mosquad

1. I'm thinking about getting the 18" AMG wheels. I'd like to know pros and cons.

Someone told me that the tires would cost a lot more than 17" BUT HOW MUCH MORE? I'm from Canada, so we need to have 2 sets of tires (winter and summer/4 season).

2. Also, would you recommend getting 2 sets of wheels 1 for winter and the other for summer? (say 17" for the winter and the 18" for the summer)

Mr_Mojo

I spec'ed the 18" wheel option when I ordered my car but due to supply problems the car came without. I have just ordered a set of twin 5 spoke 18" AMG wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres here in the UK for just over £2000 approx $4000 US. Other than the cost I see no cons, but I wanted the wheels at any price! 18" tyres do cost more than 17" but not much more

Krytech

As the other poster noted, the tires for the 18's don't cost that much more, 10-20% maybe, but they will likely wear faster than the 17's. Also you'll be slightly more limited on winter tire selection. Personally, I originally ordered mine with 18's then had them revert to the standard 17" rims. I'm in MN and am getting snow tires as well. Also with our crappy roads and huge potholes, I think the 17" tires will be better year round for me and less chance of getting bent.

mosquad

I've decided to go with 2 sets of mags; the 17" for the winter of course, and the 18" AMG for the summer.
The dealer told me it would cost me $1,700 CDN to get the 17" set with tires.
So I'll end up paying $1,975 CDN for the AMG mags (replacing the standard ones) + $1,700 CDN for the 17" separately.

I really want the AMG ones, so if I don't get the 17"s, I would still have to buy the winter tires for the AMGs which would cost around $900 CDN, so might as well add $800 CDN and will benefit from:
1. The AMG are saved from the snow, salt, potholes (there are some in the summer, but in the winter there are more and you can't even see them! ) I feel you Krytech!
2. Save a bit $$ when changing tires for the appropriate season (no need to remove the tires from the mags to put the others and adjust...) less labour cost.

Overall, I think it's the way to go

Thanks guys!

oblu

Wow, so you can't check for yourself on Canadian Tire's website?

phs

May I ask which set of 17" wheels are you getting that cost $1700?

mosquad

It's the Proserpina 17-inch 5-spoke incenio wheel; these are the standard wheels for the C300 in Canada.

peabers

Yikes... I wouldn't pay $1700 for those. I wouldn't put those on even if they paid me $1700. Money better spent elsewhere... I would not spend that much for winter wheels. But that's my personal opinion.

So here's what I did... since I did not have the opportunity to get the 18" AMG's when I ordered the car (I got a car that was already in production -- so was able to pick-up within 6 wks), I stuck with the 17" AMG twinspokes. I will run those as summers for now and I have a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's mounted on some Sport Edition whatever rims for winter. Next summer, I will look for some aftermarket 18". Can't bring myself to paying $3500 for the OE 18".

mosquad

$1,700 for the mags AND the winter tires, I don't think it's that bad + plus I don't find them ugly at all (personal opinion too ) especially for the winter!!!
Also, I kinda like to have a 100% MB car (at least for now) so wanna have MB wheels for winter...

Yeah, you can't get the 18" AMG on 4matic...

phs

Yeah, you can't get the 18" AMG on 4matic...[/QUOTE]

You CAN get 18" AMG upgrade option for C350 4matic's. It has been approved for C350 4matic by MB Germany since October for Canada. The only problem is availability. So if you place an order for a C350 4matic, your sales agent would be able to see the 18" AMG wheel as an CDN$1500 option in the computer. However, when he/she clicks on it, it might or might not allow him/her to select that option, depending on the global availability of those wheels at the time of your order. I ordered mine in October and got that as an option confirmed. Hopefully it would arrive by end of Feb as promised.

At first I thought I would be able to get the 17"x8 one piece Brabus Monoblock VI as winter rims until I found out the offset was 35. Now I am thinking of getting 17" oem MB wheels instead.

mosquad

Good to know! The sales agent, I spoke to him a couple of days ago doesn't know yet

mosquad

1. which ones are these in your country? but you sound like you're from canada, so I guess it's the 17-inch 6-twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheel
(see picture)
2. how much are they? (bought separately of course since you already got the car)
3. does the price include winter tires?

phs

Yes, I am in The Toronto area. There are two ways you can get 17" x7.5 AMG 6-spoke wheel / Style IV (B6 603 1400). First, you can order the wheels by themselves without installation which would be CDN$827 each, or $3308 for four before tax. You then have to get 4 centre caps of the style you like for $9.54 each. Get an outside installer to install a set of Pirelli's W210 would be about CDN$850, tax included. Since you are buying a W204, your sales agent should be able to get you a better price than $827 for the wheel. The second way of getting your winter tires is through a so called "Winter Package" through MB with the same wheels and Pirelli W210's. Their before discount list price is a whopping $6585 tax included! One of the outrageous list price on the breakdown is that they are charging $499 for each tire, and that is only the tire itself before installation! After the so call "Winter Package" discount, you still have to pay $5075 tax included. So, the first thing you should do is to approach your sales for a substantial discount on those wheels. Second, do not get the "Winter Package". Third, get an outside installer to install those tires for you at much cheaper price. You may even want to get a set of Michelin PA2 for about $100 less than the Pirell's and I was told that they are as good. I was also told NOT to get Continentals. I hope this helps. Standing for correction from anyone. Thanks.

mosquad

Where do you get the style #s like this? do you have a website for this?

As I wrote above, according to the dealer, I would "upgrade" to AMG 18s for $2,000 and pay 1,700 for the 17s; and these, include tires... from what you wrote, it's either I'm getting a good deal cause I'm getting the car and not only wheels/tires OR the sales guy made a mistake telling me it includes the tires... I'm gonna need to clarify this...

GPI

Those #s are from the AMG website. www.mercedes-amg.com

mosquad

Thanks!!

KiwiRobbie

There is nothing wrong with Continental Winter Vikings, they always top the winter tyre tests here in Norway and Sweden. I've used them on a Golf and a now a w203. The other winter tyre which rates very highly over here is Nokian.

Over here every car is sold with two sets of wheels, my 16inch winter wheels with tyres cost 10,000 NOK, about 1,800 USD. Winter tyres work much better if they are skinny and high profile.