Factory original spare for 240d - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 12-21-2016, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScooterABC

Date code is stamped into wheel, just like size and part number. You are right, it doesn't prove much of anything. I still do think those wheels are on 1983 240D automobiles but it would be interesting if someone found a documented case of it, and if so, the manufacture date of the subject car.

I've had at least a half dozen 83s and none came with bundts, starting when the 83s were only about ten years old. All had the light aluminum wheels with wheelcovers. I love them.

Trust me, the bundts were optional on 240s along with the right side mirror (most years).

ScooterABC · #17 12-21-2016, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I've had at least a half dozen 83s and none came with bundts, starting when the 83s were only about ten years old. All had the light aluminum wheels with wheelcovers. I love them.

Trust me, the bundts were optional on 240s along with the right side mirror (most years).

Again, I would like to know a production date for the car and a date stamp for the wheel. I very much doubt any US Mercedes had other than Bundt or Chrome Bundt wheels for W123 in 1984 or 1985 model years, and I'm pretty skeptical for 1983... only because I've taken wheels from much more than a half dozen W123s...

t walgamuth · #18 12-23-2016, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScooterABC

Here's a pic. This is of a 6" wheel but the stamping is in the same places on a 5 1/2" wheel...

Which number do you want?

BWhitmore · #19 12-24-2016, 12:27 AM

I purchased a new 1983 240D from the Mercedes dealer (Lloyd Pearson) in Pasadena, Ca and remember being offered bundt wheels as an option. Could not afford them so the car came equipped with body color hubcaps. Sold the car 1 year later (too slow getting on the freeway). By that time I was able to afford bundts that I bought new from the dealer that went with the car.

ScooterABC · #20 12-24-2016, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Which number do you want?

If you are addressing me, a pic of the wheel showing the date code would be interesting.

ScooterABC · #21 12-24-2016, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWhitmore

I purchased a new 1983 240D from the Mercedes dealer (Lloyd Pearson) in Pasadena, Ca and remember being offered bundt wheels as an option. Could not afford them so the car came equipped with body color hubcaps. Sold the car 1 year later (too slow getting on the freeway). By that time I was able to afford bundts that I bought new from the dealer that went with the car.

...and now the bundts are worth nothing and the aluminum steelies (if it had it) are worth a lot...

ScooterABC · #22 12-24-2016, 01:29 PM

Here's a couple of cute pics I snapped a few days ago. Probably a 1983 turbo diesel that someone wanted to have 15" wheels for. Not sure I approve of the approach they took (drilling 5 new holes).

t walgamuth · #23 12-24-2016, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWhitmore

I purchased a new 1983 240D from the Mercedes dealer (Lloyd Pearson) in Pasadena, Ca and remember being offered bundt wheels as an option. Could not afford them so the car came equipped with body color hubcaps. Sold the car 1 year later (too slow getting on the freeway). By that time I was able to afford bundts that I bought new from the dealer that went with the car.

This is proof enough to me of something I am 99.9999% sure of.

BWhitmore · #24 12-25-2016, 12:42 AM

I wish I would have bought a stockpile of aluminum steelies. I still can't figure out the attraction other than the rarity of the aluminum wheels. I personally think the bundt wheel is the most attractive wheel ever made, although Mercedes also made a very attractive body colored hub cap. The practically new 240D that I sold a year later was a very handsome car. In addition to putting bundts on the car I also changed the plain rubber mouldings below the taillights to the mouldings with the bright stainless trim. When I sold the car I asked the new owner if he wanted me to change back to the original parts. His response was "I love it as is".

t walgamuth · #25 12-25-2016, 09:24 AM

To me the main attraction is the 11# weight of the wheel. the painted wheelcover is nice too. People seem to associate it with high class.

The light wheel with the original size tires makes for a buttery smooth ride and pin sharp steering. I can feel the extra weight of the bundts. The 6" bundt weighs 14# and the 6.5 weighs 19#.

ScooterABC · #26 12-25-2016, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWhitmore

I wish I would have bought a stockpile of aluminum steelies. I still can't figure out the attraction other than the rarity of the aluminum wheels. I personally think the bundt wheel is the most attractive wheel ever made, although Mercedes also made a very attractive body colored hub cap. The practically new 240D that I sold a year later was a very handsome car. In addition to putting bundts on the car I also changed the plain rubber mouldings below to taillights to the mouldings with the bright stainless trim. When I sold the car I asked the new owner if he wanted me to change back to the original parts. His response was "I love it as is".

I have a stockpile of aluminum steelies, but it didn't come easy. I think I clocked 5000 miles one year just junkyarding, but now I'm pretty much burnt out on hunting. Plus the good cars are mostly gone from California.

The attraction of the wheels is that they weigh 11 pounds, significantly reducing your unsprung weight (from 23 pounds of a steel wheel). This makes a difference in handling (and some would say in speed and economy). From my observation the place you notice it most is when driving on a winding road that has potholes and irregularities. It's the best performance increase you can make to a vintage Mercedes. The other issue is appearance. Bundts clash with Mercedes, particularly on older cars.

As for a 240D, well it isn't going to make that much difference in performance. I've sold lots of these wheels over the years and they typically go to owners of Pagodas and occasionally a 190SL.

I've bought several cars over the years just to get the wheels and swap in a set of Bundts to flip the car and keep the wheels. Not going to do that again, I'm tired of the hunt.

BWhitmore · #27 12-25-2016, 12:28 PM

W123 cars are now extremely hard to find in Southernn California junkyards. Northern California (SF Bay Area) is better but not nearly what it used to be.

Happy Holidays to all.

ScooterABC · #28 12-25-2016, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWhitmore

W123 cars are now extremely hard to find in Southern California junkyards. Northern California (SF Bay Area) is better but not nearly what it used to be.

The good part of it (I suppose) is that S. California inventory is now on-line through LKQ and is gradually getting more accurate. Except for aluminum wheels, I don't even care about W123 parts though. Now I'm almost never finding a Fintail or a Ponton, whereas a few years back it was not that uncommon. Pretty much the same with W108 cars - few and far between now.

Lots of N. California is on-line also (pick and pull?). I stopped routinely going to the yards based on the inventory being so "modern" and undesirable to me. I check the inventory weekly looking for a fintail. I need right front door hinges, which are likely to not be removed from a car that is even a pretty rotten car...

t walgamuth · #29 12-26-2016, 05:44 AM

I imagine you can get hinges rebuilt.

ScooterABC · #30 12-26-2016, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I imagine you can get hinges rebuilt.

I'm trying to do this without re-aligning the door. One at a time swap-in-swap-out.