Rear Camber Issue?
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Joined: Jun 2009
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2007 E320 Bluetec
Rear Camber Issue?
I have a 2007 E320 Bluetec (57k miles) and chose to replace those horrible 16 inch wheels with something safer (handling and braking wise) and better looking. I chose some aftermarket wheels badged as MBs in the same size as the E550. The rears being 275/35/18. Now after 19,000 miles the rears are toast. The passenger side is worst and has the inner half of the tread worn down to a slick. The driver's side has similar wear but not as bad.
The lovely, helpful (sarcasm), MB of Palm Beach mechanic today said it was beacuse the car was not designed for those wheels/tires. That the suspension on the e550 is desined differently. I should put my 16s back on.
I also had new rotors fitted all round (2 grand!!) a couple of months ago.
My questions are:
1) Is anyone else running wheels/tires like mine on a similar car? What is your experience?
2) Can you adjust the rear camber?
3) Could is be due to poor fitting of the new rotors?
Thanks,
Carl.
The lovely, helpful (sarcasm), MB of Palm Beach mechanic today said it was beacuse the car was not designed for those wheels/tires. That the suspension on the e550 is desined differently. I should put my 16s back on.
I also had new rotors fitted all round (2 grand!!) a couple of months ago.
My questions are:
1) Is anyone else running wheels/tires like mine on a similar car? What is your experience?
2) Can you adjust the rear camber?
3) Could is be due to poor fitting of the new rotors?
Thanks,
Carl.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 18
From: Blaine, WA
07 E320 Bluetec
DerekACS had 17" OEM with his CPO purchase; I believe he has not had any problems though he recently changed his tires.
I stuck with my 16" (reluctantly) for two reasons. One, that the dealer does not recommend a larger size and two that custom wheels 21lb-23lb in 18" with tires would cost around $8K or thereabouts. I would have ordered but decided to wait till I heard other reports. Yours is the first I've heard where a larger wheel size on a Bluetec has technically failed.
Having said that, inside tire wear, as correctly diagnosed by you is due to (now induced) negative camber and too much toe out. With the Bluetec in particular, use of larger wheel size requires addition of a rubber stop, to prevent excessive suspension travel, yet another cause of uneven tire wear.
Hypothetically it is possible to use an 18, 19 and even a 20 inch rim (in a Bluetec) if it is followed by perfect wheel alignment.
Watch out for the following:
1. Rubber Stop
2. Negative Camber
3. Excessive Toeout
4. Too much Tire Pressure
Sooner ot later I will definitely experiment with at least 18" wheels
I stuck with my 16" (reluctantly) for two reasons. One, that the dealer does not recommend a larger size and two that custom wheels 21lb-23lb in 18" with tires would cost around $8K or thereabouts. I would have ordered but decided to wait till I heard other reports. Yours is the first I've heard where a larger wheel size on a Bluetec has technically failed.
Having said that, inside tire wear, as correctly diagnosed by you is due to (now induced) negative camber and too much toe out. With the Bluetec in particular, use of larger wheel size requires addition of a rubber stop, to prevent excessive suspension travel, yet another cause of uneven tire wear.
Hypothetically it is possible to use an 18, 19 and even a 20 inch rim (in a Bluetec) if it is followed by perfect wheel alignment.
Watch out for the following:
1. Rubber Stop
2. Negative Camber
3. Excessive Toeout
4. Too much Tire Pressure
Sooner ot later I will definitely experiment with at least 18" wheels
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,690
Likes: 3
From: Irvine, CA
2008 E550, 2012 GL450, 2014 GLK350, 2015 S550, 2020 GLC350e
So let me get this straight ... you took your 16's off, put 18's on, and kept the original tires that came with your car?
I have a 2007 E320 Bluetec (57k miles) and chose to replace those horrible 16 inch wheels with something safer (handling and braking wise) and better looking. I chose some aftermarket wheels badged as MBs in the same size as the E550. The rears being 275/35/18. Now after 19,000 miles the rears are toast. The passenger side is worst and has the inner half of the tread worn down to a slick. The driver's side has similar wear but not as bad.
The lovely, helpful (sarcasm), MB of Palm Beach mechanic today said it was beacuse the car was not designed for those wheels/tires. That the suspension on the e550 is desined differently. I should put my 16s back on.
I also had new rotors fitted all round (2 grand!!) a couple of months ago.
My questions are:
1) Is anyone else running wheels/tires like mine on a similar car? What is your experience?
2) Can you adjust the rear camber?
3) Could is be due to poor fitting of the new rotors?
Thanks,
Carl.
The lovely, helpful (sarcasm), MB of Palm Beach mechanic today said it was beacuse the car was not designed for those wheels/tires. That the suspension on the e550 is desined differently. I should put my 16s back on.
I also had new rotors fitted all round (2 grand!!) a couple of months ago.
My questions are:
1) Is anyone else running wheels/tires like mine on a similar car? What is your experience?
2) Can you adjust the rear camber?
3) Could is be due to poor fitting of the new rotors?
Thanks,
Carl.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver British Columbia
09 E320 Bluetec
DerekACS had 17" OEM with his CPO purchase; I believe he has not had any problems though he recently changed his tires.
I stuck with my 16" (reluctantly) for two reasons. One, that the dealer does not recommend a larger size and two that custom wheels 21lb-23lb in 18" with tires would cost around $8K or thereabouts. I would have ordered but decided to wait till I heard other reports. Yours is the first I've heard where a larger wheel size on a Bluetec has technically failed.
Having said that, inside tire wear, as correctly diagnosed by you is due to (now induced) negative camber and too much toe out. With the Bluetec in particular, use of larger wheel size requires addition of a rubber stop, to prevent excessive suspension travel, yet another cause of uneven tire wear.
Hypothetically it is possible to use an 18, 19 and even a 20 inch rim (in a Bluetec) if it is followed by perfect wheel alignment.
Watch out for the following:
1. Rubber Stop
2. Negative Camber
3. Excessive Toeout
4. Too much Tire Pressure
Sooner ot later I will definitely experiment with at least 18" wheels
I stuck with my 16" (reluctantly) for two reasons. One, that the dealer does not recommend a larger size and two that custom wheels 21lb-23lb in 18" with tires would cost around $8K or thereabouts. I would have ordered but decided to wait till I heard other reports. Yours is the first I've heard where a larger wheel size on a Bluetec has technically failed.
Having said that, inside tire wear, as correctly diagnosed by you is due to (now induced) negative camber and too much toe out. With the Bluetec in particular, use of larger wheel size requires addition of a rubber stop, to prevent excessive suspension travel, yet another cause of uneven tire wear.
Hypothetically it is possible to use an 18, 19 and even a 20 inch rim (in a Bluetec) if it is followed by perfect wheel alignment.
Watch out for the following:
1. Rubber Stop
2. Negative Camber
3. Excessive Toeout
4. Too much Tire Pressure
Sooner ot later I will definitely experiment with at least 18" wheels
are you saying use high tire presure?
also i ordered a set of H&R springs already for the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 18
From: Blaine, WA
07 E320 Bluetec
Rather than repeat what has been said before, the link below explains it all.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...heel-size.html
