25yearowner

When my E350 died last month, I bought this '16 C300 Luxury model off the floor. It's loaded but I didn't notice the tire rims at the time. I'm female and don't care about upgraded tires, but I don't like the matte gray rims with the iridium silver body (and don't love the multi-spoke either) - I think it's "off". Is it just me??

Mike5215

If they look "off" to your eye, they're off. But yeah, objectively speaking, they're too dark. There are a lot of replacement wheel choices for the W205 C Class that aren't crazy expensive and can have a huge impact on appearance.

If you go on EBay and do a search for 17" Mercedes Wheels C Class you'll get a lot of choices. If you find something you like, post a link here and I'll verify they'll fit properly. (Vendors on EBay tend to list their wheels as the correct fitment for a lot of models, even ones that would "work" but vary quite a bit from the factory spec.)

Jay_Chicago

I'm not a big fan of the multi-spoke rims too...but that's just my personal taste. Also, not sure I'd go with high sporty rims since you have the luxury package and (I'm assuming) the classy front grille. I would go with something like this here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-C25...9WAvmr&vxp=mtr ...but again, that's just my opinion. Have fun and enjoy your new ride!

Mike5215

I think split 5 spokes always look good. That wheel has a really high offset so I wouldn't get that particular wheel for a 205.

Mr. J

I love these. They won't work for your C300 but they give an idea of how rims can contrast the body color.

cenzo86

Have you thought about chrome? I really think its just about due for a resurgence considering the fact that everything has been painted black for a decade. Depending on where you live, a chrome dip could have a 2 day turn around. Plus, (I say this at my own risk) my wife loves shiny things, girls love shiny stuff, and nothing is shinier than chrome.

Mr. J

Good idea. I brilliant chrome finish would make the trim pop and it would be relatively inexpensive and much less hassle than shopping for new rims.

Mike5215

I'm not sure about this. I think that's why my chrome condom business failed. Also the lawsuits and medical claims.

25yearowner

Many thanks for everyone's input. I just read that chrome plating isn't suitable for the winters where I'm from (but maybe something called PVD is). Mike's suggestion of ebay tires is a good one but having just paid what I did, not sure I want to sink more $$ into this. Maybe I should just try living with these rims for awhile and see if I can stop focusing on them every time I look at the car...

MASSC450

I agree with the OP that the color of those wheels look dull...they should be a brighter silver. When it comes to stock Mercedes wheels for the W205, I personally feel the silver 19" AMG wheels look best with Iridium Silver...it helps to fill up the wheel wells too...

BenzC400

Here is an example of the 19 inch black with polished silver surface AMG wheels to compare. I get many compliments about the wheels.

chrisdean

Experiment with Plastidip until you find something you like.

Mike5215

Yeah, I think the multispokes work best with the C's body and give the car a high end, finished look. They also do the same for the W222 S Class. I'm usually not a fan of that type wheel and prefer a simple 5 spoke or split 5, but for the C and S it's the best look IMO.

gfmohn

I have the same combination of Iridium Silver and the stock grey 17" wheels you do. There are some advantages with these wheels. Appearance is not one of them, but they look their best with the Iridium Silver. We both have the Luxury trim, so i assume that you too care more for a comfortable ride than for sporty handling. I stayed with the stock wheels partly for price, but mainly to keep the full-height sidewalls. I assume you have the standard equipment "MOE" (Mercedes Original Equipment) run-flats. (For a full explanation, see Mercedes-Benz Original Extended Tires (MOExtended or MOE at Tire Rack.) MOEs have a better ride than regular run-flats, but even with the so-called Luxury suspension, my ride is not as good as with my previous 2007 C2804MATIC (W203 ). I do not have the Airmatic suspension. The ride would be worse with any lower-profile tires.

Full-height sidewalls protect the rims better. I have read in MBWorld of owners going through three broken wheels in a winter. The roads in eastern Massachusetts in winter have many such wheel-breaker potholes. Even with AAA and MBrace, women I know are very concerned about the possibility of malfunctions that would leave them stuck at the side of the road.

Finally, the grey color is almost the same color as the well-known Mercedes brake dust! Car washing can be done in the elderly housing facility where I live, but it is awkward (and I am elderly). On my C280 I had shields installed on the inside of the front wheels. They greatly reduced brake dust and had no effect on braking. In 2007, they were only $90, installed. (Membership in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America got me a 10% discount at a local independent shop. I found out that such a device existed in the first place through conversation at a club event.)

After 15 months, my tires are turning brown. For this reason and to make a shiny contrast with the dull grey wheels, I am considering application of Permagloss. They claim to be an exception to the usual recommendations of tire manufacturers (and Consumer reports) that no such products be applied to tires. Does anyone have any experience with this product? (Please, let's have replies only from owners who have actually used the product.)

Mike5215

Yeah, I tried it. I think it should be called Temporary Sheen, but it did hold up longer than the typical tire dressing.

25yearowner

Yes, a family member was constantly blowing her Mercedes tires and I want to avoid that at all cost. I may have to agree that my E350's ride might have been smoother though this is tighter, and I'm surprised at the engine noise while driving - the E350 was quieter (using layperson's language as I know nothing about cars). I may be semi-resigning myself to powder-coating. In the end, I got a very good price for virtually every single option (some which I may never use or can't really tell the difference), and I have too many other things going on to let tire rim color occupy my head and bother me. Also, I only chose the luxury model as the other models just have too much interior black for me, even with the beige or gray options - ridiculous maybe but a light interior is a personal requirement. Thank you for your interesting post, and how fun to pick-up a car in Germany!

Mike5215

I agree the lighter interior changes the character of the car from sporty to cushy. There are no wrong choices, although amongst a bunch of dudes you'll generally find more sport. My first two S Class had Java (tan/brown) and Stone (cream/brown) interiors and I loved them, although I was their slave as far as trying to keep them clean. Black, especially on the bottom third, is great at hiding stains, scuffs, dirt etc.

I will say that the exteriors of both though had the sporty AMG body and wheel packages, so they were tigers on the outside but kittens inside. That can be a cool contrast as well.

Anyway, the reason your 350's engine was quieter and smoother was that as a V6, it didn't have to work quite as hard as the smaller 4 cylinder engine in the 300 does. I agree it's the car's least appealing feature.

So was AirMatic among the options you ended up getting?

25yearowner

Funny - that's one of about three options that weren't included with the car. Despite the very few quirks, I have to say I really like the car and don't regret any of it (except not having them swap rims!). I've been driving Mercedes since my early 20s and I can honestly say I won't be driving anything else until there's the inevitable old-age battle and someone takes away my license. Thank you, Mike, for your excellent observations and advice...