Question about...Hubcaps
 

I have decided that I like the clean look of the hubcaps, with the color matching centers, instead of the brake-dust encrusted "Bundt Cake" wheels, so I went to the local Euro Car boneyard & picked up 4 rims & hubcaps, got the color match paint from MBz (why so expensive the paint, Mercedes?) and painted the hubcap centers.

Everything turned out nice, and when I went to put the hubcaps onto the old 123, I found out what I had stupidly failed to observe - one of the 4 hubcaps that I had spent such care on to paint perfectly was missing the little "tangs" around the inside that clasp into the inside of the rim to hold the hubcap on.
Damn!
What are those things called, anyway? Can they be purchased and somehow attached to the hubcap? Or do I have to go back to the wrecker for another hubcap, and redo it all over again?
Double Damn! I am out of that expensive MBz paint, too.

Arrgh!

I can't answer your question, but I do agree with you on the look of the hubcaps.

I think you can use clips from other hubcaps. For cheap paint in the right Mercedes colors go to PaintScratch. I had some good experience with them.

just go to your local junkyard and take away from the other hubcaps...they can be replaced.

I just did the swap ro hubcaps on my 240, wow it looks real nostalgic now..

...Or get new ones from the dealer or phil. The are replaceable

I like the hubcap look myself. I have a set of cream colored ones on my winter wheels, they sort of match my champagne gold paint. And yes, the clips can be pulled from another cap and installed. Just need a good set of channel lock pliers.

Can you guys tell us how to do it right; how did you mask it? Tried it ones with blue tape, took me hours to mask it "right" and still the results where unsatisfying.

There are dust covers to put inside the Bundts to keep the dust off of them.

I like the hubcaps too. I grabbed a set for next to nothing but have no plans to use them.

tell us how to do it right; how did you mask it?
 

I like the covers too, on an original car to keep it looking that way (I confess, I am using a set of 15 in. flat face wheels off a 420SEL on my '79 300TD for the better handling they provide!)

The best solution to masking the wheel covers would be to find (beg, borrow or steal!) the OE paint jigs that are made of metal for this purpose. They are placed over the wheel covers carefully, fitted over the star and held down by gravity, then you shoot the cover with spray paint. Works very well and no tape required!
I spoke with someone in Phoenix that would rent me a set (along with a large deposit, in case I forgot to return them) but alas I do not have their contact info any longer.
I saw one set (new!) on eBay about 8 years ago. I bid it way up but someone else wanted them more then I did. Probably a body shop that specializes in MB's.

If anyone finds a shop or someone that has this setup please let me know! I was considering having a set of wheel covers painted when I (someday?) paint my 220. Ibought a set of new covers about 10 years ago
The autobody shops I know and use said they would have to mask wheel covers using tape. My what a job it would be, labor costing what it does bothers me but the fact is I believe that the Mercedes masking devices would allow a better end result, I just can't see taping being even close to perfect unless the person doing the job is really experienced and has lots of time on his hands!

Ducati

How did you do yours? I did a set of blue ones a couple of years ago and it took hours using tape and a razor knife and the results were "marginal" to say the most. (actually they dont look bad from 20 feet away). Someone told me what they paid "extra" in a body shop, cant remember the exact figure but I remember being "shocked :eek: Someone should make and sell those "jigs", might make some $ :)

There are two different part numbers, depending on what kind of wheels you have. (Hmmm, maybe this explains why mine fall off so easily after moving them from aluminum wheels to steel. :P )

123 401 01 28 for steel wheels
123 400 00 27 for aluminum wheels

Dealer list price in 2002 was $1.40 each.

There was a set offered up on ebay here recently (October/November?), and I think someone (a forum member) has one sitting in his garage as a "collectors item"...
Wonder if they would load it out...would make very decent bank on the deal

Hmm...

Brandon314159, you say that a member here has a set of the painting jigs ???
Yippee :) we might all make him more wealthy now, who is it? Come forth ye that owneth the MB wheel cover paint thing!

Look through the Vintage section for info on the painting jig. It was discussed there, and the person who owned one said it never worked well.