[j_bydesign]

OK... now that the giggles have subsided and I have your attention... I have a 1985 380SE that was running on the stock 14"(all be it Chrome) rims... so the wheel studs/bolts were the 29.5 mm variety.... I have just purchased a set of 16" that were on an 82' SEC... my guess is that they were originally from a gen II s class... The off set is fine they are 7.5J16H2... the the new rims are the 8 D / hole... the 14" are the 14 hole classic (i think style 107)

Now the hard part... the thickness of the old rims appears to be thicker by about 9.5 mm than the new 16" rims... need to grab my metric calipers from the office... should I run the steel 21mm bolts? or is there another length better suited?

before :

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/j_bydesign/380SE3.jpg

after:

not my ride... but these are the rims... sorry for the highjacked photo

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/38869-photo-gallery-pics-only-non-

please advice

 

[david55838]

Hi Stud,

You probably already know this, but I found out the hard way. If your lug bolts are too long based on your thinner new wheels, they'll bind the parking brake, and if you drive past where it binds, you'll do some serious damage.

So, sorry I can't tell what length would be perfect, but that's what happens if you get them too long.

I've got tons of extras too...

 

[420SELTOM]

Chances are that the new wheel 7.5x16 is an aftermarket copy of the Mercedes wheel ( 126 CH Gen 1 or 2 never came with 16" wheels stock ) and will most likely take cone or tapper seat lug bolt as compared to the original wheels that used a ball seat lug bolt, can`t interchange the two styles, will not hold the wheel properly and will eventually work it`s way loose. here is a place that carries all the different styles and lenght. Welcome to Otis Inc., LA

 

[j_bydesign]

Thanks for trhe imput... They are definitely MB OEM rims... they take the larger diameter or newer bolts... shorten the ones on the rear so as not to mess up the e brake... here they are on the car

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/j_bydesign/DSCF0885.jpg