Is a '95 E320 conv. spare wheel different from the regular wheels?
 

I had a flat the other day, actually the rubber on the inner sidewall was breaking up so bad that as soon as I put air in it, it would go flat in 10 minutes. I tried to put on the spare, actually I had to call AAA because the car didn't have a jack and I was 100 miles from home, and when you put the wheel against the rotor, the wheel bolts were too short and it couldn't be mounted. Looking closer at the wheel I see the face is a bit dome shaped while the wheels on the car are flat. Anyway, I had to call AAA again to tow the car to a shop and swapped the tire on the spare with the regular wheel on the car. The part number on the spare is 124 401 18 02

http://www.fototime.com/6C376D7B620D833/standard.jpg

and it's the machine finish while the wheels on the car are silver. Did the previous owner put in a wrong spare or do they need longer bolts?

Something is incorrect for sure, most likely the spare. Clearly the spare should match what is on the car.

The spare tire and wheel should be the same size as to what was originally fitted at the factory. Looks like someone damaged a wheel and then got the wrong replacement.

All 5 wheels were the same (from the factory)
 

Mine has the same 15" wheel in the spare compartment as the stock wheels- I'm currently running 17" AMG IIs - but that's another story....

All five wheels should be the same but it sounds like the spare is the only correct original. All 95s had polished and clearcoated wheels. So if the four on the car are silver they are not original. Sounds like someone has been messing with your wheels and lug bolts.

Check the part numbers on the inside of the wheels. Of course aftermarket wheels won't have a Mercedes part number or a Mercedes symbol.

Dean, was 95 the only year for the polished clear coat wheel on 124 chassis, or did MB phase it in on certain models earlier?

Thanks.

'95 was the only facelift year with it, that's for sure. The '94 (cabrio, wagon, sedan) all received the Astral Silver painted wheels(which is what prefer).

Correct part number for '95 cabrio is 124 401 1802

OK so the spare is the correct wheel for the car and someone replaced all the other wheels.