What does the word "offset' mean when it comes to wheels. I am putting on the 2005 MB E320 16" wheels on my 2000 E320. The 2000 has a 34" offset where as the rims for 2005 has a 36" offset. I did post this in the wheels section and tirerack told me that this would be better answered by you guys in the tech forum. Here's the link to my post in the wheels section. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-wheels-tires/187871-tires-size-question-please.html#post1503099

THANKS!

On a ""non-ofset"" whel, the distance from the hub center to the rim edge would be equal on both sides of the wheel.
You can either have positive off-set (typically on rear wheel drive cars) where, as an example, the distance from the hub center to the exterior rim edge is greater than the distance for the hub center to the interior rim edge)
and vice-versa on front wheel drive cars

In simpler terms, the greater the offset number is ( i.e. et 36 vs. et 34 ), the more the wheel moves toward the inside of the body.
The number expresses the offset in millimeters.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

the problem is that i'm getting the feeling the 05 rims were designed to go with
14mm bolt/14mm radius ball seat, whereas your 00 uses 12mm/12mm radius
ball seat. are you sure you're wanting to go this route? it's not recommended
by MB but you may want to read up on conversion bolt. search for keyword
"otisinc" in this forum.

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W

Your illustration represents the traditional European terminology, which has become quite universal: the German word for "offset" really means "Inset," so "positive" moves the wheel inwards. Your text seems to represent the way terminology used by "Hot Rod" and similar journals when I was young (in the '50's), with "positive offset" being what the Germans would call "outset."

But maybe I'm misunderstanding something in your post.

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Numen tibi adsit!