Hello..
does anyone know where i can get the best price for the same rims off the 1999 E430 sport (a mercedes 5 spoke)for a 1994 E500?

thanks!

Actually I know several sources. Depends on if you want new, aftermarket replicas, or used. An easier cross fittment would be to put on the E55 rolling stock or the W129 "Sport" package wheels and tires. Are you looking for only MB OEM, or just a good looking 5-spoke?

The obvious choices are Tirerack or Brabus. I may also have some contacts that get traded OEM sport wheels. Let us know what you are most interested in and we'd be glad to help.

Lee
92' 500E

hi lee...

i guess my ideal would be OEM replica of the 1999 E430 sport wheels. if stock E500 tires are 225/55/16....then 235/45/17 (which is the size on E430 sport) should fit too. actually, this is a few millmeters larger than 225/55/16. i did the measurement of 245/45/17, and the diameter is way larger than that of 225/55/16. 245/40/17 is much closer to the stock 225/55/16 tire size. what do you think? where can i get good OEM replicas? price?

thanks!!

Whan,
You may want to recheck your math. The 245/45/17's are only .2% shorter (smaller overall diameter) overall while the 235/45/17 (E430 Sport OEM) are 1.6% shorter overall. Either is an acceptable fit. BTW, in europe 245/45/17 was an OEM size for E500's... 245/40/17 is 4.1% shorter and would not only goof the speedo/odo, it would look silly (too small) inside the wheel-wells.

As for finding E430 sport replicas... If Tirerack does not have anything you like in Wheelrack setup then I can check with some of the PartsShop resources. Brabus will have their complete linup of wheels for you to choose from... I also know a guy who buys trades from a local dealership. (where someone got the sport package and didn't like it, hence swapped it for the regular stuff) His availability is spotty, but you may get lucky. Anything from him would be the real thing, but slightly used.

I take it you have already explored the Tirerack and Brabus options and don't see anything that works for you? Beyond those two I can do some personal digging? Wouldn't know what the price would be offhand. If I may ask, what are you budgeting this project at? (ballpark)

Hope this helps...Lee

[This message has been edited by Lee Scheeler (edited 08-03-1999).]

hi lee...
i thought this was right...in mm
please correct me if i am wrong...

in millimeters

stock
225/55/406.4 (16 x 25.4)
overall 530.15

E430 sport OEM
235/45/431.8 (17 x 25.4)
overall 537.55

E500 Limited europe
245/45/431.8 (17 x 25.4)
overall 542.05

225/55 means 55% of 225mm right?

thanks...hopefully next time i will get it right

take care
WHAN

Whan,
The tread width is multiplied by the aspect ratio, then that value is multiplied by two (the sidewall above and below the rim). The final size for the tire is then added to the rim diameter to give the total rolling radius for that size.

225/55/16 would be calculated as: 225*.55*2=247.5mm +16" which is 406.4mm. Hence the total rolling radius for 225/55/16 is 653.9mm.

235/45/17 would be calculated as:
235*.45*2=211.5mm +17" which is 431.8mm. Therefore the total rolling radius for 235/45/17 is 643.3mm

245/45/17 goes as follows:
(245*.45*2)+431.8=652.3mm (almost an exact match for OEM 653.9mm)

245/40/17 goes as follows:
(245*.4*2)+431.8=627.8mm

Tirerack or most other places want you to stay within about 3% of OEM. To put that in perspective with these sizes:

245/45/17: 653.9/652.3=1.002 Hence it is .2% shorter overall.

235/45/17: 653.9/643.3=1.016 Hence it is 1.6% shorter overall.

245/40/17: 653.9mm/627.8=1.041 Hence it is 4.1% shorter overall.

By the Tirerack rule of 3% max variance the 235/45/17's are okay and the 245/45/17's are nearly perfect. The 245/40/17's are too short.

Please feel free to check these numbers, figures, and findings with Tirerack or any other professional.

Hope this clarifies things...Lee

thanks lee...that clarifies it all. i forgot the mult. by 2 for the top and bottom treadwalls.

so, i guess if i go 17" i will go with 245/45 or change the pads to lower the car by .75" or 1.00" then i will get 235/45....

or just go nuts and get 18" and get 245/40..

what do you recommend? is 18" too large that bending will be a pain in the ass? i feel it will...

thanks so much for the detailed explanation.

Great answer, Lee! As regards some good quality knock-offs, try www.bekkers.com. (http://www.bekkers.com.) I've seen their AMG look-alikes and they're pretty good...for about a third of the price. And as regards 18" wheels, be careful...you could ruin the fine ride/handling balance that these cars possess and get little in return. And with little sidewall to protect you, you'd be well advised to buy an extra rim to replace the first one you ruin. Good luck!

Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

------------------

Whan,
I would stay away from the 18's as they will not help the handling. Unless you just want them for appearance the 17's are your best bet. The reason for that is that beyond plus 1 fittments the suspension cannot take full advantage of the stiffer sidewall. Usually best handling results are obtained with a plus 1 fittment. Wheels/Tires being part of the suspension they should be matched to each other. Were I getting aftermarket wheels for the 500E I would get 17" with 245/45/17 tires. In addition, bending will be a constant risk from even minor irregularities with the 18's. Speaking of pain, you will likely hurt ride without gaining anything in handling so I can't see a good reason (other than looks if that is what your after) to go with the 18's.

Regarding the bekkers knock-off blocks...I am familiar with those wheels and they are not really right for the 500E. Here is why: the 500E uses an OEM wheel size of 16x8". The bekkers wheels are too narrow for 500E plus fittments. You would want a 17x8.5" or 17x9.0" wheel. If memory serves they have 17x7.5 and/or 17x8.0. Even the 8 is a little narrow because as you go lower profile you want a wider rim. Remember, Bekkers core customers are 190 or "normal" W124 owners. For a 190 or non 500 W124, those sizes and widths are just about perfect.

I would check with Tirerack or Brabus for wheels. If I remember correctly Tirerack had AMG blocks for just under $400 retail. They both have quite an array for even 500E's. One other option you may want to consider are the german 17" wheels that were OEM on the E500's. They are a 17x8.5 or 17x9.0" six spoke alloy. I believe they are called "Evo II". Other than that, you could try and find a used W129 "sport" package but then you run into the problems with the 18's. Of course, you could also try and find the non-sport wheels from the newer W129's. Let me know what your thinking.

I hope this helps...Lee

i bought the evo II's for my e500 but have yet to put them on. it is my understanding that they are they oem wheel for the euro e500. they are 8.25 x 17. mb accessory brochures show them on the SL. e500 takes same part #.