Normal Wheel Covers Don't Fit The Steel-Look Aluminum Wheels. Ugh!

[Squiggle Dog]

I picked up a set of the 14" X 5.5" steel-look aluminum wheels a few years ago and finally got around to installing them.

I've also been saving the Teflon-tipped wheel cover clips. I attempted to install the clips into my wheel covers. They would not fit no matter how hard I tried. The Teflon-tipped ones are longer, differently curved, and must fit inside a different hubcap.

So I said, "screw it" and attempted to install my wheel covers with the steel clips on the aluminum wheels. They were not even close to fitting. What the heck? The aluminum wheels are smaller at the area where the clips fit, confirming my theory that wheel covers for steel wheels do not fit the alloy wheels.

It's funny that I have not heard this anywhere before. So I guess I have to find a set of wheel covers from a 240D with aluminum wheels and paint them black. Ugh. Anyone have a set?

[charmalu]

I don`t know what you mean by normal wheel covers.

I have these Light Alloy Wheels on my 240D and use the 240D wheel covers with the steel clips.

The steel clips will dig in or gouge the aluminum. The idea of the Teflon
on the clips is to protect the aluminum.
I have not heard that they do not work.


Charlie

[gatorblue92]

I think I know what you are talking about. They do fit but it looks like they ride a little farther away from the wheel than the steel wheels did. I think thats normal.

[t walgamuth]

It is normal. I suspect to let out brake dust.

(beautiful wheels by the way!)

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

I picked up a set of the 14" X 5.5" steel-look aluminum wheels a few years ago and finally got around to installing them.

I've also been saving the teflon-tipped wheel cover clips. I attempted to install the clips into my wheel covers. They would not fit no matter how hard I tried. The teflon-tipped ones are longer, differently curved, and must fit inside a different hubcap.

So I said, "screw it" and attempted to install my wheel covers with the steel clips on the aluminum wheels. They were not even close to fitting. What the heck? The aluminum wheels are smaller at the area where the clips fit, confirming my theory that wheel covers for steel wheels do not fit the alloy wheels.

It's funny that I have not heard this anywhere before. So I guess I have to find a set of wheel covers from a 240D with aluminum wheels and paint them black. Ugh. Anyone have a set?

I have the exact same wheels on my 240D MT that you show. My standard hubcaps fit. I don't have them on because I visit my son and in his neighborhood they would disappear

[greazzer]

I had the same type of rim, and sold a few sets in 2015, and the hub caps fit, so that is odd ...

[Squiggle Dog]

The teflon-coated clips definitely will not fit on my wheel covers, nor other wheel covers I have tried as they are much longer and have a different curvature. The metal clips I can remove and install by hand. Even completely compressing and breaking the teflon clips with pliers, they will not fit the wheel covers.

I tried forcefully fitting a wheel cover with steel clips, and it would not go on the aluminum wheel. I can get two of the clips in the wheel, but the other two won't pop in. But I also can't get the teflon-tipped clips on any of the wheel covers I have. I tried looking for a set of wheel covers with the teflon-tipped clips, and they don't seem to be available anywhere.

[t walgamuth]

I seem to remember going through this myself but the details are foggy. I think some of the wheel covers are harder to get the clips in than others....perhaps.

The steel wheels are thinner in section than the aluminum wheels so the steel clips will be too tight on the alloy wheels.

[Squiggle Dog]

I took a magnet and checked my wheel covers. They are magnetic. I discovered that the two rear wheel covers on my 1967 station wagon were not magnetic. They were a loose fit and came off the wheels easily. Both of them had Teflon-tipped clips! I put them up against the wheel covers from my 300SD, and they have a different profile where the clips fit. The area where the clips fit is longer and more curved.

The steel clips will fit into the wheel covers with the Teflon tips (a bit loosely), but the Teflon-tipped ones will not fit into the other wheel covers. The wheel covers that fit the Teflon tips are not magnetic, while the ones that take that steel clips are. The rim of the star appears to be thicker on the non-magnetic wheel covers.

So, clearly the wheel covers for aluminum wheels are different than the ones for steel wheels. Very interesting. The wheel covers with the Teflon tips fit, by the way.

So I guess I need to find more non-magnetic wheel covers for aluminum wheels since I only have two wheel covers that fit.

[vstech]

1967 wheels may be different than the 1977+ w123 wheels...

I've never seen any magnetic hubcaps... all were stainless in my collection, and all clips are interchangable...

my bet is you are trying to fit 123 wheels with vintage hubcaps... I bet the angle is different.

[vstech]

would you like to sell your teflon clips? or maybe buy my stainless steel hubcaps?

[Stevo]

I have wheel covers on aluminum rims using the regular clips that are used for the steel rims. Been running them for several years, no problem. The wheel covers "stand out" from the rims just a little but its not noticeable. Both cars are Euro, 5 speed, W123s pictured below.

[t walgamuth]

some 123 covers are steel.

[Squiggle Dog]

I've been talking with ScooterABC about it, and I think that the problem is that all my wheel covers are from the 1960s. Apparently the old steel ones have a different, more shallow shape. I have some stainless steel hubcaps on the way that should work with my Teflon clips.

So I'll be keeping my clips to use on the stainless wheel covers I'm getting from ScooterABC.

And the problem hasn't been the wheel covers standing out; it's been that they won't go on at all no matter how hard I force them.

Sadly, this means I'll have to paint the stainless wheel covers black to match my car. But it shouldn't be too hard with a stencil.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

some 123 covers are steel.

Agreed, some are chromed steel, and some are stainless steel.