sljm1407
New Member
Have owned a 92 W124 300D for a year and a half now and it is my first merc. Thought I'd try to give it a bit of a facelift so bought some clear indicators and a set of alloys off Ebay. Fitted the indicators in ten minutes flat (what a difference) and got the alloys on in about 15 mins....and then the problems started. The alloys are the type I've often seen on the newer 95ish onwards E class models and I think I've also seen them on some SLK's. They are 16 inch and are shod with 215/55/16 tyres. The steel wheels that were on the car (with those HORRENDOUS dinner plate wheel trims !) were 15 inch with 205/60/15 tyres. The old wheels never rubbed...the alloys do especially the front offisde.
In light of this I took it to the local garage I use (a particularly helpful chap) who incidentally has a 98 E class and seems well clued up on all things MB. He popped it on the ramp to check the springs and while they aren't broken he thinks they seem tired. He also showed me some coloured bands on one of the front springs which he seemed to think meant that it was a genuine MB part...ie either the original springs or fitted by MB. He has priced some new uprated heavier duty springs and the price for the job is quite fair...what I want to know though is:
Will new springs sort this or is their an inherent problem with fitting these alloys to this particular model ?
Is there anything else I should consider...someone suggested lower profile tyres on the front ?
The issue is also slightly complicated by the bad rust on both front wings. The wings seem to have swollen pushing the plastic trim on the lower section of the chassis out a little. This is in turn pushing the mud flap out and this is where the rubbing is occurring. I should have said earlier the tyres don't rub at all on a flat section of road however any dip seems to cause rubbing as does heavy braking.
Phew...sorry for beig so long winded...as I saod in the title any advice would be most welcome.
Cheers !
In light of this I took it to the local garage I use (a particularly helpful chap) who incidentally has a 98 E class and seems well clued up on all things MB. He popped it on the ramp to check the springs and while they aren't broken he thinks they seem tired. He also showed me some coloured bands on one of the front springs which he seemed to think meant that it was a genuine MB part...ie either the original springs or fitted by MB. He has priced some new uprated heavier duty springs and the price for the job is quite fair...what I want to know though is:
Will new springs sort this or is their an inherent problem with fitting these alloys to this particular model ?
Is there anything else I should consider...someone suggested lower profile tyres on the front ?
The issue is also slightly complicated by the bad rust on both front wings. The wings seem to have swollen pushing the plastic trim on the lower section of the chassis out a little. This is in turn pushing the mud flap out and this is where the rubbing is occurring. I should have said earlier the tyres don't rub at all on a flat section of road however any dip seems to cause rubbing as does heavy braking.
Phew...sorry for beig so long winded...as I saod in the title any advice would be most welcome.
Cheers !
