Hello all,

Just obtained a set of wheels (225/55/R16) from a '92 500SL for my '86 560SEL. The wheels fit nicely on the hub; but as I was putting on lug bolts and hand tightened them, they appears to not to be flushed into the wheel holes like they do on the original rims. The threads usage seems to be the same, just that the heads stick out more than they should. What am I missing here or there are different types of lug bolts ?
Please help!

Thanks in advance,
Frank.

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'86 560SEL | Silver Ext. / Blue Int. | 201K miles (Apr. 05) | 204K miles (Feb. 06)

Did they fit the rear? I tried 91 SL wheels on my 91 300SE and the rubber touched the frame in the rear.

I don't know about the lug bolts.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Sixto,

I hesitated when seeing the lug bolts sticking out more than they should; so I put back the original one without actually lowering the car first - thus don't really know if it touch. I've read many have used this tire size on w126 with or without front spacers (some rubbing at full wheel lock on the guide rod without the spacers).

I'll try to put them on again to see how the whole thing fit.

Frank.

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'86 560SEL | Silver Ext. / Blue Int. | 201K miles (Apr. 05) | 204K miles (Feb. 06)

Frank, obviously the amount of thread engagement is critical. MB wheels are hub centered so it makes sense that the hub fits fine. If you're using the 560SEL lug bolts to mount the 500SL wheels check the thread projection on a loose 560SEL wheel and compare it with a loose 500SL wheel. If the thread projection is the same then you should be OK mechanically, but you have a cosmetic problem. I bought E420 wheels for our 1998 E320 and had to purchase new lug bolts. Check with your local MB dealer Parts Department for the appropriate size lug bolts for the 500SL wheels.

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Fred Hoelzle

Fred,

Great idea! didn't think about the expose threads while the wheel's out but did count the turns needed to hand tighten and they seems to be the same. I'll check it again using your method to be sure; I'm sensing that I'm having cosmetic problem here anyway as the new rims are chrome. I'll also check with the local junkyards first as new bolts from the dealer would be $200+ (twice the cost of the wheels themselves with 30% tread tires)

Thanks,
Frank.

__________________
'86 560SEL | Silver Ext. / Blue Int. | 201K miles (Apr. 05) | 204K miles (Feb. 06)

Update,

Measured the exposed threads of the original lug bolts on the stock wheels and the w129 wheels, they are indeed the same; but their heads stick out approx. 3-5mm from the holes.

I went a head and installed the rear wheels - they fit perfectly with no rubbing. However, the front tie rod ends would scrape against the inner rims' balancing weights though; guess I have to add spacers to the front to fit the new rims. Anybody knows where to get these spacers and how thick they should be ?

Frank
(riding on mixed rims/tires at the moment)

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'86 560SEL | Silver Ext. / Blue Int. | 201K miles (Apr. 05) | 204K miles (Feb. 06)