I’m wheely confused

[bedCLS]

Hello guys and gals! I recently bought myself a 2006 CLS 320cdi which has the standard suspension set up rather than the airmatic option. As of now it’s currently fitted with the original 18” rims but im looking to treat it to a new set of rims, but I’m not sure if the wheels I’ve found would fit without any issue.

Unfortunately I don’t know the exact size of the original rims apart from them being 18” but I do know the size of the new rims that I want to fit and so I’m hoping someone will be able to help me and give me a simple yes or no answer?

The new wheels are 8.5x19 on the front and 9.5x19 rears with an ET35 all round, as for the tyres I’m planning on using 265/35/19 front and 285/30/19 rear.

Can anyone please help and tell me if this rim/tyre set up will work without having to use any spacers as well as not cause any problems in regards to rubbing or catching on the arches?

I’d really appreciate any help or advice you can give me. Thanks Rick

 

[V6Matty]

@JBell should be able to say what’s needed

 

[LostKiwi]

Fronts will be fine.
Rears will poke out 13mm further than the correct wheel as the correct ET on the rear is 48. To my mind that would be marginal.

 

[KennyN]

Fronts will be fine.
Rears will poke out 13mm further than the correct wheel as the correct ET on the rear is 48. To my mind that would be marginal.

The wheel offsets on my W219 were 25mm F + 28mm R.

If your originals are the same then the new wheels will sit further in by 10mm and the rears in by 7mm.

A set of 10mm hubcentric spacers should see the new wheels in the correct position and avoid any potential clearance issues.

K

 

[LostKiwi]

His is a 218.
From alloy wheels direct 19" are 35mm and 48mm.

19" Mercedes 5 Spoke wheels in 7756 Himalaya Grey - Alloy Wheels Direct (2512052)

Get 19" Mercedes 5 Spoke wheels in 7756 Himalaya Grey to fit your Mercedes CLS Class C218 Coupé. Fast Shipping from Alloy Wheels Direct (Part No. A2184010402647756 & A2184010502647756)

www.alloywheelsdirect.net

 

[KennyN]

His is a 218.
From alloy wheels direct 19" are 35mm and 48mm.

19" Mercedes 5 Spoke wheels in 7756 Himalaya Grey - Alloy Wheels Direct (2512052)

Get 19" Mercedes 5 Spoke wheels in 7756 Himalaya Grey to fit your Mercedes CLS Class C218 Coupé. Fast Shipping from Alloy Wheels Direct (Part No. A2184010402647756 & A2184010502647756)

www.alloywheelsdirect.net

Not according to the first line in his initial post.- "I recently bought myself a 2006 CLS 320cdi" , which is a W219.

K

 

[LostKiwi]

Ah ok my bad then.

 

[AMGeed]

Kenny is top trump on this. Its a W219

 

[JBell]

Original wheels are

8.5Jx18 ET28 Front
9.5Jx18 ET33 Rear

Doubt there will be a problem fitting the new wheels, the front will sit 7mm further in but there is loads of room in those arches

19" OEM are

8.5Jx19 ET25 Front fitted with 255/35R19 96Y XL
9.5Jx19 ET28 Rear fitted with 285/30R19 98Y XL

So they will sit further out than the ones you are looking at


I would be putting a 10mm Spacer on the front of the new wheels

 

[KennyN]

19" OEM are

8.5Jx19 ET25 Front fitted with 255/35R19 96Y XL
9.5Jx19 ET28 Rear fitted with 285/30R19 98Y XL

There were a few different wheels (offsets / widths / staggered) fitted to the W219 , depending on options and editions. Although the hubs would have been the same across the range.

The OEM 18`s i had on my CLS we 25 /28 (not 28 / 32) - https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mercedes_alloy_wheels/cls_class_c219_alloys/18_amg_vi_wheel_318

As mentioned , if your new wheels have a 35mm offset then 10mm spacers all round will see them sitting where they should be (give or take a few mm) , better a few mm further out than 10mm further in , as some wheel designs have minimum clearance between the inside of the wheel spoke and the brake calipers.

K

 

[JBell]

The OEM 18`s i had on my CLS we 25 /28 (not 28 / 32) - https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mercedes_alloy_wheels/cls_class_c219_alloys/18_amg_vi_wheel_318

AMG wheels are always a lower offset to fill the arches more, looks sportier

 

[bedCLS]

Thanks guys for all your help, once again my short time of being a member on this forum has given me more help and information than I’ve got from anywhere else so compliments to the ops

I’m really glad that you’ve given me the info I needed cos the wheels I’ve found are stunning and as much as I want to post a pic I’m holding off until I’ve got them in the car! Trust me it will be worth the wait

Although I’ve decided to go for a different size tyre from the ones I originally thought about using and so instead of the 265 and 285 I’m going with 245/35/19 front and 275/30/19 on the rear.

So keep your eyes out for my next post in the relevant topic section where I shall share the pictures of my progress along with some other bits that I do as and when.

But again, I really appreciate your help! Thanks Rick

 

[DSK]

Is there not a disadvantage to fitting wheel spacers with regards to shortening the life of wheel bearings etc?

I was also looking at alloy wheel sites incase a wheel ever got damaged and the only feasible option was a new set. (All the used sets seemed to be damaged/cracked) The offset was not easy to replicate but the odd set got close with low-mid 30s ET. The downside is the 219 looks like a max power mobile run on a shoe string with anything other than original fitment options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KennyN]

Is there not a disadvantage to fitting wheel spacers with regards to shortening the life of wheel bearings etc?

If you are using them to give the correct factory offset then there should be no issues , if you are fitting them to massively increase the width of the cars "track" then it will have an impact on the longevity of the bearings.

I ended up making my own spacers when i fitted a new set of wheels to my W219 , the new wheels came with a 35 mm offset when i needed 25 /28.



K

 

[bedCLS]

Is there not a disadvantage to fitting wheel spacers with regards to shortening the life of wheel bearings etc?

I was also looking at alloy wheel sites incase a wheel ever got damaged and the only feasible option was a new set. (All the used sets seemed to be damaged/cracked) The offset was not easy to replicate but the odd set got close with low-mid 30s ET. The downside is the 219 looks like a max power mobile run on a shoe string with anything other than original fitment options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I too had the same thought when I had to use spacers on a previous car. And from what I was told, if you have to use spacers then you must use the correct size lug nuts as the standard ones will be too short.

But in regards to your comment about damaging the hub etc, this is only the case more commonly known with when you use the hub adapters that allow for you to fit wheels from a different car all together with a different bolt pattern.

I maybe wrong and if I am then someone please correct me but I’m 99.9% sure this is the right answer if my memory serves me well ‍

 

[bedCLS]

If you are using them to give the correct factory offset then there should be no issues , if you are fitting them to massively increase the width of the cars "track" then it will have an impact on the longevity of the bearings.

I ended up making my own spacers when i fitted a new set of wheels to my W219 , the new wheels came with a 35 mm offset when i needed 25 /28.



K

Damn….. That’s some seriously good fabrication skills right there!! Don’t suppose you could make me some too?

After finding out I need to get a full set for my new wheels, I didn’t know how much they have gone up in price since I last bought some 10 or more years ago ‍

But kudos for the craftsmanship! They look better than some of the ones I’ve seen being sold at wheel specialists!

 

[KennyN]

Damn….. That’s some seriously good fabrication skills right there!! Don’t suppose you could make me some too?

Unfortunately , thanks to reductions in staff ,we are not in a position to spend the time required to make stuff like this anymore, plus the cost of an 200mm slug of alloy today will be similar to buying at least one set of spacers.

The only reason i made them was because i couldn`t get hubcentric spacers in size less than 10mm.

I fitted a set of Bimecc spacers to the BMW recently , IIRC they were around £160 for the four spacers + 20 extended bolts.

K

 

[AMGeed]

H&R hubcentric spacers are often recommended.
Don't forget you may need longer bolts of you fit a spacer.

H&R Trak+ Wheel Spacers Mercedes CLS Class

 

[bedCLS]

Because my new wheels are staggered and the offset is ET35 for all 4 wheels, does anyone know if it would be possible for me to use 5mm spacers up front and 10mm spacers on the rears? I’m just thinking this because if I had 10mm all round then it would square off all corners whereas if I used slightly wider spacers on the rear then I’m hoping it would look better? I know it would be extremely minimal but surely brownie points to those with a good eye

 

[KennyN]

Because my new wheels are staggered and the offset is ET35 for all 4 wheels, does anyone know if it would be possible for me to use 5mm spacers up front and 10mm spacers on the rears? I’m just thinking this because if I had 10mm all round then it would square off all corners whereas if I used slightly wider spacers on the rear then I’m hoping it would look better? I know it would be extremely minimal but surely brownie points to those with a good eye

I would stick close to the stock offset (or a bit less) to ensure there is adequate clearance between the inside of the wheel and calipers so I would go with 10mm all round , giving an offset of 25mm - meaning the new wheels will sit out (3mm front / 8 mm rear)more than stock , depending on what wheels you have fitted at the moment.

Keep the spacers the same size to save mixing them up if you have the wheels off plus that way all the wheel bolts will be the same size.

Also make sure your new wheel bolts have the correct "seat" profile for the new wheels , some are tapered and some have a conical profile.

K