2002 E320 Special Ed Spare Tire - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davidmash · #1 06-22-2002, 06:08 PM

My dad just bought a Special Ed and noticed that the spare was a 16" not a 17" like the other 4. Is this normal? Every other MB I have seen has matching wheels all around. Hell, even my 87 16v has matching wheels.

Thanks

ronald_m · #2 06-22-2002, 07:54 PM

Are you talking about the 6 spoke wheels?As far as i know they are 16'

Ashman · #3 06-22-2002, 08:30 PM

Newer MB's as far as I know have a black spare wheel. not matched to the rest like in previous models.

Alon

#4 06-22-2002, 09:54 PM

I have a '02 E430SE and the spare is a full size spare 17" but steel rim.
Check the owner's manual though. The 320 may be different.

A. Rosich · #5 06-23-2002, 03:07 PM

Your dad's car should have a 17" if the other four tires are also 17"s.

I would immediantly complain to the dealer and have the proper spare installed.

Although, the spare tire may not use an alluminun alloy wheel. Sometimes M-B, depending on economics, installs the alluminun alloy (same as the car's 4 wheels), a regular black steel spare wheel or (depending on model) an air pump and fix-it-on-the-spot kit.

In Germany, all of these is clearly specified on the production card, and you have the opportunity to change this when ordering the car (for example: changing the balck steel wheel for the alluminun alloy one -of course, at extra charge-).

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

jbaj007 · #6 06-23-2002, 06:28 PM

Is the E320 Special Edition a higher option model of the E320? Sounds like it is. If so, I'll bet that it is supposed to come with a matching alloy spare and someone figured no one would notice and "discounted" it. Find out from the dealer what was supposed to be there and scream mightily! Somebody"s head should roll if yours was stolen. (or it could be a cost cutting measure....yeah sure).

#7 06-24-2002, 07:29 AM

This package is not even in the official E model literature and promo kit. It's supposed to celebrate the last model-year and represents the pinnacle of its design line. List is about 3G-4Gs above std. pkg. The package includes as std.- special 5-spoke alloy wheels (different from the sport) with high perf. Z tires, HID Xenon low beams w/ auto headlight washers, infra-red sensor windshield wiper system, special 2-tone leather trim in a thicker, grainier texture, and black birdseye maple interior wood trim. The most desirable was the E320 4matic SE; as buyers preferring the V8 wanted the E430 Sport over the SE (it had the AMG body panel treatment).
Mine came with a few extra rattles and squeaks usually never found on MBs thrown in for good measure

...but it did come with 17" spare.

davidmash · #8 08-08-2002, 07:38 PM

My dad insists that it is a 16” rim as a spare and the rest are 17” spoke rims. I am going out this month to visit and verify but since my dad has been in the auto biz for 50 odd years I am pretty sure he knows how to read a tire. MB used to have the SE listed on their web site and you could even “build” one on line. A few months ago the list price was identical to a reg E320 but with different look. HID were not standard. I know the dark birds eye was standard. Not sure about the 2 tone leather.

We are trying to find somewhere if it is documented what size spare it should have and if it should be matching or steel.

daddiojiggy · #9 08-10-2002, 08:19 PM

are you able to get a copy of the window sticker?i don't know what the laws are for your area but i would think they mention something about proper spare-and if you've got 17's on the car a 16 in back doesn't sound proper--especially if it came from the factory like that.now, if you bought this at a m.b. dealership i'd go hog wild on them!
i just remembered something.with my car i got a card that showed all the options/accesories that were ordered for my car.if you've got this and you can't get the invoice,do a search on this site for option codes.the option card has the options listed as #'s and you'll be able to match them up