Still looking for 17 X 8.5 wheels - Found this...

[UncAl]

OK, how about this?

Get <a href="http://www.ronalusa.com/cars/mbz-ml.html" target=new>Ronal</a> R-28 (OEM) 17x8.5 wheels, say, $200 ea. Its OEM, so you know the weight rating is right.



Update your brakes with OEM rotor size ...



About $275 for <a href="http://www.brakeworld.com./catalog.asp?page_id=item&invid=28-4924&invidtype=" target=new>Fronts</a>, and about $249 for <a href="http://www.brakeworld.com./catalog.asp?page_id=item&invid=28-5054&invidtype=" target=new>Rears</a>. Then, for 285/60/17 tires, Pirelli Scorpion Zeros, Kumho, Dunlop SPs, or Michelin Cross Terrains from Tirerack. Say, $200 each ...





So, what's that? Around $2,200? Howzat? [8D]

[ed]

they are going at $178 internet price

http://www.ronalusa.com/internet_pricing.html

Are you sure these are OEM? They don't have the MB central cap design.

[tcp_ML500]

The central hub can be replaced and purchased from your favorite dealer, they have multiple designs (///AMG for the fans).

I found out they were OEM when I started taking my wheels off when I clean the ML. If you look in the back of the wheel, they are stamped with an MB part number and a Ronal part number, at least, that is true for the ML500, for which the Ronal part number is "0945"

[ed]

thanks for your reply.

They have poor images shown on their website. The ones Uncal is showing resembles the ML 430. The others don't resemble any ML stock rims.


http://www.ronalusa.com/cars/mbz-ml.html

[tcp_ML500]

Prior to owning the 500, I did not know that Ronal was actually OEM equipment for anything, and I would think that their OEM production for MB is very limited to a couple of styles, for a limited number of models.

It makes sense under the current globalization and de-centralization policies of MB. For instance, the Ronal ML500 wheels are made in Mexico. Easy enough, close enough and cheap enough to move them to Alabama.

Before, I just thought that Ronal wa solely an after market wheel manufacturer, sort of popular in Europe if not in the States. The rest of what you see on their site is after market, not OEM I suppose.

I'll post the MB part to the ML500 wheel if you are interested, again, the Ronal "raised" part number on the inside of one of the 6 branches is 0945, but since it is not on the website, I assume that Ronal is under contractual obligation with MB not to sell these, maybe that passed through the crack for the ML430 wheels, or maybe this style already existed in the Ronal line up and was adopted by MB, in which case it would have been hard to tell Ronal not to sell.

I only speculating here, just what I think could be rational explanations.

[tcp_ML500]

[AndyFracica]

Jeff,

The ML 350 has 10.5" and 10" brake rotors and the ML 500 has 12" I think. I know they are bigger.

Andy

[AndyFracica]

I like the look of the wheel myself and would be very interested to see how they look after you put them on (if you purchase them).

Post a picture if you do.

I'll let you know what I do. I have some stock that I am planning to sell to finance the new wheels and tires. [:D]

I'm still debating between the stock ML 500 wheels which I can get for $300 per wheel from my friend Mike the MB parts manager. These would be a little cheaper but I want to make sure that 1. it can support the weight of the vehicle and 2. that the offset is correct and the the wheel does not sit too far out on the axle. I know that the way MB positions the wheel is to assist in emergency braking and I don't want to mess that up.

Andy

[UncAl]

SICK! Got pics? [8D][;)]

Mike is a Signature Consultant? [:0]

[UncAl]

... They don't have the MB central cap design.

You can get them <a href="http://www.performanceproducts.com/ProductPage.aspx?productname=Alloy+Wheel+Center+Ca p&productid=100671&producttype=20" target=new>here!</a>