New 15-Hole Replicas on my 560 SEL - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gigtime · #1 02-07-2006, 10:24 PM

These were $99 each. I got them through Discount Tire but they ordered them from Tirerack. The reason I went that route is that DT didn't charge me to pull my Kuhmos from the OEM wheels and remount and balance them.

Hard to beat this deal. It was cheaper than having my old wheels powder coated. The wheels are approved by Germany's equivalent to the DOT and both my MB indies gave a thumbs up.

What I didn't know in advance was that new center caps are included as well as new lug bolts. The center cap looks fine, I didn't check to see if there were OEM. The lug bolts will fit but they're short bolts so they won't sit flush with the edge of the wheel. I already had a new set of bolts so I didn't use them.

I didn't get home in time to take pics with my digital camera but I did take a couple shots with my phone while I was there. Looking at the second shot, when is the last time you saw a 15-hole wheel that clean?

I'll try to post a better pic tomorrow.

Bill

Strife · #2 02-07-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigtime

...when is the last time you saw a 15-hole wheel that clean?

This may be the last time for both of us...I suffer with these good looking but high-maintenance wheels also...

Gigtime · #3 02-08-2006, 12:04 AM

Cool.

Are they easier to keep clean than the old rims? I'm waxing these tomorrow and I decided to go with Kleen Wheels all the way around. (I've heard the arguments pro and con on them so no driving off a cliff brake failure stories now.

)

Both my other cars have newer wheels. I clean them with the same car wash detergent I use on the cars, wax them and go over them a couple times a week with a California duster. The dust comes off fairly easily. I'm hoping that's the case here, too.

I was planning on going with the 8-hole replicas. Then I picked up a couple of brochures for `88 and `99 126's. When I saw the pics of the (then) new SEL's with brand-new 15-hole wheels, I changed my mind.

Bill

speedy · #4 02-09-2006, 10:46 PM

I would like to find some chrome wheels, either the 15 hole or 8 hole for my W124. A guy has a set here locally but he wants $700 which I feel is a bit too much. Anyone have any leads?

Thanks,

Strife · #5 02-10-2006, 01:20 AM

I've been thinking about this too, but I'd either get new ones or have them newly plated by shops in California so that I could start on a good maintenance regimen. If they are not maintained, they go bad quickly (and are even MORE expensive to replate after they've been plated). I don't drive my MB in rain or snow, but if I did drive in snow, it certainly wouldn't be with chrome plated wheels. I've seen the results and they are not good.

My 0.02, perfect chrome wheels at that price are certainly not unreasonable.

Gigtime · #6 02-10-2006, 10:45 AM

I considered chrome but both my MB indies and every person I spoke with in the wheel and tire business warned me against them. They said even if you take care of them, they tend to flake and leak around the valve core stems. And if you don't take good care of them...

In the end, I decided to stick to the original look. If you do want to go that route, Tirerack has chrome versions of the same wheel as well as the 8-hole version.

Btw, I added some new pics to the gallery if you want to see the wheels on the car.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=120

Bill