18" = bashed fender
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark
1987 w124 300E
18" = bashed fender
Hey!
When i got this car, it was dropped with original 15" rims. I don't know excactly how much it was dropped, but i'm guessing 40-45mm (1,7inch).
I am running 18/225/40 on the front.
Anyhow, as the picture shows, it's too low for these rims!
The spring pads are a size 3, so upgrading those to a size 4 won't solve the problem i guess.
There's no rubbing when driving normally, but when turning on a non levelled road it grabs the lip, and it's hitting the fender when turning normally on a bumpy road.
I was told by my dealer that you can get original springs that comes in sizes 1-5 or so, at under 70$ a piece.
2x vogtland springs will cost me 300$, which might cause the same problem? most of the dealers i've asked just tells me that the rims are too large, bahh!
Anyhow,.. anyone running same specs? and can give me a hint on what size springs to get? -would be nice to have the problem solved before replacing/fixing the fender!
BR
When i got this car, it was dropped with original 15" rims. I don't know excactly how much it was dropped, but i'm guessing 40-45mm (1,7inch).
I am running 18/225/40 on the front.
Anyhow, as the picture shows, it's too low for these rims!
The spring pads are a size 3, so upgrading those to a size 4 won't solve the problem i guess.
There's no rubbing when driving normally, but when turning on a non levelled road it grabs the lip, and it's hitting the fender when turning normally on a bumpy road.
I was told by my dealer that you can get original springs that comes in sizes 1-5 or so, at under 70$ a piece.
2x vogtland springs will cost me 300$, which might cause the same problem? most of the dealers i've asked just tells me that the rims are too large, bahh!
Anyhow,.. anyone running same specs? and can give me a hint on what size springs to get? -would be nice to have the problem solved before replacing/fixing the fender!
BR
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From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
I don't know who you talked to but you need to get a rubber mallet and cover the edge of the fender with tape, I would use blue 3m masking tape and roll the fender in by hitting the edge until it's nice and smooth. I'm running 18x8 35 offset rims and i don't rub at all with 225/40/18. Firt you have carlsson wheels and im sure their 18x8.5 so that's you first problem since they mostly come in a 35mm offset. That .5 and with the fenders not rolled makes them rub.
This all means that you need to properly roll the fenders or get someone that knows how to do it. I'm also running eibach springs so it's not that low. You can get a spacer kit for the fenders to get the tire to tuck under those fenders.
ohhh the best tires i suggest you get for 18s or 19s are falken tires. They have a reinforced side wall and have this big rubber lip around them that saved 2 of my rims. 1 from a big pothole i hit and another from curb rash. If it wasn't for the tires i would have needed to replace my rims by now.
This all means that you need to properly roll the fenders or get someone that knows how to do it. I'm also running eibach springs so it's not that low. You can get a spacer kit for the fenders to get the tire to tuck under those fenders.
ohhh the best tires i suggest you get for 18s or 19s are falken tires. They have a reinforced side wall and have this big rubber lip around them that saved 2 of my rims. 1 from a big pothole i hit and another from curb rash. If it wasn't for the tires i would have needed to replace my rims by now.
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
Originally Posted by YNVDIZW124
ohhh the best tires i suggest you get for 18s or 19s are falken tires. They have a reinforced side wall and have this big rubber lip around them that saved 2 of my rims. 1 from a big pothole i hit and another from curb rash. If it wasn't for the tires i would have needed to replace my rims by now.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Seattle
1990 300ce
I definitely agree that the problem is not the fact that you have 18 inch wheels. I have 18x8's ET35 with 225/40/18's. My car is lowered a little more than YNVDIZW124's with H&R springs. No rubbing whatsoever.
So the problem is either one of these things or it's a combination of them:
1) Your fenders have not been rolled (i.e. the inner lip of the fender hasn't been bent in as YNVDIZW124 describes)
2) Your wheels are too wide
3) The offset if your wheels is too agressive. With 18's, you almost for sure need 18x8 with an offset of ET35 and 225/40/18's. This is the only 18" setup I have seen consistently work without rubbing on w124's.
4) You may need fender spacers, but I'd roll the fenders first. If you like your rims and they are too wide or have the wrong offset and they still rub after you roll the fenders, then get the spacers.
Sorry you had this problem, man. That really sucks!!
So the problem is either one of these things or it's a combination of them:
1) Your fenders have not been rolled (i.e. the inner lip of the fender hasn't been bent in as YNVDIZW124 describes)
2) Your wheels are too wide
3) The offset if your wheels is too agressive. With 18's, you almost for sure need 18x8 with an offset of ET35 and 225/40/18's. This is the only 18" setup I have seen consistently work without rubbing on w124's.
4) You may need fender spacers, but I'd roll the fenders first. If you like your rims and they are too wide or have the wrong offset and they still rub after you roll the fenders, then get the spacers.
Sorry you had this problem, man. That really sucks!!
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From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
Remember to put tape on the edge of the fender when you roll them because the paint will crack and chip off. Do not use anykind of pliers. You can work the fenders with a soft rubber mallet. After you bend it back make sure to get something behind what your hitting because other than that the mallet will just bounce off the fender and not roll them.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,325
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From: Seattle
1990 300ce
Originally Posted by YNVDIZW124
Remember to put tape on the edge of the fender when you roll them because the paint will crack and chip off. Do not use anykind of pliers. You can work the fenders with a soft rubber mallet. After you bend it back make sure to get something behind what your hitting because other than that the mallet will just bounce off the fender and not roll them.
Agreed. Also, make sure that a heat gun is used. I had a shop roll my fenders and they absolutely destroyed the paint. Basically they did not acknowledge that they messed it up. So I had to sand, prime, paint, and clearcoat the inside of the wheels myself. So make sure they use a rubber mallet and a heat gun.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 77
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From: Australia
300E
Yep I did the same thing with mine though not quite as bad. Just remember the car was not designed for those size wheels so extra care should be taken on sharp turns over bumps. And definitely do as others have suggested and bend the fenders up, it should stop it happening again.
Nice wheels by the way!
Nice wheels by the way!
Last edited by CLJ; Jun 6, 2006 at 09:22 AM.
