I was trying to fit my 240/300d with the aluminum 240 wheels and wheel covers. I had the wheels and a good supply of wheel covers but they all had the steel clips needed for steel wheels.

So I ordered new clips for them thinking all is good.

When the clips came in I took a wheel cover and removed all the steel wheel style clips and tried to install a new teflon tipped aluminum "steelie look" style clip. It would not go on. the shape was wrong and the length was too great.

So I decided the later model wheelcovers for the aluminum STeelie look wheels were completely different than the earlier wc for the all steel wheels.

So I advertised here for a couple of wheel covers but no luck.

So today I decided to have another look. I tried squeezing it with vice grips but it was just too long. Then I ground off part of the clip and tried to get it to work, but it would not fit, then on a whim I grabbed a different wc and voila, the new clips popped right in.

So apparently there are two styles of wheel covers that look essentially the same, the dished area is shallower on the (presumably) older style.

Then I painted the center parts with the correct ivory paint....ugh! It is tough to mask it all off. I finished it off with a brush and frankly it does not look too great.

But I do now have four wheelcovers on her and she will look fine from 20'.

The elusive masking kits are no longer available are they?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Post some pictures so we can tell the difference in the hubcaps.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

you mean the tri star catle branding iron? .. good luck finding one, very very rare. IF you take some serious time taping them off you could get a very nice outcome

I found some aerosol paint in a GM color that was an almost perfect match for MB Ivory. Let me know if you need the number.

When I had to paint a wheel cover, I masked the entire thing, then outlined the tape to be removed with an Exacto knife. Then removed the "waste." That worked well.

Tom, I went through trying different wheel cover painting methods and heres how I do it. Wide blue masking tape over, say, the center circle and star (after sanding and prep of course) Use a ball point pen to cress/press the tape where you want to cut it. Then follow those lines with a razor. The pen presses the tape in good and gives a clear line to follow. I can do a wheel cover in less than an hour and it comes out looking great.

I use both the regular clips or "roller clips" on my W/Cs for my aluminum wheels but never ran into the difference you mentioned, learn something about these car every day.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I could post the pics and you would not be able to see the difference. I could not tell the difference until I tried to install the new clips even in person.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.