Interesting wheels

[Tomguy]

Looking at cars on eBay auctions, I saw this picture of a 4.5 with these wheels. I was wondering what they were from? A 126? They appear to be chrome. Are they possibly aftermarket? At any rate, I think they look pretty nice on the 108 and they're 15" to boot!

[jas2wa]

Yeah, those are chromed 126 or 107 wheels (from 86 on).

I think they look a little too modern for the 108 though- look out of place to me.

Bet they ride well though-

That particular style comes in two almost identical-looking versions -- one with a 21.5 mm offset (6 1/2" wide, part number 1264004102, I believe) for W126 cars, which would be fine on older models, too, and another one used on W124 cars or some such with a much bigger positive (inward) offset which would be likely to give clearance problems and throw the steering centerpoint way out of line with the tire center on the suspensions of older models.

The bundt-cakes look better on a 108.

[fahrgewehr2]

I'm with PaulC. It seems you can jump only one generation in wheels. For example- 126 cars can wear 140 wheels, 108/9s can wear bundt cake wheels. 116s can wear bundts or hub caps. Personally, I like to stay with the stock, 'period' wheels. Chrome wheels are also to southern cal. for me.

[Tomguy]

I don't know then, I guess it's taste, but I think those look really nice!

[psfred]

They only look out of charater because we expect to see a W126 over them.

Peter

[erdavis]

They look great. I'm considering a set for my 280SE 4.5 as well. Adsitco has them.


E.R.Davis
73 280SE 4.5

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I prefer those to the bundt-cakes, but on the '60s style bodies, I really prefer the painted hubcaps over either style.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[nachi11744]

Hello,
If it is just to reduce the unsprung weight AND keep the period look, eg. hubcaps, the USA market W123 diesels are a good source as the *normal* wheels are light alloy replicas of the steel wheels. This is described in the service manuals.