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)

1. I recently "standardised" all the 4 regular wheels with bolts of equal length. Costed me RM100 (approx USD30) for a set of 4.

2. The spare tyre uses a shorter length of bolts, and not the regular.

I found that out the hard way. Since then, I have the extra set of spare-tyre-bolts. Same for the W126.

However, my brother found it more convinient to have all the same wheels and dont worry about the shorter spare bolts.

I guess its the nut behind the wheel that matters?



ps. its costly to purchase just one wheel.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Mount the alumin(i)um wheels with 5 long bolts each and carry 5 short bolts for your spare.
It is not possible to mount a steel spare with the long alloy rim-bolts. The long bolts will ruin your parking brake system in the rear rotor when you use them with the steel spare.

No hybrid bolts available; and long/short bolts can be bought at any MB shop...

greetingz,

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1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)