mm. and the bigger cars E class and what not are 14mm?

thanks.

SCFALIA

It's 12x1.5... OEM bolts are ball seat with a 39mm shank (length of threads)

Burnt Toast

awsome thanks, thats exactly what i needed to know

mrzone

hey everyone.. as i was trying to change to my winter tires (for the first time) on my car... because my STUPID torque wrench was broken (I didn't know that before hand!) and it over torqued all the rear bolts (possibley the front too.. but I couldn't check right now).

It seem that bolts is not strip.. but the "receiving side" or the "car side" or the "bolt" (don't know how to describe it) is strip. I like to fix it myself.. i am pretty handy.. pls help

RE-Agent

A little "too" handy if you ask me.
Good luck.

pshek

If you overtightened the bolts and stripped the threads on the hubs, then it's going to be expensive to replace your hubs. Ask Cappa26, he's in the same boat as you. I think he was being charged ~$1200 to fix the stripped hubs and related parts by Penske motors. If you didn't know how to use a torque wrench, you should have just used a regular lug wrench and had a shop torque it to the right specs for you. (85 ft/lb i think). A normal shop wouldn't have charged you to tighten them anyways...

I consider myself somewhat "handy", but I'm not stupid enough to mess up my suspension and engine. Leave that stuff to a professional and pay them...sorry man.

hero809

It's not going to be something you can do by yourself unless you own a garage. You should just bring it in for someone to fix it for you. It's not going to be cheap, but a lesson learned.

mrzone

Thank you for all the positive comments and helpful advice all of you have given to me.. I think all of those advice are very useful and probably will solve my problem in the next 5 minutes.

I guess I am a pretty stupid "handy" man that didn't his torque wrench was broken in advance..

Moderator: if you are reading this post, can u please remove this post from the forum so we don't waste more bandwidth and storage in this topic as I consider my problem solved already.

From:
A handy man who had rebuild an engine before..
A handy man who change from winter tires to summer tires to r-compound tires to summer tires to winter tires every year..
A handy man who change tires and brake 2 to 3 times a year...

Guys.. no hard feeling.. but please don't post any further comments as it is really pointless.

Case close.
problem fixed..
last time i will be on this board...
thank you all.

krew944

so do we know the bolt size for the rears yet or are we still waiting to get the answer... can i just go to the tire shop and they will find out for me because im getting my tires today so i just wanted to know . thank you

thom_doe

I have purchased these 18 inch TSW Bremma AMG Reps and I have a big problem. I tried calling TSW and they dont even know the size Lub Bolts they use. I spoke to one guy he says 12X1.5 25mm another guy says they dont have the information because they dont sell bolts, he says 28mm. So do anyone know the correct sz ? The first guy also stated make sure when the wheels go on have them spin the rears because it might mess up the E-Brake which is very expensive. I need this information to be confirmed. Thanks