Lbcgolf

Newbie here...

Proud owner of a 500E Black Opal with Ash interior. E1, E2 Sport Package, and CD Changer were all I wanted, along with the 17" AMG Style IV wheels. Got it last week.

Color choice is always critical but there were so few E500 Sport in each dealer lot, that the ones I came across all had anywhere from 1 to 4 ala carte options I didn't want (and didn't wanna pay for), a parktronic on this one, a sensotronic on the other one, and a keyless go on yet another one. You get the idea... So I got frustrated, and told a dealer... if these are the options I want, what color car can you get me on a dealer swap. My 1st choice was Platinum Blue, but now I'm happy that fate intervened, and I like the Black Opal better than I would've liked the other color. Plus as an added bonus it' s a special order color and prolly less likely to run across too many E500s in the same color. The car was a cancelled order from a customer, so I had the dealer knock off the special order cost (as well as some other stuff) off.

I really like the AMG style IV wheels but I had some concerns about ride harshness, fragility (pop a tire and bend the rim hitting a big pot hole), and I didn't want too bold a look since I will use it for business and work in a rather conservative industry. So I asked them to do a wheel swap for the 17s rather than the normal upgrade to the 18s. One question I have is... apparently they come in 17x7.5 and 17x8.5. The dealer told me that only the 7.5 will tuck completely under the fender and the 8.5 would stick out a little due to the offset... so they're getting me 17x7.5s all around. Is it true that the offset between the 2 wheels is a little different? ...and will remounting 245s on 7.5 inch rims still look ok?

TIA, it's good to be on board

Will post pics when new rims are on...

jpb5151

Hi.

Dunno about the tires, but you'll hopefully get a good answer soon.

Welcome to MBWorld.

Harris

Well, I really think the 17" wheels are too small for the W211. 18" definitely looks much better and the ride isnt that bad. But I guess I can understand your reasoning of why you didnt opt for 18".

Yes the offsets are different between the 17x7.5 (ET37) and 17x8.5 (ET34). However, I dont think 3mm will make such big difference that the rear wheels will "stick" out. My wild guess is they dont want to subsidize the cost of the wider tires (because you will need 275/40/17 tires in the rear), and the wheels too! Does your car come with 245/45/17 tires originally? If they fit on the stock 17x7.5 sport package wheels, they sure will fit on the AMG wheels.

Hey, make sure you ask them to get you the NEW Style IV wheels (the wheels that come standard on CLK55), not the old Style IV C32 wheels.

sf49ers79

First of all, congrats on your car and welcome to this board. For your E500, i think it's better look if you put 19 or 20. I got 19 and i was pretty dumb not to buy 20. The ride is not that bad though but it still not as comfy as the original. however, that is just my opinion. please post your car pics really love to see it.

Lbcgolf

Thanks very much for the heads up Harris! Will definitely check and make sure. Do they look different? At the dealership I just pointed to the nearest C Class AMG (I forget which model it was) with the 17" five spoke dual rail rims and said I want that one.

Yes my car comes with the 245/45/17 tires and the sport package rims, but I thought they were 17x8, no? I didn't think 0.5 inches were going to make that much difference anyways, but didn't want that sidewall "tucked in" doughnut look. If the stocks are 17x7.5 then great! It should be nothing but a straight swap.

Thanks again...

Harris

If your tires are 245/45/17, then you will have no problem putting them on the 17x7.5 wheel. HOWEVER, I think you should ask the dealer to get you four 17x8.5 wheels instead!! 245 tires are better fit with 8.5 wheel. Will it be too late now?

Can you tell the difference between the following two wheels? (style not color)

This is the C32 (older) Style IV:

Harris

This is the CLK55 (newer) Style IV, the one you should get:

AMGB

Can you please posts some pictures. I would love to see Black Opal.

amgB

Lbcgolf

Thanks again Harris! The newer one does look a heck of alot better. Checking to see what I can do both with the new style and the 8.5s. We'll see...

AMGB, I'll post pics as soon as I get the new rims on. Like other members with cool metallic colors, mine changes drastically going from bright sunlight to evening... very dark navy blue to almost black.

rickyfanmdr

Welcome, Lbcgolf!

My car came from MB of Long Beach. Yours too?

Lbcgolf

Hi rickyfamdr,

No, I got at Rusnak in Arcadia. I went to several dealers to see who was willing to deal. I work in Buena Park so naturally I went to the House of Imports first. The guy I was dealing with was a nitwit. The way their "take or leave it" deal came down left a bad taste in my mouth so I walked. @ Long Beach, they put a parchment/black model in front of me... started to deal, I made an offer and what came back was $8k more! I did the math on my head and they were tacking on something like $3k above MSRP on their 1st deal. I laughed and left.

A workmate knew somebody at Rusnak. We were dealing on a car that was originally at Penske in West Covina I believe. We came to a price pretty quickly, so I bought it there

The other 2 places called me back 2 days later with better deals on the same cars I was dealing for, which gave me an opportunity to rant away...

mbprince

welcome and congrats on a great ride!!

Rusnak500Bill

Lb,

thank you for your business with Rusnak Arcadia. i joined this auto gruop ~2 months ago, glad you like your car

spankdoggie

From another San Franciscan here, welcome to Mbworld!
Now what kind of mods are you considering? As you know, lbcgolf, I have a 2003 C230 coupe. I am getting the AMG sway bars and H&R cupkit installed after I get back from vacation... I am posting pictures too in the C-forum when I get back from vacation!

Welcome LBC!
E500 is fast and sweet!