Stock chrome rims won't hold bead - buying new ones - which look best?
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Joined: Mar 2008
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E420
Stock chrome rims won't hold bead - buying new ones - which look best?
Enough of the chrome has flaked off of my stock 1997 rims that the bead will no longer hold, despite the fact that I just put brand new tires on all four corners, and had the shop use "beadlock" on all four as well. I have a slow leak in the right front where if I leave the car parked for a week and come back, the tire's flat.
So now it's time to buy replacement wheels.
I was originally thinking of buying a new set of the exact same 15 or 16" rims (haven't measured yet) in chrome to do an exact replacement, but then I thought that the folks on the board would probably have some good ideas about which rim styles were used on later model sedans, so that perhaps I could get a set of those instead and hopefully make the E420 look a little newer in the process.
Any suggestions? I'm okay with the standard grey rims as well, but the chrome ones do look nice and not too flashy since they're not 22's ;-) and since they are OE and match the subtle chrome trim on the rest of the black car.
Thanks in advance for your help
So now it's time to buy replacement wheels.
I was originally thinking of buying a new set of the exact same 15 or 16" rims (haven't measured yet) in chrome to do an exact replacement, but then I thought that the folks on the board would probably have some good ideas about which rim styles were used on later model sedans, so that perhaps I could get a set of those instead and hopefully make the E420 look a little newer in the process.
Any suggestions? I'm okay with the standard grey rims as well, but the chrome ones do look nice and not too flashy since they're not 22's ;-) and since they are OE and match the subtle chrome trim on the rest of the black car.
Thanks in advance for your help
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Joined: Apr 2007
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
move up to
polished aluminum in a 17 in 8by 17 with a 35et running 225's
punch the numbers into tirerack or discount tire and you will see dozens of nice styles.Discount even has a new virtual viewer to see how they would look on your car..
ohlord
punch the numbers into tirerack or discount tire and you will see dozens of nice styles.Discount even has a new virtual viewer to see how they would look on your car..
ohlord
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Joined: Mar 2008
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E420
you're right lkchris - they must have bene chrome dipped
I assumed that chrome was an option, but I looked at the original window sticker this morning and it states "7.5 x 16 5-Hole Light Alloy" so the 1st owner must have had the rims chrome dipped on his own (which isn't a good mix with alloy) and now here I am.
I've never really liked chrome rims, but with the black body, and chrome trim, and while thinking that they came that way from MB, I grew to like them.
Now I'll just get alloy and go gray. I want to use OE rims to maintain the clean factory look, so now I just need to find a slightly newer style of OE rim to give the old '97 a little 'update' if possible.
Any recommendations on factory OE rims that look nice on the 97 models is much appreciated. Thanks!
PS: this is supposed to be the comfy freeway cruiser so I'm not going to get low profile tires and larger wheels like I normally would. The other car is an '06 BMW 4.8is with OE 20x10's in the rear, and 20x9.5's in the front, and low pros all around, and you can feel it when you drive over birdseed with the sport suspension, so this ride is supposed to be the cushy one :-)
I've never really liked chrome rims, but with the black body, and chrome trim, and while thinking that they came that way from MB, I grew to like them.
Now I'll just get alloy and go gray. I want to use OE rims to maintain the clean factory look, so now I just need to find a slightly newer style of OE rim to give the old '97 a little 'update' if possible.
Any recommendations on factory OE rims that look nice on the 97 models is much appreciated. Thanks!
PS: this is supposed to be the comfy freeway cruiser so I'm not going to get low profile tires and larger wheels like I normally would. The other car is an '06 BMW 4.8is with OE 20x10's in the rear, and 20x9.5's in the front, and low pros all around, and you can feel it when you drive over birdseed with the sport suspension, so this ride is supposed to be the cushy one :-)
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 789
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From: Henrico, Virginia
2014 ML350 4Matic
E4201stMB
I have a set of stock 16 x 7.5 off my 1999 E430 for sale. They are the same size and offset and take the same tire size as the stock wheels on your wagon. I've seen these wheels on wagons and I think they look pretty sharp. They are painted with a polished lip so they have a little extra visual impact over the stock 10 hole wheels. Check the photos on the link:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...300&highlight=
I can e-mail you higher res versions of the photos if you like.
By the way, I had the same problem with the wheels on my former 1988 300TE. The previous owner had chromed them and like you say, on a black car they looked pretty good. But the bead started to corrode and it was a constant headache to get them to hold air.
I have a set of stock 16 x 7.5 off my 1999 E430 for sale. They are the same size and offset and take the same tire size as the stock wheels on your wagon. I've seen these wheels on wagons and I think they look pretty sharp. They are painted with a polished lip so they have a little extra visual impact over the stock 10 hole wheels. Check the photos on the link:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...300&highlight=
I can e-mail you higher res versions of the photos if you like.
By the way, I had the same problem with the wheels on my former 1988 300TE. The previous owner had chromed them and like you say, on a black car they looked pretty good. But the bead started to corrode and it was a constant headache to get them to hold air.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 789
Likes: 55
From: Henrico, Virginia
2014 ML350 4Matic
I found a few photos of the early W210 wagon with the wheels on them. These wheels were part of the Avantgarde Package in Europe and were standard equipment on US delivery E430s.
By the way, the wheels from the W211 that armanchozbenz suggested take a different lug bolt (14 mm vs. the 12 mm lugs of the W210). Many that have tried to fit them have had real problems. You have to be absolutely certain that the bolt and seat match perfectly to avoid potential wheel failure.
By the way, the wheels from the W211 that armanchozbenz suggested take a different lug bolt (14 mm vs. the 12 mm lugs of the W210). Many that have tried to fit them have had real problems. You have to be absolutely certain that the bolt and seat match perfectly to avoid potential wheel failure.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 61
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From: Maui Hawaii
1991 300E 63K miles in Ice Blue
your wheels
Hi Vince,
If those wheels are still for sale I may be interested for my 91 300e.
I think I have seen this style wheel on my car but perhaps you would know if they would fit??
Thanks,
Paul
If those wheels are still for sale I may be interested for my 91 300e.
I think I have seen this style wheel on my car but perhaps you would know if they would fit??
Thanks,
Paul
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Maui Hawaii
1991 300E 63K miles in Ice Blue
your wheels
Hi Vince,
If those wheels are still for sale I may be interested for my 91 300e.
I think I have seen this style wheel on my car but perhaps you would know if they would fit??
Thanks,
Paul
If those wheels are still for sale I may be interested for my 91 300e.
I think I have seen this style wheel on my car but perhaps you would know if they would fit??
Thanks,
Paul
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 789
Likes: 55
From: Henrico, Virginia
2014 ML350 4Matic
docpaul,
I am pretty sure they will fit fine. As near as I can tell the hub centering diameter is the same, the bolt circle is the same, the lug bolts are the same.
The difference between the stock 16" tire for the wheels (215/55-16) and your stock tires (195/65-15) is less than 1% which will preserve your ride height, gearing and speedo accuracy.
I found folks on mercedesshop.com who have done the same conversion and had no problem as long as they kept the tire width below 225 mm.
The problem I see for you is shipping cost. I did an estimate on the UPS website and shipping to Hawaii is nearly triple my estimate. Perhaps you know of other options.
PM me if you are still interested.
I am pretty sure they will fit fine. As near as I can tell the hub centering diameter is the same, the bolt circle is the same, the lug bolts are the same.
The difference between the stock 16" tire for the wheels (215/55-16) and your stock tires (195/65-15) is less than 1% which will preserve your ride height, gearing and speedo accuracy.
I found folks on mercedesshop.com who have done the same conversion and had no problem as long as they kept the tire width below 225 mm.
The problem I see for you is shipping cost. I did an estimate on the UPS website and shipping to Hawaii is nearly triple my estimate. Perhaps you know of other options.
PM me if you are still interested.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13
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2002 E55
