Thanks for the insight Jim; BTW, are you able to tell what the tire size is on those wheels? I'm interested in finding out as I have a similar set of RS wheels which I'm planning on mounting onto my '86 300sdl.

My wife keeps telling me to get a SEC; she loves them (and I'm not complaining). This might be a long term acquisition plan.

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"Time's never wasted when you're wasted all the time"

I keep thinking of that old Bobby Brown song where he says "I've got a 5-6-0-S-E-C"(or something like that)...

What you don't see....

The passenger side seat belt presenter seems to work ok.

The driver's presenter housing @1:56 looks broken?
& later on the outside driver's presenter outside panel looks like it met up with a screwdiver, unless they have a pull tab or something, which I doubt.
That's a nice reach around to grab the belt if the presenter doesn't work.

Jim, the needle on the speedo @ around 1:46 looks white. Totally faded? Optical Illusion? Am I blind?

Well, I am not really a fan of staggered wheels for several reasons, and prefer a single size all around for rotation, ease of spare tire application and longer treadwear on the tires.

The cars came with 14" wheels stock, the euro-only steel wheels and plastic hubcaps, and otherwise standard were 14" Bundt wheels ('80 - '85 models) and the 16 hole paint3ed alloys ('86-'91 model years).

Larger rims are OK but ONLY up to a point; I am running 16" wheels and tires that I recall are 245 x 60 x 16 I believe.

They fill up the wheel wells nicely but do NOT rub the wheel fender lips UNLESS you go ove a speed bump pretty quickly and then, only touch for a second - though I think that is due more to the fact my car is lowered with eibach springs on it.

In any case, I would not go higher than 17" and 18" and then, only if you feel you MUST do so. And nothing wider than 50's or 60s.

And the correct offset is important. I believe that it is 11.something for these but am unsure of the exact measurement.

And I am one of the people that dislikes spacers; I wouldn't buy tires/wheels that need them.

Keep in mind that the German engineers that worked on this car selected the wheel size on it for a reason, and that the cars are considered also, more as long distance high speed cruisers, in the sense of TRUE Grand touring coupes, and NOT really meant for track or Sports Car type speed and handling and not drag cars either. Though mine personally is beefed up for more speed and handling verve with mods like lowering, a faster differential, headers, the euro ECE high compression motor, first gear start module, Remus muffler and so on that makes it much more frisky than a stock vehicle..

Tires that sre too big or too small in my thinking would run the risk of compromising the factory steering geometry of the w126.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Thanks Jim - yes, I agree and am hesitant to go too large on wheels. I just love the look of the period correct aftermarket wheels on these older MBs. That's the reason I got the 16" lorinser RS wheels and I'm going to be spending quite a bit of money refurbishing them. I am leaning towards 215/60 r16 but was afraid they might rub; however, based on your feedback, I think I might be ok with that size.

__________________
"Time's never wasted when you're wasted all the time"

When the '84 SEC I bought last week was shipped from Argentina to Washington DC in the early 90's the only things the DOT screwed up was to change the Euro headlights for sealed beams and put MPH speedo in it.
Still has the fire extinguisher and the trunk mounted triangle.

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OLD & RETIRED
_.... Don't mess with old farts - - age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! Bulls**t and brilliance only come with age and experience!____________
'96 E320
'79 450 SEL
'78 300 CD

Like this?

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)