This is kinda dumb, but I put brakes on my car today, and I thoroughly cleaned my wheels while I was about it.

I bought my car new, and I saw it come off the truck with just a mile or so on the clock. It has never been anywhere else.

But today, I found that my car has three wheels made in Germany, and one made in Poland. The wheels, other than the "made in" stamp, are identical. The car has 73K miles, is on its third set of tires, and tracks straight as an arrow. I have no complaints, but its bugging me that it isn't all from one place. (the car was built in Bremen on January 8, 2008)

Any thoughts? Is this normal? Would it bug you?

 

BTW, putting brakes in this car is a non-event? I've put brakes on lotsa cars (beginning with a 1964 Mini Cooper S). Only the Mini was an easier change.

 

Mercedes Benz does not make wheels. Just as with a wide variety of parts on the car, the wheels are made by suppliers who are located in a range of international locations. It may just be random that your car was built when the end of one batch was supplanted by the beginning of another. But, they are all intended to be made to the same design standard, no matter the point of origin, just like the multiple plants for the entire car.

 

My C Class wheels were made in Belgium.

My SLK class wheels were made in Germany.

The W204 cabin filter (mann or genuine) always comes from Czech Republic. It's amazing all the sources that go into making a car.

 

On a SA built W204 the wheels are made by Tiger Wheels South Africa to the international patterns. (TSW)

 

My SA built C300 has the 18" AMGs, made in Austria. My 17"winter wheels are also OEM, made in Poland. There's a part I saw in the taillight wiring, made in Namibia.

 

Yes. Some of the AMG styles are Austrian. It's luck of the draw. 99% of Elegance & Avantgarde, Luxury & Sport wheels are made at TSW wheels SA & some AMG. Interestingly the Austrian AMG wheels have displayed some cracking in our market.

 

Thanks folks. I never run out of new things to learn.