Full Size Spare Tire for the W211

[Jeremy5848]

My E320 CDI is now 20 years old and so is its donut spare tire, which I've never liked. The spare is in one sense, brand new, since it's never been used, but it's also old and I don't trust it (and maybe never did). Recently, I heard that a full-size spare could be used, held down by a bucket from a W140. I assume this will apply to all W211s, except station wagons and perhaps coupes, if Mercedes ever made one (anyone?).


This is the trunk floor of my 2005 E320CDI.


Under the trunk carpet is a liner that may be used to store stuff. To remove it, 4 fasteners must first come out. Trying to pick it up, full of stuff, without dumping it all over, is close to impossible.


Under the liner is the donut spare, held in place by a spin-on plastic holder.


Under the donut spare is a foam pad or liner. This must be removed or the full-size spare won't fit.


Here is the full-size spare in place. A smaller tire might fit with the pad but this one is 215/55R16, one of my Blizzak snow tires—saves having to buy a single wheel and tire.


The A202-898-01-07 bucket (with cut-out sides) that I bought at Pick-N-Pull ($6.40) is too tall. With it in place, the trunk floor carpet won’t lay flat.


Here's a comparison of the 202 bucket (right, with cut-outs) and a 140 bucket (solid sides) I got from an eBay seller. The 202 bucket is not only taller but uneven—it's taller on one side than on the other.


Here's my technique for measuring the depth of a bucket. The W140 bucket is 6.2 inches (157.5 mm) deep, from the top lip to the bottom inside. Any other bucket you find may also fit if it is no deeper than this.


This picture shows the exact measurement.


The full-size spare with the W140 bucket in place.


Complete, with all the tools and parts I carry.


And the trunk floor still lies flat!