What's the chances that the rims off of my '81 300D don't fit my '82 240D?

I put new tires on the 81 rims, put them on the 82 and it was "locking up". Meaning, it would go back a few feet then act like the brakes were locked up- the brakes are NOT locked up.

I forced it past the spot it was sticking and drove it down the street- thwap, thwap, thwap, thwap.........

Please help- I just replaced the rims, dang it! Are they really different sizes?

THAnks.
Jay

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Wordmanjay
Tribetown, Ohio

There are two different length lug bolts. The longer ones are for the alloy rims, and the shorter for the steel rims. If you use the longer bolts for the steel rims they will hit things on the other side. Either rim will work on either car but you need to use the right lug bolt.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

You didn't say this, but you went from alloy bundt rims/bolts to steel rims and used the alloy bolts. You need to find shorter steel bolts. I think the longer alloy bolts will still work for the front hubs, but not the rear.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

The longer lugs will hit the parking brake assembly and tear it up quickly. Thwap (mo money) Thwap (mo money)!!

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81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

yup.
swap lugs with the wheels they came from, don't keep the lugs with the car.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Sure enough- longer bolts with the car where for the allow rims.
Switching to the steel rims (with the snazzy freshly painted hubcaps) requires shorter lug bolts.
Didn't take the tires off when I replaced the bolts.
Parking brake still functioning.
Hoping the trip around the block with the thwap, thwap, thwap didn't tear anything up- I supposed I should take the tires off the back and check........

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Wordmanjay
Tribetown, Ohio

YES!

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81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.