W126 300 SEL Alloys

[Chris Van Dyk]

I have a lovely black 1991 W126 300 SEL but I'm increasingly unsure whether the alloys on the car are the original ones. They are 15" and of the '8 hole' variety. Can anyone confirm whether these were standard issue at the time? Alloys on 126's I have seen advertised with pictures appear much 'flatter' with many more smaller 'oblong' holes around the rim.

 

[Spike]

Yes, I think you're correct in thet the W126 should have had 15 hole alloys more like these below.

This particular set is on ebay at the moment with no bidders - I wonder what the reserve is?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2454206051&category=10398

 

[Chris Van Dyk]

Spike,

Many thanks for the information and the link to the ebay item.

 

[talbir]

Hi,

YEs, 15-hole alloys were the standard issue, but you CAN run MB OEM 8-hole alloys, so lon as they have an offest of ET35.

W126 offset (on a stock 7.5" inch wheel) was ET25. So with OEM 8-holes, you would HAVE to run at least 5mm spacers at the fronts - you don't need any spacers at the rear.

I have OEM 8-holes on my 300SE and they look spectacular. They have the original MB bolts, which on the 15-hole and 8-hole alloys were 95mm in length, with an oval seat, 40mm shaft and approx 50mm head shaft, i.e. the bolts are 95mm in total length. Very long.

If you have original 8-holes, you will also have the same bolts. You could fit aftermarket bolts on OEM 8-holes, but the bolt head would not sit flush with the wheel surface.


talbir

 

[Chris Van Dyk]

Many thanks!

 

[Placey]

Chris - my 500SE 1991 also has the 8 hole alloys and I too wanted to find a set of 15 holes. The 8 holes have now grown on me and I am keeping them. I have noticed a 124 and a 109 from 1991 also sporting the alloys so they were around at this time legitimately although the sales literature of the time only shows the 15 holes ones. They could have been an option.


Placey
ex 190 E
Now 500 SE: poorer but happier....

 

[Placey]

Sorry - I meant 129 not 109...

 

[talbir]

8-holes were never an option on the W126 - 124's and 129's have similar stock offsets, i.e ET35.

W126's have a stock offset with a 7.5J wheel of ET25.

There are no OEM MB 8-hole alloys with ET25, so these were not made for the W126.

But they do look very good on the car.....