MAE Wheels for MB
 

Hello Benz fans,

Im am planning to buy a set of 4 MAE Monoblock 17x8.5 ET 32 MM wheels for my 300E (W124).

The seller told me that they need some 235/45/17 tires and offer me a package with Nitto NT555 at an affordable price.

My concern is the width of these wheels, but they todl me that with the 32 MM offset I am not going to have any problems.

Please provide me with your sapient comments and feedback from this brand of wheels ?

Thanks to all of you for making this site so wonderful !

I would check that out pretty carefully - a good starting point would be the links/calculators for tire size comparison and wheel size comparison shown below:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html

The tires are going to be 1/4" larger in diameter and 1 3/4" wider than the stock. The stock offset is 49 - a 32 offset means the clearance from stut housing to the inside of the wheel will be 1/3" LESS, and the outside edge of the wheel will EXTEND an extra 1 2/3". At the least you would probably need the fenders rolled, and you would probably have wheel sticking out beyond the body a bit. I believe the archives contain several threads that indicate an 8" wheel is the max, and still a potential rubbing problem at that, especially if the car is lowered. Good luck on your wheel search.

Thank you JCE
 

Thanks for the advise ! The people at the shop where I am buying the MAE wheels (Wheel Power Inc.) are confident about what they are selling to me. They told me they could guarantee that the wheels are not going to rub anything, or I get my money back.

But your point on rolling the fenders is very interesting. How difficult is to do that on a car like mine ? Do I need a pro body shop to perform this job ?

I'm planning to take my 300E to Ron's Body Shop in the following weeks for a detail job on paint chips and a bumper hit. Shall I ask them about this job ?

Do you have an idea of a fare rate for doing this job ?

Thanks again for you help !

Fender rolling can be done with a rental tool, but there is an art to it. If you want it to look right, have a shop do it - you can crack the paint finish!. Check the archives. dozens of people who have rtried wide wheels, wound up needing longer brake lines, cutting inside the fenders, etc. 17x7.5"-8", ET 35 is the most extreme most have been able to run without problems. Also, you didn't mention if you had or were planning to lower the car - makes a difference.

When you try your wheels, make sure it is with 4-5 people in the car over some speed bumps, dips, driveways, and corners. Apply some tire gloss on the tires (inside sidewalls as well. Before the test, and look for rubbed off spots. Listen for sounds with no-one talking and the radio off. Pull off the wheels and check both the inside sidewall and the outer sidewall for rub marks, check the brake lines and suspension bits for shiney spots/rubbing.

Check the archives and read the posts of people who have done this. IMHO, this set up is right out there (and a little beyond) the edge of do-able, especially the extra 8 1/2" width and the 32 ET. Even a race prepped 500E http://www.need2speed.web.com/ with 17x8.5 has ET 35, and that car has radically flared fenders from the factory - different front fenders, I believe. 17x8 ET37 is a lot closer for a 300E, IMHO, and a stock 300E won't really use that extra 1/2" to advantage for anything but looks.

Dear John,

Thank you for your advise !

Yes, I heard before about the baseball bat, but unfortunately I am not going to take the risk myself. I'll ask a professional body shop about rolling the fenders. I'm sure they will do a much better job.

The guys for the wheel shop ( where I am buying the wheels ) are willing to play around with my car and the huge variety of wheels they offer. My interest on the MAE Monoblock is only because of the price. They offer me a very good deal for wheels and tires. MAE do not produce wheels smaller than 8.5" otherwise I will ask for 7.5" for sure.

I am not planning on lowering my car, and I am going to ask them to put the wheels on it, check how it looks, give some tests and if everything looks ok, go for them...

My second choice will be a set of Brabus Monoblock IV but the price difference is huge !!!

Probably I need to start thinking in good excuses to explain my wife about why Brabus are much more expensive.

As soon as I get the wheels I will post some pics for you to laugh, to enjoy or maybe to cry !

Have a great day !

:D

quick question?
 

Hi-power, I had the same problem you have. I try to get this MAE rims used, 18x8.5 with 245/40/18 on them. I've got my eyes on that rims for a long time, I loved it. But I am not sure, will those rims fits on w124 perfectly. Now, I've been thinking how to get my fender out at the front, I did it by put some thick spacer on the bolds so the fender will stick out more.
man, if you dont mind me asking how much you get that MAE rims for? did they have more?...let me know thanks

MAE Wheels
 

Jontro,

The MAE wheels I am planning to buy are 17 X 8.5

The 18" are to much for me. I still want to enjoy a smooth ride on my 300E.

If you are interested I'm getting a set of 4 wheels with Nitto 555NT 235/45/17 for $ 1,480.00 ( ALL INCLUDED )

I need to pick up the wheels at their Huntington Beach, CA location.

If you're interested let's see if for 2 sets we can get a better deal !



:p

Hi-Power and Jontro,

I have found a wheel that looks almost similar to MAE. You do not need the fenders rolled with this wheel because they have size 17x7.

Here is the link to the company.

Good luck.

Thanks for your posts !
 

I was able to get a good deal on the BRABUS Monoblock IV 17" X 8 wheels and no longer interested on the MAE.

Your comments make me think twice about getting 8.5" width wheels on a W124.

These ones look wonderful !

Need your help again to know how I am going to tell my wife about the expense. In the meantime I think the seats from my 300E are comfortable enough to sleep on them for some nights.

:p

hehehe...car.....expenses....wife....man I didn't know what to say...heheh, hi-power you decided go with brabus monoblock IV...that's a good wheels can wait to see...post some picture bro'. I might change my mind to...hehe I am sticking with my old ones which I bought it several months ago, but with this rims I might have more problem cause the size it's 19X8.5 Carlsson 2/6...I dont have the tires for it yet, I will buy the tires this week...wish me luck...hehe