Ok Mercedesshop Gang,

I am looking for a set of "affordable" 17x9 (front) and 17x10 (rear) wheels for my 92 500E.

In this size my options are very limited, here is what I have found so far at http://www.rh-wheels.com/wheels.htm;
1. 2. 3. 4.

Any comments on RH wheels, help me make up my mind.

Hi roas-

I'd choose:
> the strongest and lighest of these candidates
> purchase five (5) of them...one for the spare...over time custom wheel designs tend to become discontinued from production and nearly impossible to obtain a replacment in the event one gets totalled
>S-03's to pair up with the new wheels (imho they have the strongest/ stiffest sidewall in the Max Perf Category- - even though construction materials and layers are identical: Max Perf Michelins v.Bridgestone's v. Yokohama's)

good luck and let us know what turns out
-fad

Thanks for the reply -fad.

I should be making up my mind in the next couple of weeks or so. I was just over at benzsport and found a reference to a Zeit wheel Version R I think.

Anybody have any info on this wheel? I can find nothing on Google except foreign language references.

Looks super cool though.....

2 Setups, that I just love, and both are staggered in size and width.

A car right here in DE has the AMG 5-Star 170s from the SLK/CLK Sport Package in 17x8.5 up front, and the same wheel, in 18x9.5 in the rear, the AMG 5-star 129 from the SLs. The 2 wheels are exactly the same design.

Just my suggestion, I've always loved the staggered height setups.

Also goto http://www.thewheelexchange.com The Type R 18x8 up front 18x10 in the rear are a sweet looking setup as well..Just my opinion on things.

__________________
Chirag (Charlie) Patel
--------------------------------------------
- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.

Hey Roas, Not many 17X9 or 17X10 available. Have you seen the Mercedes Evolution II wheel which was OEM on some E500s. Check them out at www.bekkers.com .

Ross, sorry I didn't see your post earlier but I've been skiing in the mountains for the past week

You may recall I had the RH Alurad monoblocks you have pictured on my E500 in sizes 17x8 front and 17x9 rear. They fit the big rubber, 245/45 and 275/40, and did not present any rubbing problems. I tried and returned the 17x10 rear rims because they did stick out a lot, although there was absolutely no fender interference.

I've recently gone to 3-pc OZ Racing rims in 17x8.5 and 17x10 for performance use only.

Good luck with your choice!

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Thanks for the help guys, I shop for a long time so I'm in no hurry on my wheels.

Dean, might you have more photos of your 500E with the Monoblocks than on your site?

Many Thanks

Ross- if possible, try and find actual Mercedes OE wheels.

OE Mercedes Wheels are made to a higher standard than most other aftermarket wheels. They have to meet even more demanding strength and longevity criteria. Per two sources in the aftermarket industry, OE Mercedes wheels are also forged.

AMG wheels that are OE Mercedes (with the Mercedes STAR) are better than regular AMG wheels.

Best of luck,
:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

Neil: I suppose this could start a whole new debate BUT I dare say that, while stock M-B wheels are better finished than many aftermarket ones, the real proof of construction quality is whether they are TUV approved and what speeds they are rated for.

As far as M-B wheels being forged, I am only aware of the 3 pc. AMG rims for the R129 as having forged centers. The one piece wheels are all cast.

The Evolution II wheels spec'd by M-B for the 500E Ltd were made by Speedline of Italy. The OEM manufacturer for Porsche is RH Alurad. Ferrari, Aston Martin and Lambo use OZ Racing as their wheel source. So what is OE really, except perhaps the design and finish standards specified by the car maker for the wheel maker?

Ross: I will e-mail you some pics of the faux-monoblocks from my photo CD.

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Hi Neil, did AMG make wheels in 17x9 and 17x10?

Dean, are you saying that the 17x10's where the wrong offset or just didn't look right?

Ross: AMG offered the Styling I 3-pc. composite wheel in 8.5x17 ET 18 and 10x17 ET 17 for the SL. It did not fit the W124.

The RH Alurad monoblock rear rims were 10x17 ET 22, which was enough to clear the inner fender BUT at the time I didn't like the aggressive look.

Funny...it looks fine to me now.

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

If I remember correctly the AMG 3-piece monobloc is a light alloy FORGED wheel in 17x8.5 and 17x10. New these wheels were approx. $900 ($3,600 for 4!). These wheels are light for their size. I have them on my 1993 500E.

Many wheels can be TUV approved, but *not* able to withstand/pass "Original Equipment (OE)" design specs (strength, durability, composition, weight, resistance to corrosion, etc.), esp. Mercedes OE specs which (per two wheel aftermarket manufacturers, who are good friends) are very stringent.

Even though Ronal, BBS, RH Alurad, etc. are "Original Equipment Manufactures (OEM)" for Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, etc., it is the *design specs* and quality control (QC) that makes a true OE (not OEM) wheel extremely durable and strong. For example, Ronal makes both high-pressure cast wheels, and forged wheels, depending on the design spec and price point of the wheel. Both will pass TUV.

This is one of the aftermarket's secrets, and one reason why aftermarket wheels can be so inexpensive (forged being significantly more).

Repeat to yourself: "OE" does *NOT* equal "OEM". The hope is that OE design specs, manufacturing, and quality control (QC) is better overall.

Again, if you can find OE Mercedes wheels you like, you will most likely get a better product than the majority of aftermarket wheels even from Mercedes' OEM's.

Hope this de-mystifies the OE vs OEM wheel debate.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

Taken from:
"Service Manual: Chassis & Body, Series 124, Vol.1" section 40-100, Survey, Wheels, and Tires:
"Model 124.090 [300TE]" footnote 1: Forged light-alloy rims with steel bushings (1st version upto 12/89).

And from "Model Year 1992: Models 124.034/036 (400E/500E): Introduction into service," Section 40: "Forged light alloy wheel without steel sleeves."

Check it out:

Attached Thumbnails

 

Dean- I pulled one of my AMG 3-piece wheels. Gues who makes it (stamped into wheel): OZ RACING!

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

Hi Neil:

Thanks for the lesson on OE versus OEM...quite right! I didn't know the pre-1990 8-hole design was a true forged wheel...impressive.

On the use of the "monoblock" term, though, I don't think AMG ever used it to describe their multi-piece wheels as, by definition, the monoblocks were one-piece??

BTW, your car looks absolutely outstanding wearing those 3-pc shoes...

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

...Dean and Neil ...question- are the 8 hole stock 16x8 OEM wheels on the '93 500e and '94 E500 then- "not forged"? (aka- cast) or did MB continue putting forged wheels on the '93 and '94?


I recently placed Bridgestone S-03 PP 225/55/16 all around the E500...the tire guys had just done a set of Michelin Pilot Sports on a Jag XJR w/ 17" wheels...they offered comment to me that the wheels on on the E500 were significantly lighter vs. the Jag's 17's....

-fad