seahonu

Just successfully mounted CLS wheels onto my E320 CDI;

18x8.5, ET28, 245/40/18
18x9.5, ET33, 275/40/18

Couldn't be more perfect for me. The sidewall is just beyond the fender but the tread is totally within the wheel well for both fronts and rears. And the ride is nearly no different than the original 16". Hooray!

Benz-O-Rama

Looks good. I think you're the 2nd person to have successfully done this. KosherBenz was the first, I think.

AsianML

Looks good! Let us know how much gas mileage decreases as a result though.

seahonu

As for recording before & after mileage, I won't have any prior data. I've only had the car for one week!

jmorgis

Why would there be a gas millage decrease? The overall diameter of the wheel is about the same from the old 16? Right, the rims are larger but smaller tire. Compared to smaller rim, larger side wall?

seahonu

The theory would be that there's a loss of mpg, due to the wheel/tire weight, ie. greater mass requiring greater energy to initiate rolling. Also inefficiency due to greater contact patch from the wider tires than the original.

FYI, wheel/tire weights;

16" OEM = 48 lbs
18" front = 52.5 lbs
18" rears = 56.5 lbs

raymond g-

concur.... i went from OEM 16" to OEM 18" from E55 (near identical specs as
above) and there was mileage drop.

on separate note...the 245 front would scrape the wheel arch under hard front
compression with original shocks. i've since swapped to Bilstein HDs and the
scraping is less (and I drive more sedately). other options would be to change
from 245 to 235, or roll fender.

oh...the above was for 99 E320

CE750

looks good! I did the same with E500 wheels here: http://homepage.mac.com/sjsamaha/PhotoAlbum33.html

no milage decrease at all, even with Renntech... as a matter of fact I got 40mpg on the freeway at 66mph last year during summer.

locomercedes

Looking good. A 1" drop and it will be perfect.

KosherBenz

- I have stock 245's on the CLS rims up front and I have not scraped nor bumped anything in the fenderwell.

- I did notice 1-2 mpg loss after the CLS rims, but the improvement from the Kleemann module made up for it.

- Congrats on ur wheels Choice, I love how they look on my MB

- Here is a few pics of them on my car in case you missed them the first time I posted them up...








And here is what my old rims looked like during install..

HLG600

J. Alan

Diitto concerning KosherBenz post. After installing CLS500 wheels with Michelin Pilot Sports on my E320 CDI the car is more planted to the road and corners like a go-cart. No problems with suspension or brake interference. The OEM 16" wheels are wimpy - throw some good snows on them and use them in the winter. Never kept track of mileage, so no advice here.
Still waiting to chip - interested in Kleeman, but I would like to gather more information about the new Carlsson chip (to be apparently released in May) that is supposed to be more sophisticated, although much more expensive.

J. Alan

no_clue

Since bigger wheels doesn't really have any significant advantage, (according to you guys) but visual satisfaction. I was wondering how about bigger rim and same width tires?

Instead of 245/40/18 ......stay at 225/45/18????
Would that have better acceleration?

Jakarta Expat

Actually I think he is the 3rd, I did it last year.....

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/166787-technical-personal-concerns-needed-regarding-trade.html


The wheel in question
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2...230ci3lba7.jpg

Front side view
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8...sdeviewud4.jpg

Rear Side view
http://img290.imageshack.us/img290/5...ideviewfp0.jpg

Full side view
http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ideviewai7.jpg

KosherBenz

Who said there was no advantage? The car handles 10x better than it did before. I dont know about you, but although I like to cruise in my car, I do like to have the ability to hug the corners if i want to (like on back roads or on/off ramps) Less sidewall means less roll on the corners.

Also, why would you want to put a 225 on a 18inch rim? We dont drive Hondas! (More rubber on the ground = a car that handles better)

no_clue

easy~~~~~ Just questions.
And I don't see why one can't put 225 on 18?
If 245 will slow you down, why can't one stay w/ the OEM with for their non-sport Pre-07?

How much significat performance can it get from 12.3 cm to 11 cm of side wall??????

I kind of need more exlaination on why, please..
Dont' just throw me w/ "we don't drive honda, or so ricy"

harkgar

There is a big difference in roadholding with the CLS package for sure. The funny thing was the dealer on E-Bay made a mistake and sent me a combination of 2 sets of take-offs, both 275s! I did not realize that until April (the tires arrived in winter and I opened only one). Only when I was reading your posting today I know the front tires should have been 245s. Anyway, they do not rub and handling is good.

I like your Vette but I am too old to drive one. Waiting for the Dodge Challenger next year.

KosherBenz

Do what you want brother, if you want 225's go for it!

Id prefer not to squeel when i take a corner hard, and there is also less chance for my tires to break loose when I accelerate hard. And dont forget, the beefier tires look better.

Diffrent strokes for diffrent folks, Ill stick with my 245/275's!


edit: forgot another one, Rim protection... If you put a 225 on a 8in rim, they will get curbed really bad and I dont think 225's are made for a 8 inch rim(as in the front CLS rims)

J. Alan

Remembered another great thing about the CLS500 wheels at the car wash - damn they are easy to wash and keep clean!

J. Alan

no_clue

Argh!!!!!! I see..this is great info!!!!! tks!!!!!!!!!

raymond g-

here are some nice links to save....

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mer...l_fitments.pdf

http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

....if you're contemplating fitment of rims

no_clue

Thanks ray~~~~
You know me, I just like to know about things, but no intention to put more money into my car.

cyclrder

join the club!

245/40/18
275/35/18

ODIE_181

Nice wheels. They look good on your E class

danKx710

so there was no issue installing the cls rims on your E? it was just "plug and play?"