[W124_fan]

I picked up some 06 16" e350 takeoffs on craigslist. I dropped off the wheels to be swapped out at my local tires plus. I returned to find the same wheels on my car. They said the lugnuts wouldn't tighten to hold the wheel on. I went out and looked and sure enough the lug was tight but the wheel had a wobble.

What lugs do I need to order? My car has the stock 15" and these replacements are 16"'s with the proper et (can't remember exactly but I made sure before I bought them).

My car is a 91 300e.

Thanks,

Chautauqua

 

[alydon]

I believe all newer lug bolts are 14mm wide and the older lugs are 12mm wide - thus the wobble - the lugs are loose in the holes. To verify, you need to go to the dealer and buy a lug for the model MB the new wheels came from and compare to your lugs. If I am right, you will need to buy or find lugs with the ball end 14mm and the correct length. If the lugs are too long, they will destroy your parking brake in your rear hubs. If too short, they will be unsafe. You have to research all the details - can't just swap wheels with the correct width/ET.

Al

 

[W124_fan]

Help needed

I believe all newer lug bolts are 14mm wide and the older lugs are 12mm wide - thus the wobble - the lugs are loose in the holes. To verify, you need to go to the dealer and buy a lug for the model MB the new wheels came from and compare to your lugs. If I am right, you will need to buy or find lugs with the ball end 14mm and the correct length. If the lugs are too long, they will destroy your parking brake in your rear hubs. If too short, they will be unsafe. You have to research all the details - can't just swap wheels with the correct width/ET.

Al

Thank you! It wasn't completely clear in my "research" what needed to be done. I'll visit the dealer on Monday.

Has anyone had this specific problem?

Is there a more economical place to buy OEM lugs than the dealer?

Thanks,

Chautauqua

 

[rob76]

I have some aftermarket rims on my car too and the lugs are too short to put the original rims back on (the spare in my car is an original rim). They also used some spacers in the back, I guess for that parking brake situation. What a pain. Why on earth didn't they just use NUTS!!?

 

[247hoopsfan]

The dealer wont help you. You will need to buy aftermarket special bolts from Rad bolts in a 12mm shank ( so they will fit into your existing drums) and 14mm ball seat so they will fit your new rims with the larger holes. Bolts are about $2.50 each.

I have 2005 E500 sport rims on my 1990 300CE with these bolts and they fit fine

 

[W124_fan]

Bolts

The dealer wont help you. You will need to buy aftermarket special bolts from Rad bolts in a 12mm shank ( so they will fit into your existing drums) and 14mm ball seat so they will fit your new rims with the larger holes. Bolts are about $2.50 each.

I have 2005 E500 sport rims on my 1990 300CE with these bolts and they fit fine

Thanks much,


Ross

 

[W124_fan]

The dealer wont help you. You will need to buy aftermarket special bolts from Rad bolts in a 12mm shank ( so they will fit into your existing drums) and 14mm ball seat so they will fit your new rims with the larger holes. Bolts are about $2.50 each.

I have 2005 E500 sport rims on my 1990 300CE with these bolts and they fit fine

I PM'd you after I went to the rad bolt site. There were a few shank sizes in your suggested size. Do you have any idea which shank size?

Thanks,

Chautauqua

 

[W124_fan]

Wheel bolt

Anyone know which bolt I need? A pic of my wheel is below.

20-4067-B - RAD Lug Bolt 12mmx1.5, 26mm Shank, R14 Ball Seat, Hex 17
$43.99

20-4128-B - RAD Lug Bolt 12mmx1.5, 35mm Shank, R14 Ball Seat, Hex 17
$43.99

20-4182-B - RAD Lug Bolt 12mmx1.5, 55mm Shank, R14 Ball Seat, Hex 17
$73.99

Thanks,

Chautauqua

 

[alydon]

I don't know for sure, but one test you can do is the following:

1. Take one of your old wheels that you took off (if you still have them - or use the spare wheel - doubt you got rid of that one) and put one of your original lug bolts through the lug hole and use a ruler to measure how far the threaded shank sticks out from the back of the original wheel.

2. Put the same lug bolt in the new wheel and see how far the threaded shank sticks out the back of the new wheel. The amout of shank showing should be about the same (within 1-2 mm - no more or less).

3. If the old lug bolts show an adequate amount of threaded shank, then measure the old lug as a guide to order from Rad. If the threaded shank shows shorter than the original setup, you need a longer lug bolt from Rad. If the original lug shows too long, then you need a shorter lug bolt. Remember - the measurement is from the ball to the end of the bolt - not from the hex head to the end of the bolt.

It's important to have about the same amount of threads showing - too short and you have a serious safety issue, too long and you may damage the rear parking brake or not fully seat the wheel.

Al

 

[jgajito]

New post, Old topic...

I picked up some 06 16" e350 takeoffs on craigslist. I dropped off the wheels to be swapped out at my local tires plus. I returned to find the same wheels on my car. They said the lugnuts wouldn't tighten to hold the wheel on. I went out and looked and sure enough the lug was tight but the wheel had a wobble.

What lugs do I need to order? My car has the stock 15" and these replacements are 16"'s with the proper et (can't remember exactly but I made sure before I bought them).

My car is a 91 300e.

Thanks,

Chautauqua

Here's another one, take your old wheels and old lugs off the car, place the lugs in the wheel and from the back measure the distance it sticks out.

Then take the new wheels and old lugs and repeat the process of placing the old lugs into the new wheels. You will notice how short they are. To poperly fit, you will have make sure they stick out as much as the original wheel with the original lugs. This proper fitment assures that the proper weight on the lugs are distributed and that your wheels don't go flying off or that your hub doesn't crack due to improper fitment.

Go to your local Pep Boys, Kragen, or AutoZone, whereever you are and show them the lug and tell them how long you need. Most aftermarket wheel replacement usually fit 12mm x 1.5 inches and I have used BALL(this dependes on your wheel) for most OEM Wheels I notice CONICAL.

:bashAMM after typing all of this, I just read "alydon's" reply,... basically the same thing he said---\/\/

I don't know for sure, but one test you can do is the following:

1. Take one of your old wheels that you took off (if you still have them - or use the spare wheel - doubt you got rid of that one) and put one of your original lug bolts through the lug hole and use a ruler to measure how far the threaded shank sticks out from the back of the original wheel.

2. Put the same lug bolt in the new wheel and see how far the threaded shank sticks out the back of the new wheel. The amout of shank showing should be about the same (within 1-2 mm - no more or less).

3. If the old lug bolts show an adequate amount of threaded shank, then measure the old lug as a guide to order from Rad. If the threaded shank shows shorter than the original setup, you need a longer lug bolt from Rad. If the original lug shows too long, then you need a shorter lug bolt. Remember - the measurement is from the ball to the end of the bolt - not from the hex head to the end of the bolt.

It's important to have about the same amount of threads showing - too short and you have a serious safety issue, too long and you may damage the rear parking brake or not fully seat the wheel.

Al

 

[W124_fan]

Phil at Rad just hooked me up. The answer hopefully is the 26mm bolts. I hope they will be here soon and I can find out. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again,

Chautauqua

 

[W124_fan]

Hello,
I have been waiting to find out if the 26mm lug bolts worked 4 you as I have the very same wheels that are going on a 300E. Let us know the outcome please!

They did solve my problem. However the front tires are too wide and I have a rubbing problem on my front left under cornering at speed. My tires are 225/55/16 and I think the offset is 36. I'm going to buy some new tires for the front so they won't rub I just haven't determined what size to buy that won't rub. I look how they look but the fronts definitely stick out more than I prefer.

I'll add pic's soon...

I'd like some nice lower profile sport tires that don't change the speedo or ride too much and I do not want to roll the fenders. I wouldn't mind lowering the car just a little.

 

[bigwiki]

w124_fan, I am interested to put newer E class wheels on my w124 as well. Could you please post your finding? Photos will be nice. Thanks very much.