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j_dirge
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Joined: August 08, 2007
Posts: 4641
Location: Twain Harte, CA
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 Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| wallanoise wrote: |
| You all may not like to here this but those wheels just don't look that great. To me, they look cheap. What are the benefits to these wheels? |
There was a time not too long ago when they came very cheap. Almost free.
Factoring in the low cost and strength to wieght ratio of the forged alum., they were possibly the best almost-bolt-on wheel available.
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-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.
-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5
| danfromsyr wrote: |
those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
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Dimitrios
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 113
Location: Athens, Greece
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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VisPacem : Thank you for your comments 
Forged wheels are superior compared to cast ones.Ligther, stronger and way more expensive in production.
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Christopher Schimke
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Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5526
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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Well Jim, I don't know what those are. Again, they are similar to the "CLK" wheel discussed here, but definitely different from the others. I looked up those ads you posted and they don't say what size or offset they are, just that they are 16". Are these the 16x7.5 ET35 wheels that you asked about earlier?
Here are all three lined up with the American version of the '98-'00 CLK320 wheels first, then the unknown ones you just asked about and finally the S Class W220 (assumed) wheels :
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stevey88
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Joined: January 16, 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: Fremont, SF Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| wallanoise wrote: |
| You all may not like to here this but those wheels just don't look that great. To me, they look cheap. What are the benefits to these wheels? |
I sort of agree with you on the looks. I picked up a set of four 2002 CLK wheel and I think they look a little better. All four has curb rash and its $100 for all four. 16 X 7 ET 37, made by Ronal.
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Steve
87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed
Last edited by stevey88 on Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dimitrios
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 113
Location: Athens, Greece
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hmm, any chance to take a look on the backside to share the part # and other markings ?
TIA,
Jim
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Christopher Schimke
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Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Looks aside, besides the benefits already stated about strength, one of the main reasons the forged CLK320 wheels remains a good choice for the Vanagon has to do with the way it is machined. If you look at the later model CLK wheels pictured above, you will see that the thickness of the wheels where the lugs pass through is very thick (22-25mm) whereas the same area on the forged CLK320 wheels is a much thinner 5-6mm. This means that the later model CLK wheels (and all other Mercedes alloy wheels) will require the installation of longer wheel studs while the forged CLK320 wheels do not (as long as spacers are not used). Changing out the rear wheel studs isn't a bad job, but it's a real pain, and very expensive, to do the fronts on a Syncro.
So while the looks may not be to everyone's taste, it's the all around construction of the wheel that makes it a good choice, not just the fact that they are forged.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12163
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps a better forged option would be the factory Fuchs rims found on the Audi C4 Ur S4/S6 cars.
There was a dirt cheap set on the Seattle CL recently...kickin' myself for not following up
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'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Christopher Schimke
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Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5526
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Dimitrios wrote: |
Hmm, any chance to take a look on the backside to share the part # and other markings ?
TIA,
Jim |
Are you talking about the wheels that stevey88 posted?
If so, they are a 16x7 ET37 from a '01-'03 CLK320 part number 208 401 0702. See my post above for fitment issues on a Syncro.
Don't confuse them for the nearly identical looking 17x7.5 version from the '01 SLK.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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Christopher Schimke
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
Perhaps a better forged option would be the factory Fuchs rims found on the Audi C4 Ur S4/S6 cars.
There was a dirt cheap set on the Seattle CL recently...kickin' myself for not following up |
Those are a great wheel too, but they need to have their centerbores machined larger (for use on a 2wd or a Syncro without spacers) and they need spacers because of the high offset (45mm). Great wheels, but in terms of complexity/cost of installation, they just take more to get them installed compared to the forged CLK320 wheels. The Audi Fuchs are also 15" compared to 16" in case that matters to anyone considering them.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
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Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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I thought those Fuchs also came in 16"?
I agree that Mercedes rims seem so much easier to fit, since the center bores aren't as problematic. I just wish MB had commissioned better looking forged rims. The CLKs remind me of the "fancy" steel rims found on some '70's era Beetles
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Dimitrios
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 113
Location: Athens, Greece
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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No, I mean the "correct" ones (the forged 7x16)...
I hate to bought an incorrect set...
Rgds,
Jim
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Christopher Schimke
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Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Dimitrios wrote: |
No, I mean the "correct" ones (the forged 7x16)...
I hate to bought an incorrect set...
Rgds,
Jim |
Ah, sorry, I misunderstood.
The part number for the forged CLK320 wheel is 208 401 0002. It's stamped near the lug holes on the back side of the wheel.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
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Dimitrios
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Joined: May 02, 2005
Posts: 113
Location: Athens, Greece
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Thank you Loggy ! I will let you know the results
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spaeth
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Joined: January 05, 2005
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:13 am Post subject: |
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Not that I want to talk more people into CLK wheels, but as Loogy stated it is the quality that sells these wheels. I had a set of Audi 5 spokes which I loved the looks of and a set of CLK wheels which I have never been fond of. After handling the wheels for a few days the CLKs won me over. They were way lighter, were going to be easier to fit and the machine work inside the rim is absolutely meticulous.
I will take a better built, stronger lighter wheel over a better looking wheel any day.
Craig |
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whynotvw
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Joined: May 04, 2004
Posts: 1322
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| spaeth wrote: |
Not that I want to talk more people into CLK wheels, but as Loogy stated it is the quality that sells these wheels. I had a set of Audi 5 spokes which I loved the looks of and a set of CLK wheels which I have never been fond of. After handling the wheels for a few days the CLKs won me over. They were way lighter, were going to be easier to fit and the machine work inside the rim is absolutely meticulous.
I will take a better built, stronger lighter wheel over a better looking wheel any day.
Craig |
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fatboypaul
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Joined: August 24, 2004
Posts: 432
Location: Emeryville, Ca, SF Bay.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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I need two of these CLK spares, anybody in the SF Bay area want to split a set of four with me?
Cheers, Paul. |
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Lotek
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Joined: May 11, 2008
Posts: 126
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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| fatboypaul wrote: |
I need two of these CLK spares, anybody in the SF Bay area want to split a set of four with me?
Cheers, Paul. |
I could use one. I'm in LA, but get up that way from time to time. |
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Christopher Schimke
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Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5526
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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Alrighty then, I have been doing some research on Mercedes Forged wheels, and Dimitrios, it appears that the wheels that you posted a link to are forged after all. I don't know what car they are from, but they appear to have 14mm lug holes which would mean that the stock Vanagon steel wheel lug nuts would be appropriate for them. Those other CLKish looking wheels are also forged.
Neither of those two wheels were imported to the US. Here are a few other non-US, Vanagon-worthy, Mercedes wheels that are forged.
15x7 ET37
16x6 ET39
16x7 ET32
16x7 ET33
16x7 ET34
16x7 ET43
16x7.5 ET42
16x7.5 ET42
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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syncroid
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Joined: May 30, 2006
Posts: 319
Location: CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:33 pm Post subject: Re: MBZ 16" CLK Wheels |
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| loogy wrote: |
| Leisuredoc wrote: |
The rookie question! What modifications (spacers, hole enlargements, etc.) are required to mount MBZ 16" CLK wheels to a 2wd Vanagon?
Thx! |
If you run 205 or some 215 tires, you can get away with no spacers. Some 215s and all 225s will require a 5-7mm spacer, at least on the front. If you don't run spacers on the rear, you can use the stock length wheel studs. Any thickness spacer on the rear will require longer wheel studs. You will need the correct small ball seat lug bolts and nuts and you will have to drill the lug holes larger. I recommend using a 37/64" drill bit to drill the lug holes, but people have gotten away with a 9/16" bit. With a 9/16" bit, if the holes are not drilled fairly straight, the wheel studs and lug bolts can hang up on the holes and you don't want that. 37/64" give you just hair more room. |
Loogy, when drilling the lug holes, can that be done "free hand" or should it only be done on a drill press? |
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Christopher Schimke
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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While a drill press makes the job safer, easier and generally more accurate, doing it freehand can get the job done all the same. The biggest concern is to drill through the wheel as straight as possible and deburr the holes when you are done. The drill bit can tend to "catch" when drilling by hand, so go slowly and be careful.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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