[W126 Coupe] spacers

[Alexander Hochhausl]

Hi Markus,
 
I just went through a similar experience. I found a great set of 17” AMG
double spoke aluminum rims (off a new E320 I think ?). I attached a very
bad picture of it. I have 225x45 tires on it – the tire outside diameter
winds up being exactly the same as the original 225 R15s I had on the
original rims.
 
The new wheels fit directly with the stock SEC bolts, but the offset was
12-15mm too narrow with the new wheels. I found a set of 12mm spacers
which fit the wheel great (from www.lakeshorewheelandtire.com
<http://www.lakeshorewheelandtire.com/>  – Part Number: SP110-I, $130
for 4), but the SEC hubs have a step that is deeper than the clearance
in the spacers. There are two solutions: one is very time consuming, the
other seem a bit barbaric, but can be done in your garage with a bit of
patience. The step on the hub is needed to ensure the wheel is perfectly
centered on the hub, but it does not need to be as long as it is. You
can either remove all the hubs and have the step machined down by a
shop, or my method: I set up a disk grinder with a tool holder attached
to the car. I slowly ground back the excess step (the grinder staying in
place, turning the hub slowly – leaving about ¼” (6mm) of it left. That
is enough to give the wheel a good seat. It really comes out quite well
– the fit actually requires a few slight hits by the hand – a great fit.
You can’t machine out the spacer because there won’t be enough metal
left for a shoulder for the wheel to center on. If this does not make
sense, drop me a line and I can email you a sketch. As for bolts, it did
take some searching, but I found a place which had from 30 – 60mm
lengths in 5mm increments for most sizes M12x1.5. A place elegantly
named “Kickstart Motorsports” – in California – I can’t find the receipt
now of course, but I still have the box and can get the name of the town
if anyone is interested. 
 
So don’t despair. It took a while and some non-traditional solutions,
but the outcome is well worth it. I’ll have to take a decent picture,
but I’ve received a lot of compliments from people who are not even MB
or SEC enthusiasts.  My only issue now is that since I put the new
wheels on I have a pull to the left. I just need to find the time to get
an alignment, but I’m not sure why I would need an alignment, since with
my old wheels, the car drove perfectly straight, and I think I have the
same offset now as before. Anyone have any ideas on what could cause
this? The tires came with the wheels and are used, so I’m thinking the
tracking is worn into the tires, which is different from my geometry,
thus causing the pull? Am I barking up the wrong tree? 
 
I hope this helps.  BTW the center caps on these wheels are exactly the
same as the stock SEC rims. My luck as these wheels were missing two.
 
Thank You,
 
Alexander Hochhausl, PE
Tel: 516-909-3794
 
-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of Markus Meyer
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:58 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] spacers
 
Hey Sam -
 
Thanks for suggesting measuring with the same bolt on both wheels.  What
a surprise!
 
First off, the same bolt doesn't sit in the new wheel "seat" the same,
looks like a slightly different taper.  Hm...
 
Second, the bolt sticks further out the back of the new wheel compared
to the old wheel by about 7-8mm!!  Interesting....
 
Third, the wheels came with no center caps.  At the time, I thought no
big deal, as I have so many stock wheels around I have plenty of caps.
But now I find they are a different size as well on the new wheels,
slightly smaller.  Boy oh boy...
 
Time to figure this one out...

Markus Meyer
mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com
www.meyerprobateproperties.com <http://www.meyerprobateproperties.com/> 
Meyer Probate & Properties, LLC
484-919-9762




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] spacers
From: Sam Sisic <ssisic at Antunovich.com>
Date: Tue, January 15, 2008 2:22 pm
To: "'mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com'" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

Markus,

You can get H&R spacers at Options Auto Salon www.optionsauto.com
<http://www.optionsauto.com/> 

Not sure what size spacer and bolt will work for you. Of course the bolt
length depends on the spacer thickness you use. A good way to do it
would be to measure the stock bolt shank remaining when placed in your
stock wheel. This is how much bolt you should see in your new wheel &
spacer combination. As you may know, this is critical for the rear
wheels with the emergency drum brake set up. Too long of a bolt is
disaster. Too short of a bolt is a different disaster. You should get at
least 7 to 8 full turn s on the lug bolt.
As far as spacers, it's some math and trial & error.
I have a set of never used 10mm H&R spacers (SEC rear hub and bolt
pattern)which I held on to a bit too long and Options Auto would nor
refund them. They're yours for half price plus shipping if you like. I
believe they were around 80.00...
I never had much luck fitting front spacers thicker than 5mm... I
believe the hub is slightly tapered. For front, no spacer is best if
possible.

Good Luck,
Sam

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:22:49 -0700
From: Markus Meyer <mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com <> >
Subject: [W126 Coupe] spacers
To: mbcoupes <> < B>@mbcoupes.com
Message-ID:
<20080115042249.5abd5bb6c1e022cd50c47094d09c8c0f.15c9095949.wbe at email.se
cureserver.net <> >

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20080115/3d770ff
c/attachment.htm>

------------------------------
The MB Coupes Website!
W126 SEC Mailing List
Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20080116/819eac4d/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: wheel.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 33225 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20080116/819eac4d/attachment.jpe>