SLK R171 wheel size problems

[sonic]

Hi, My wife had a 2004 SLK200K which had a set of winter wheels & tyres 205/55R16 on 16 x7J ET37 wheels.

She now has a 2010 SLK200K which comes with a much larger front caliper & the wheels won't fit on the front. The book states I need 16 x 7J ET34 wheels.

Does anyone know where I can buy a set of steel wheels or used alloys of this size? Every website I have checked only have the ET37 version.

Thanks in advance, Phil.

 

[television]

3mm on the ET is nothing and they will just stick out 3mm more

 

[Naraic]

As above, the only difference is the 3mm on the et...so they should fit. Larger calipers usually means a bigger diameter wheel is needed, but you say 16" is called for on the new car...so it'll fit.

 

[sonic]

I have tried fitting the ET37 wheels & they dont fit because the caliper is in the way. The 2010 plate has a much bigger front caliper from I think the SLK280.
There is no problem fitting the ET37 wheels to the rear.
When I bought the car I knew 16" wheels would fit. It was only after I found out the ET37 wheel would not fit, that I saw in the handbook I needed ET34 wheels. Apart from the wheel sitting further out, the ET34 wheel must have a larger internal diameter.

 

[television]

Nope, not at all, you must go up one size to 17"

 

[sonic]

Mercedes spec 16" wheels with ET34, (not that they sold many for the SLK280) which has the larger caliper so they do fit. All the spec sheets I have checked confirm this.
16" ET37 only fits the R171 200K 2004 to facelift 2008, with small caliper.
16" ET34 fits all R171 200K's 280's & 350's, but not AMG's.
Just a matter of finding a set as there are not many out there. Also there is no market for new alloy or steel 16" ET34 wheels.

 

[television]

The ET makes no difference of clearing the caliper outer edges, unless it is the inside of the wheel hitting the face of the caliper.

 

[sonic]

Yes you are correct.
Having never seen these ET34 wheels the inside diameter must be larger than the ET37 wheels.

 

[television]

Yes you are correct.
Having never seen these ET34 wheels the inside diameter must be larger than the ET37 wheels.

No, the inside diameter is the same for all ET numbers, these ET numbers purely denote how far the wheel sits in or out, the wrong ET can allow the inside of the spokes to foul the face of the calliper, so a wheel with an ET of 37 will sit 3mm further in than a wheel with an ET of 34

 

[JBell]

It is not necessarily the ET of a wheel that will determing whether it will fit or not, you need to look at the shape at the back where the mounting face is, the R171 with the large calipers will need a deeper gap / distance between the mounting face and the back of the spokes, this is determined by the shape of the spokes.

 

[sonic]

Thanks for your comments, I know the ET figure will not decide if the wheel will fit or not. But Mercedes state their 16" ET34 will fit. So I must assume they have constructed that wheel to fit.
The problem I now have is if I buy a non MB ET34 wheel I will have to make sure it fits before buying. I have had a look on Ebay Germany & they have loads for sale.