W204 New wheels needed

[CourtW204]

So I have my 2012 C350 CDI "AMG SPORT" with 210,000miles and 18" rims.
The wheels are at the point that they need replacing. I think 3 of them have been welded, and one has cracks again, the front two are buckled.
I'm thinking of swapping to 17"s. Currently the wheels are staggered, so I'll probably get staggered 17's to avoid upsetting the car. Anyone done this before? Any other have a solution to the terrible state of roads and speed bumps in the country?
If I put 17's on, can I put extra thick tyres maybe, I'm guessing not because there's barely any clearance on the car. What I'd really love is to raise the suspension and roll the arches and make it into some kind of rally Dakar thing as the car hasn't let me down and I'm very happy with the level of tech on it and everything else is fine apart from the ride quality.

As the cracks always happen on the inside of the rim, I can't help but think that speed bumps are to blame, I always do no more than 20mph over them, I'm a slow driver round residential streets! Why do they allow councils to put these things out that destroy our cars-it's terrible.

 

[sl500amgsport]

Go on any local Facebook page and you will find at least 5x people complaining about cars being a threat to their cats, kids or guinea pigs and asking their local councillors if they can have speed bumps installed, there lies the problem, looks like horse & carts will soon be making a comeback....

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[JBell]

As the cracks always happen on the inside of the rim, I can't help but think that speed bumps are to blame, I always do no more than 20mph over them, I'm a slow driver round residential streets! Why do they allow councils to put these things out that destroy our cars-it's terrible.

The trick with speed bumps or "Speed Pillows" as they are correctly known is to only drive over them with one wheel ands the other going through the gap, straddling them will damage your wheels and tyres and ruin your tracking.

Wheel wise 17" fit fine, fitted with a 225/40 R17 front and 245/40 R17 Rear tyres you will keep it in spec.

These are the OEM 17" wheel;s

17'' GENUINE AMG MERCEDES C CLASS W204 SPORT ALLOY WHEELS TYRES ALLOYS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 17'' GENUINE AMG MERCEDES C CLASS W204 SPORT ALLOY WHEELS TYRES ALLOYS at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[CourtW204]

The trick with speed bumps or "Speed Pillows" as they are correctly known is to only drive over them with one wheel ands the other going through the gap, straddling them will damage your wheels and tyres and ruin your tracking.

Wheel wise 17" fit fine, fitted with a 225/40 R17 front and 245/40 R17 Rear tyres you will keep it in spec.

These are the OEM 17" wheel;s

17'' GENUINE AMG MERCEDES C CLASS W204 SPORT ALLOY WHEELS TYRES ALLOYS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 17'' GENUINE AMG MERCEDES C CLASS W204 SPORT ALLOY WHEELS TYRES ALLOYS at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

225/45 R17 tyres for front.
I've found a website with brand new Merc ones which are £1300 a set. Not sure if I trust a second hand set, last time one came from Ebay it had been previously welded. And you never know how many potholes they've already travelled over already.

 

[JBell]

225/45 R17 tyres for front.
I've found a website with brand new Merc ones which are £1300 a set. Not sure if I trust a second hand set, last time one came from Ebay it had been previously welded. And you never know how many potholes they've already travelled over already.

Yup 225/45 front (typo)

It was just an example of which wheels are correct for the car.

Welded wheels are usually OK if they have been done properly, one of my front wheels has a slight buckle in it but balances fine.

£1300 for a set of 17" wheels is a lot, you can probably get aftermarket for around £600 and probably better quality

 

[CourtW204]

Yup 225/45 front (typo)

It was just an example of which wheels are correct for the car.

Welded wheels are usually OK if they have been done properly, one of my front wheels has a slight buckle in it but balances fine.

£1300 for a set of 17" wheels is a lot, you can probably get aftermarket for around £600 and probably better quality

I've seen the other brands ones but then see negative comments about them. They also don't have the same matching width and offset, which I don't think is the worst thing.

What are good aftermarket brands?

 

[JBell]

I've seen the other brands ones but then see negative comments about them. They also don't have the same matching width and offset, which I don't think is the worst thing.

What are good aftermarket brands?

I will ask a friend of mine who owns a wheel shop, I know Romac and Fox are decent quality.

The other way to do it is to find a tatty set and get them professionally refurbed.

These guys maybe worth a call as they do exchanges on the spot

Security measure

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[CourtW204]

I will ask a friend of mine who owns a wheel shop, I know Romac and Fox are decent quality.

The other way to do it is to find a tatty set and get them professionally refurbed.

These guys maybe worth a call as they do exchanges on the spot

Security measure

www.ebay.co.uk

I've seen on ebay the wheels my dad has which are AMG IV refurbed, but they're over £300 a wheel so I could just buy a brand new set of other mercedes design. I bought a 'refurbished' wheel before which had previously been welded, so there's not knowing what condition it's been in, especially given that these cars are 10years old now.

 

[Chrishazle]

First off, find the correct spec for a staggered 17" set for your car - you need the ET and PCD as well as the 17 x 7.5J front and 17 x 8J rear. Then search Ebay, which is where I found mine for my S204 which came on 16's. I paid about £350 for a set of 17" AMG genuine MB wheels, and sold on the 16's as well as the set of 17" winters I'd bought and used once (softy southerner!!). Problem with the rears is that 245/40 R17 all season tyres are hard to find, I ended up fitting 235/45 R17's to my S204 and they are fine and the speedo is remarkably accurate now according to the roadside village signs that flash your speed as you approach! I have 225/45 Michelin cross climates on the front and 235/45 (can't remember the make) all seasons on the rear and am happy with both.

 

[JBell]

I've seen on ebay the wheels my dad has which are AMG IV refurbed, but they're over £300 a wheel so I could just buy a brand new set of other mercedes design. I bought a 'refurbished' wheel before which had previously been welded, so there's not knowing what condition it's been in, especially given that these cars are 10years old now.

But that is the risk you take, you could buy new wheels and they could buckle / crack on the first outing

 

[DSK]

Probably easier to buy something aftermarket given our roads. Keep them, easier to replace one or a couple if needed in future, or the entire set as they are cheaper than original wheels. Keep one nice original set if you sell the car.

It’s not the size but the profile that makes the difference in addition to going the log way round to avoid crap roads and bringing traffic to a stop if needed. There will always be the ones that catch you out regardless.


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