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Over the years I've had to repair 3 out of 4 of my current wheels and that's resulted in some high speed vibration and increased cupping on the tires.
I don't want to go the Brabus or MB route again (just hyper expensive) so I was wondering if you guys had any advice on other brands (or websites) that I should look into.
I'd be looking for (19 inch) split spoke deep dish or multi spoke similar to the w221 s600's.
Thanks ahead of time for any advise or recommendations.
Vossen's are beautiful wheels. If the budget is smaller however consider a replica wheel. I've had a couple of sets and have been impressed with the quality, especially at the price. The last time I had tires mounted, they all took very little weight, and one took no weights at all. For $650 a set, if you curb 'em it's not heartbreaking. These are a direct fit with the correct offsets:
It doesn't show in the pics, but there's an AMG logo on the lip. Here's the wheel in an 18 on my prior S430. Remember to stick close to the factory offsets. Wheels for the 2008+ C Class, 2000-2006 W220 and CL will also fit.
I may give the wheels Mike5215 recommends, they are local to me, and I am a bit disgusted that I have spent $240 in the last month straightening my bent OEM wheels. Is it just me or do they bend really easily? I haven't hit anything.
I may give the wheels Mike5215 recommends, they are local to me, and I am a bit disgusted that I have spent $240 in the last month straightening my bent OEM wheels. Is it just me or do they bend really easily? I haven't hit anything.
I've had OEM wheels on all three S Class at one point or another and I've never bent one, despite some "oh crap!" pothole and curb encounters. Is a MB shop doing the mount and balance for you or are you at an indie?
Vossen's are beautiful wheels. If the budget is smaller however consider a replica wheel. I've had a couple of sets and have been impressed with the quality, especially at the price. The last time I had tires mounted, they all took very little weight, and one took no weights at all. For $650 a set, if you curb 'em it's not heartbreaking. These are a direct fit with the correct offsets:
It doesn't show in the pics, but there's an AMG logo on the lip. Here's the wheel in an 18 on my prior S430. Remember to stick close to the factory offsets. Wheels for the 2008+ C Class, 2000-2006 W220 and CL will also fit.
@mike5215 I really like the replica wheels as well. Not trying to hijack the thread here but, They have 2 offsets, 35et and 45et. Which should I go with for a 2001 S600? As you say, I want to stick close to factory as possible. I was gonna go with the 45et but the ebay seller thinks my car has big brakes that the 45 won't clear. He recommended the 35et. Offset and wheel fitment is rediculously confusing. Also, do you have any more pics of your prior s430 with the 18's, what offset is that?
Last edited by Sherlock88; Dec 1, 2014 at 04:33 PM.
@mike5215 I really like the replica wheels as well. Not trying to hijack the thread here but, They have 2 offsets, 35et and 45et. Which should I go with for a 2001 S600? As you say, I want to stick close to factory as possible. I was gonna go with the 45et but the ebay seller thinks my car has big brakes that the 45 won't clear. He recommended the 35et. Offset and wheel fitment is rediculously confusing. Also, do you have any more pics of your prior s430 with the 18's, what offset is that?
I know for sure the AMG cars (S63, S65) have big brakes. I believe the S600 does not. However, the 35mm ET will look better anyway, and that is a safe fitment big brakes or not.
Just remember this as far as understanding offset: Staying at the factory offset will position the new wheel in the wheel opening exactly where the old wheels sat.
Reducing the offset brings the wheels out further toward the fender lip. So a 35mm offset wheel on a car that takes a 45mm offset factory wheel sits 10mm closer to the fender lip (and 10mm away from the brakes).
Cars tend to have a more aggressive looking stance when the wheels aren't too tucked away toward the center of the car, so while the 221 takes a fairly high 43mm offset, switching to 35mm will bring the wheels out a little more. I'm running ridiculously low offsets...23mm rear (20mm further out than stock) and 28mm front (15mm further out) and the wheels sit flush with the fender lip. I couldn't go any lower on offset though without clearance issues. (I'm on stock ride height. If I were lowered I'd likely have clearance issues with those offsets.)
Here are more of my 18" on the 220. The 20's will look a good deal better (shorter tire sidewalls). These were 45mm offset wheels, but when the pics were taken I believe I had spacers on the car to lower the offset and the car was lowered as well.
I feel much better about the 35et. What was your tire size setup? Thanks Mike.
Since you're also in FL and can run ultra-high performance summer tires year round, the absolute best riding and longest wearing tires for the S are the Michelin Pilot Supersports. I've tried all the less expensive alternatives...Sumitomos, Dunlops, Continentals...none of them ride as smooth as the Supersports, and they all will wear down on the rears twice as fast as the fronts. I even noticed a huge difference between the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 A/S and the Supersports.
I almost went for those double spokes but I decided on the 20" triple spoke. I must say, I love the aggressive look of the car, especially when looking at it from the side/front. It's like a whole new car. The S class is just wonderful. I wish I discovered it sooner.
Reps are great from a cost standpoint.
Just understand that they are much more prone to bending and cracking than oem.
If you want to get a tire and wheel set up that will be problem free on the heavy S class you have to options imho:
HRE firged monoblocks on 255/285 michelins (either all season or PSS) in XL ratings
OR
TWO sets of the reps. Still much cheaper and I love the way the s65 reps look. Just be prepared to replace them if required. And buy an extra tire and keep it mounted on one of the extra reps in your trunk. You will need it.
I am not trying to be dramatic, just sharing some definitive real world experience. In the last six years I have gone through forged 3pc, oem and reps. Currently back on oem, but just lost one over the weekend....after all mine are almost 9 years old. **** wear out..lol.
I myself am now trying to figure out what to do next.
Yikes! What do you do to your cars? I've never had a problem with a rep wheel (or an oem wheel or a refurbed wheel) for that matter bending, cracking or wearing out. (How do they wear out?). I've curbed a bunch and caused cosmetic damage but nothing structural ever.
Probably don't need second set right now. It seems like the same basic designs from the same vendors are always available on EBay for around $700 a set if you need exact replacements, but at that point I'd probably take the opportunity to change styles anyway. I've replaced sets when they get too scuffed up, that's about it.
(I should add I'm in Florida and we don't have the kinds of potholes and road deterioration other states may see)
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