I have 4 standard Mercedes aluminum (aluminium for our UK members)wheels on my 81 300D. My full size spare is steel. When I bought the car last year, the aluminum wheels were held on with various lengths of Mercedes bolts. SOme were long and some were short. I replaced most of the short ones with long ones, except for 5.

When I had a flat, I replaced the offending wheel with my steel wheel, and bolted it tight using the three short bolts and two long bolts that came off that wheel.

The wheel locked up. It seems that the long bolts went through the hub and braced themselves against something behind. Anyway, the car would only roll 3 inches and then "pull down" because that wheel wouldn't turn.

So I took out the long bolts and "shopped around" the other tires to get enough short bolts to let the wheel turn freely. Well, in getting the flat tire replaced and put back on, the shop wouldn't replicate my novel idea of using some long bolts from another wheel, So I am still driving on my spare.

My questions are the following:

Is my solution to carry 5 short bolts in the case of a flat?
Buy another aluminum wheel?
Is there a "hybrid bolt" where I can use them for steel and Aluminum wheels?
Does anyone know the part number for long bolts? I tried FastLane and couldn't find them.

Thanks,
Josh

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81 300D 250K (sold)
79 240D 200k
83 Volvo Station Wagon (282k)