I have a new E320 in the AZ desert where summer temperatures can routinely reach 100-110 degrees. I'd like to reduce the brake dust that collects on the wheels, especially the front. The dealer believes that Kleen Wheels would cause too much heat build up and recommends against them. Kleen Wheels says that the new ones are vented and they have no problems with heat, and that some cars now have their product installed by the manufacturer.

Any idea who's right here. With my driving style and vehicle use I'm not overly concerned with brake fade from continous hard braking.

Avoid brake dust shields at all costs. Dust is mildly annoying but it is far better than dealing with the downside of dust shields. Even if they have "new" models that have vents in them did it occur to you that the vents will let the dust right back down onto the wheel again? I know of a "nice old lady" type driver that had dust shields on her wagon. Even with "tepid runs to the grocery story" that car went through pads in 10K miles. Not having to clean your wheels as often is not worth increased brake wear and possible damage. Not only do you get fade easily but you can also warp the rotors. I dont' know of any OE application except perhaps a geo metro or something similarly lowly. You bought a top notch car, why impair it? I guarantee Mercedes has spent more money and brainpower in research into brakes, dust, thermodynamics, etc than Kleen has in its entire history. Also, if you put the shields on and have premature brake wear or associated failure you might not be covered under warranty. Buy some P21S and forget the shields.

Lee

Thanks. I will find a source for the P21S, likely mail order, since I am in the world's biggest hick town. I think 80% of vehicale sales here are pickups.

For what it's worth one of the cars that Kleen Wheels told me they are OEM on is Lincoln. The others escape me but were in that price strata.

I am about to put the MB C112 wheels on the car (99 E320) just to set it apart. Any knowledge of these wheels?

The only C112 I know of is a 408HP, 190mph, V12 show car that MB cooked up a few years back.... I don't remember the exact design of the wheels off the supercar prototype but I am sure they were on par with the rest of the package.

Hmmm...these days there are plenty of Lincoln trucks! j/k

You can find P21S mail/internet order at: http://autosupermart.com

Hope this helps...Lee

Thnaks for the lead on the mail order for P21S.

The wheels (that I just ordered from MB) are described as " inspired by the fabled C112 sportscar", so I presume that's the same thing you were talking about. I chose these because they have a different look than the other choices for the E320 and I wanted to stay with wheels from MB rather than aftermarket.

In the late 80's and in the 90's Jaguar put Kleen Wheels on their Higher-End Vanden Plas edition. Not sure if they still offer them as standard equipment.

I have them on all my Mercedes, and have not had any trouble and I drive pretty hard, but maybe I am lucky.

I have Kleen wheels on my Diesel MB's with no problems. And I drive the heck out of them. On my Gas MB's I don't use them. Brakes do overheat with hard driving on those. C36 brakes very fade resistant, but slow down hard to a full stop from 160mph and you will realize why you might not want to use Kleen wheels.