Thinking about buying these wheels

[jjrodger]

I'm thinking about buying these wheels for my 99 SL. They are stock (my car has the optional 5 spokers). I would use them for summer or winter tyres or something. What do you think about them appearance-wise?

[suginami]

I like them.

You say these were offered as the "stock" wheel on your SL?

[SLZ]

I like the one showing in you SL better.

[txstinger]

Do tell us, a little about that fine machine in the background

[Pete Geither]

I vote no. Sorry.

[jjrodger]

Originally posted by txstinger
Do tell us, a little about that fine machine in the background

That is my friend's 1981 500SL. It is showing about 120k miles and is in perfect order. It had one owner before him (he bought it in about 2002) who was a middle aged gentleman in Zurich. He sold it when his wife died. The car had obviously been cherished. My friend looks after it well, too, although it could do with a new hood and probably new bushes and shocks. I've driven it and it is good. Here are a few pics:





The wheels I am interested in were stock on post 06/98 cars. I quite like them; I am thinking they would be good as a spare set for use with winter tyres (I can get them pretty cheap). I prefer the ones on my car, but they need refurbishing again (after less than a year). The machined and laquered "high sheen" finish just doesn't stand up to 25k miles a year of wear and tear.

[RickM]

OK...for winter tires I like them. I also prefer the style of your existing wheels.

Regarding refinishing, why don't you have them powder coated?

[jjrodger]

Originally posted by RickM
Regarding refinishing, why don't you have them powder coated?

I prefer to keep them stock. I've had them refinished already but the harsh UK winter has left little blemishes all over the machined and laquered sections. And I've really looked after them, never more than a week between washes (heck I even do the backs once a month) and I'm careful about using strong wheel cleaner on them. I'm hoping to buy another identical set of 5 spokers at the same time as I buy the other wheels. (12 wheels, how necessary is that?) This way I can have them refurbished once a year without the hassle of the car being off the road (it is not very dear).

[KenSilver]

Thumbs up!

I personally like the "blank plate" effect of these kinds of wheels, Monoblocks included, because they are so different to the Japanese boy racer wheels that are prevalent on everything nowadays.

Too, I'm guessing you like them because of the similarity to your existing rims... 5 spokes, similar opening sizes etc.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[KenSilver]

Originally posted by jjrodger
...I've really looked after them, never more than a week between washes...

I wipe my rims down after every drive - however short - with quick detailer and a terry towel. I think any delay in keeping wheels clean causes more damage than actual on-road use.

Brake dust is quite corrosive when combined with the gunk on road sufaces and then left a while. Our 5-day old SLK has embedded brake dust on the front wheels from the previous owner that I haven't been able to remove yet, despite using some quite aggressive Meguiar's cleaner/polishes.

But I'm a rarity... almost every Merc and BMW I see in our area has the familiar dirty front wheels effect even when the body looks clean. Nobody cares like an OCD owner!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[95benzman]

Present wheels look great. What do you use to clean the break dust? Thanks.
Happy driving.

Joe Moon
85-380SL-88k
94-E320 sedan-63k
95-E320Cabriolet-62k

[suginami]

Originally posted by KenSilver
Our 5-day old SLK has embedded brake dust on the front wheels from the previous owner that I haven't been able to remove yet, despite using some quite aggressive Meguiar's cleaner/polishes.

Virtually all rims are clear-coated, so you can use the same polishes / cleaners / compounds that you would use on the paint on your car.

What I recommend is to use detailing clay to remove difficult embedded brake dust. Use the detailing spray and rub the clay back and forth.

[KenSilver]

Originally posted by suginami
What I recommend is to use detailing clay to remove difficult embedded brake dust...

Paul,
Already tried that and other methods from my arsenal of cleaning products. This dust is well and truly etched!

I think a repaint is due... if I can wrest the car away from my wife's steely grip for a few days!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[KenSilver]

Originally posted by 95benzman
...What do you use to clean the break dust?...

When the rims are cold, I spray with Meguiar's Final Detail - their professional quick detail product - and wipe off with a terry towel to prevent scratching the clear coat.

Since the rims are polished (I use the same polishing technique as the bodywork), the brake dust comes off easily enough. Daily does it!

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

[jjrodger]

Mine is a daily driver; I'm at work for 12hours most days (and I drive about 500miles a week), so a daily clean, although very much required, just isn't an option. I have the wheels washed about once a week at a local car wash and I clean them myself at least once a week with a water and car shampoo solution (Meguiar's Gold Class). In summer I generally wash them off every other evening. I also dry the wheels with a chamois whenever I wash them.

The SLK wheels are quite vulnerable to pitting and staining from brake dust. However, think carefully before having them refurbished. You will find the lacquer starting to go after less than a year (especially around the bolt holes). Also, it is not much more expensive to buy new ones (they retail at GBP120 here in the UK, whereas a refurb costs at least GBP75 per wheel). Try as they might, in my experience the refurbishers simply cannot achieve as new quality.

As for my proposed new wheels, I like the flat face, the polished rim and the stock look; I also think they are quite discrete and not too showy.