i recently bought a set of four, 5 1/2" aluminum wheels (part number 123 400 1302) and a set of color keyed hubcaps for my '85 300 CDT. Are these wheels too narrow for a coupe like mine? Will I notice a performance difference vs. 6" wheels? Will they look strange from behind or in front? Mercedes also made 6" aluminum wheels (part number 123 400 1502) but these are rarer and much more expensive, and anyway, I already bought the 5 1/2" set! The car currently has standard issue alloy bundts on it, which are probably 6" wide, but I'm not sure of that. I could sell the aluminum wheels but if they will look ok and drive well I'm willing to give them a go.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

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Will



72 280SEL
85 300CD 288k
00 E320 Wagon 4-matic 100k
11 E350 Wagon 4-matic 45k

73 VW Westfalia Camper
67 VW Westfalia Camper

66 Porsche 912

I though I might refresh this question because it's 2 1/2 years later and perhaps someone has an answer these days to the question:

will I notice a performance difference using 5 1/2" aluminum steelies vs. 6" on an 85 w123 coupe?

Thanks in advance!

__________________
Will



72 280SEL
85 300CD 288k
00 E320 Wagon 4-matic 100k
11 E350 Wagon 4-matic 45k

73 VW Westfalia Camper
67 VW Westfalia Camper

66 Porsche 912

depends on offset,and tire width

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

What is your answer after 2 1/2 years of use?

I never did it. The wheels are still sitting there!

__________________
Will



72 280SEL
85 300CD 288k
00 E320 Wagon 4-matic 100k
11 E350 Wagon 4-matic 45k

73 VW Westfalia Camper
67 VW Westfalia Camper

66 Porsche 912

I had the 14x6" aluminumies on my C107 for a while. Offset wasn't bad but then all these old cars really need more dish to look good. I don't think the performance suffered any due to possible track width changes and since I had to run tall 14" tires its hard to find a good compound anyway. Overall I thought it was cool they were 10lbs and coudn't rust but eventually sold them when I found a set of pentas and ditched hubcaps all together.

I would run the 5.5" wheels with spacers and the original hub caps if I had them and didn't have alloys that I like more. Its not like .5" of tire is going to matter when you're stuck with economy tires. If you want a performance 25" tire you're forced to go to 16" wheels now.

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You'll find no negative issues running the alloy 5.5's; in contrast the unsprung weight is far lower and performance will be better. No spacers needed; those are sold on w123's from the factory.