2nice

Ok I have a stock 2007 c280 4MATIC on the stock wheels and tires. 16 inch and 225/45/16 i believe. (will double check when i get home) Looking to get spacers to make the wheels flush or even stick out a slight bit. I've been looking around alot trying to take note of what everyone is running but everyone seems to have a drop kit, different sized rims/tires, and non-4matic cars so I can't figure out a solid answer.

From what I can see 15mm seems to be the max anyone runs and it also seems to me that the rear can have wider spacers than the front. But given that I have a 4matic I'm having a hard time confirming any of this. help!

phister

you can have spacers on your car just make sure they are hub centric and a good brand. Also make sure you get the correct length bolts. from my install of spacers I think you can have wider spacers in front because when you start putting wider ones in the rear you start to make contact with the fender and start rubbing. I would do 5 or 10 mm spacers if you want to push it out to make it flush.

2nice

i prefer a slightly wider look so 10+ might be good. I assume since i'm not dropped that it wouldn't be a problem in the rear with rubbing... I also know that 4matics have different shocks/struts in the front but not in the rear so idk if it would mean i would have to be more or less conservative. any 4matics wanna chime in? i figure this could be a good thread for anyone since there seems to be no good compilations about spacers anywhere that i saw on the boards.

ChrisBrown

I'm running spacers on mine - C240 4MATIC. I installed E Class wheels onto my car, so I had to get a little more clearance on the front. 3mm spacers all around. Wheels are 16x8's. Tires are 225/55/16's. Had to get new bolts with proper heads, length and thread.

2nice

chrisbrown, are your wheels flush with the fender? any pics?

3mm seems miniscule, but then again your wheels are 8 inch wide...mine are 16x7

FrankW

go with +10 on the front and +15 in the back.

2nice

^would you mind giving your rationale sir?

and phister, you have 5 front, 10 rear right...so i'm assuming the front is always going to allow a smaller spacer due to the turning of the wheels/rub issues?

phister

actually have 10mm in front and 5mm in rear so my specs +20 front and +25 rear.

FrankW

1. you have the same size wheel all around. the rear wheel arch is design to alloy wider wheels, so when you have same width all around the rear wheel will tuck in more.

2. spacer size does not have anything to do with rubbing issue. it's used for ppl that has wheel that doesn't have the proper offset or for ppl that just want to get a wider stance.

2nice

thank you for the clarification guys.

so if my understanding is correct, you don't have a staggered setup - all 4 of your wheels are the same +30 offset:

+30-10mm spacer= +20

and rear wheels are +30 as well:

+30-5mm spacer= +25

2nice

my stock w203 bolt specs, i believe:

-long- M12x1.5 thread, R12 ball seat, 39.9 mm shank, 17 mm Hex (for OEM alloy wheels)



so if i were to get 15mm spacers in front and 20mm in rear, that means i would need to go from the stock 40mm bolts to 55mm front and 60mm rear, with the correct "seat" of course, depending on the wheel type.


taper "cone" or "conical" seat VS. "ball" seat


i like this wider stance

phister

thats fine if you want that stance but remember if you do you're going to have to stretch your tires so it doesnt get eaten up by the fenders.

phister

I have a staggered setup. I have 17x8.5 front and 17x9.5 rear. the offset for all of them are just the same. offset has nothing to do with staggered or not, its off the width of the wheels. I just had to go with a lower offset in front so I can clear the calipers. If I did 10mm in the rear my tires would be contacting the fender all time.

2nice

ok so offset is the distance from the center of the wheel. if the wheel is wider than stock, such as your rears, then doesn't that mean you NEED spacers to allow more backspace?

for example: i have 16x7 wheels. if i were to get 17x9.5 in the rear wheels like you, wouldn't that mean your backspace is 2.5 inches more and therefore need 2.5inches divided by 2 (because offset is measured from the center) so 1.25 inches of spacer to fit that wheel? or does the wheel well have alot of room towards the inside to allow yours to fit? and if so does anyone know how much extra room?

2nice

i just took a close look at my wheels. i don't see how i would get any rubbing whatsoever with the stock sized wheels/tires. keep in my i have no drop. looks like everything would clear.

these should fit my car right? i'm confused as to why it only lists amg's and the compatibility search says otherwise.

rear:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HUBCE...item20bc7837b0

front:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HUBCE...item20bc7835c4

phister

it all depends on what your factory offset is compared to the aftermarket offset. just because its 2.5" wider than the stock it could have a +30 offset compared to say the +35 offset of the factory. so it wont need a 1.25" spacer since you'll have more wheel facing out or "lip". The more closer to 0 you are the more the wheel is pushed out. the rear wheel well has enough room for you to go as high as +42 and low enough as +25 or even lower depending if you're lowered and the size of the wheel and tire.

2nice

ya but since the 5mm difference is barely anything compared to the 1.25 inches in width, mathematically wouldn't a spacer be necessary? theoretically, wouldnt it need a spacer that is 1.25 in. minus 5 mm = 31.75mm - 5mm = 26.75mm?

lol or am i overthinking this?

phister

lol you're way over thinking. Youre thinking too much on the width of the wheel instead of just the offset itself. Since you're just wanting to make your OEM wheels sit flush I would start with 5 or 10mm spacers and test fit. 5mm doesnt sound like alot but it is in the offset of a wheel believe me. So if your OEM wheels have a +37 getting a 10mm will make it +27 would be pretty flush. Once you get to +20 you're wheels are going to start sticking out and you'll have to roll fenders and stretch some tires so it doesnt rub anything. I have +20 in front and had to put 215/45/17 on my 17x8.5 fronts. I would really like 225 but with that offset and my ride height its going to be eaten up by the fender. I also had to stretch the rears with 245/40/17 on 17x9.5 and I still get an occasional rub if I hit a dip on the highway. I just need to grind down a bracket that its touching.

But you're over thinking the process of spacers and wheel width. As long as the wheel offset is between +42-+25 you're wheels are going to fit fine.

phister

also dont buy the cheapo ebay ones go with a good brand like H&R for spacers. They cost more but are way worth it. I've seen some 10mm spacers for the rears where the lip of the spacer breaks off when you try to remove the wheel and stays in the wheel hub and you have to hammer it out with a flathead. So invest in some good spacers.

shanosc180k

Sorry to bump an old thread but hopefully someone can give some advice.

I have a w203 c180 coupe it was registered feb 2008 so I believe one of the last ones.

I currently have the staggered 225/45/17 front 245/40/17 rear setup
but have been offered a great deal on a set of E-class wheels they are from a 2009 and have an offset of et48.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mer...poke_wheel_574

Would I be correct in thinking that to fit these I would need 11mm spacers front and rear as my offset is et37? would I be able to use 10mm spacers as these seem to be a lot more readily available?

Will the wheels fit without rubbing? will the handling be affected?

Really hoping someone can help with answers to this, regards Shanos