Ben, do you find that all of the Mercedes magnesium wheels have ball seats
in the bolt holes? I am doing the machine work for a friend so he can mount
a set of Mercedes wheels ( the big flat shiny ones that came on a 450SL I
think) I machined the front rotors for long studs and replaced the rear
studs with longer studs but I haven't figured out the proper lug nut for
these rims. After a quick inspection I thought a VW steel wheel nut will
work. The ball radius appears to look about right. I will have to check with
some Dyken blue to see if they are exactly right though. It sounds like you
have a lot of experience with this and thought you may know the answer off
the top of your head.
Todd Francis
Precision Alloy LTD.
http://www.precisionalloy.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben T" <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: Will these wheels fit?

> In a message dated 10/25/2003 12:10:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> Joe18d@AOL.COM writes:
>
> << I am looking at some Mille Bello 15 X 7 ET 25 , 5 X 112. They are for a
> Mercedes will they fit a Syncro? I know the load rating is likley
different.
> Has
> anyone ever had or heard or an actual structural wheel failure?  Thanks,
Joe
> in
> NH>>
>
> Joe,
>
> I've never heard of an ET23 stock Mercedes wheels but anything is possible
in
> the aftermarket. W126 & W123 Mercedes bodies used ET23 wheels. That's the
> closest I can think of of. That aside, yes the 2mm difference is
negligible. They
> will fit. Check the mounting pad thickness as that will dictate wheter or
not
> you will need longer studs or bolts. Forged wheels are generally thickner
and
> dos not cause much concern in this regard. It is a big deal on casy wheels
> which are thicker. The cost of longer studs and/or bolts (for 2wd guys)
can
> often offset the savings on using non-Vanagon wheels.
>
> I've done much experimentation in this regard as evidenced by the pile of
80+
> rims and tires in my storage place. I currently have on my vans:
>
> 1987 GL -- Porsche Fuchs re-drilled to fit. ET23 15X8
> 1982 GL -- Mercedes ET23 steel rims 15X6.5
> 1990 16" Syncro Double Cab -- ET30 steel 16X5.5 T3 rims
>               on the same Syncro ET59 ML320 16X8 alloys with 32mm spacers
> (net ET27)
> 1988 GL -- Mercedes CLK forged alloys ET38 15X7
> 1971 Panel Bus -- Mercedes SL-class Chromodora 14X7 magnesium wheels ET23
> 1982 RHD Single Cab -- Mercedes ET23 W123 stock alloys 14X7 (just sold
truck)
>
> That's just the Vanagons.
>
> BenT
>