"What wheels fit?" The ultimate wheel post.

[danfromsyr]

fairly certain I've seen these rims on some vans and at $100.. a very reasonable starting price.. listed in Albany, NY

https://albany.craigslist.org/pts/d/4-mercedes-benz-wheels-tires/6326922449.html

4 Mercedes Benz wheels/Tires - $100 (Waterford, NY)

[Mount Inspiration Apparel]

Would it be possible to fit these on a Vanagon? http://www.bbwheelsonline.com/vision-cross-426-whe...gI2CPD_BwE

[levi]

Not enough info.
The lug nut hole size ?
Wheel bore size ?
Weight rating you might want to check also.
You'd need 8-10 mm spacers.
Longer lug nuts and bolts pressed in.
They *could* be made to fit.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[888]

There is a ton of info here so I tried to do some searches to find exactly what I am trying to ask. Photobucket killing off all their links doesn't help. Hopefully I didn't miss anything that has been asked before but it's possible and I apologize in advance.

I have a nice set of staggered AMG 112 x 5 MB wheels from my little brother's CLK 500 but I'm not up for doing all the mods to make them fit (looks like bolt holes, centerbores, spacers etc and even then they may be too wide).

So I picked up a set of 16" alloy wheels from an older gent on CL, he said they were for a Eurovan. He indeed had an EV in his driveway and assured me they would fit my Vanagon because he had owned Vanagons as well.

Well.....

Based on fitting one of them to the rear, I'm going to have some work to do to make them work. They did mount on the studs so they technically fit. However, the studs were too short for cast versus steel wheels (normal) and the center protrusion of the axle knocked the centercap off of the wheel. I think the wheel seated before the axle interfered with the wheel, not 100% sure. I put the stock steel wheel back on and started reading versus go any further.

Searching here, I just found a reference to the Eurovan centerbore being 57.1 and too small for the Vanagon fronts so I'll need to deal with that as well, if I want to make these work. I'm sure the front centerbore is in here somewhere or I can measure it. (My grease cap appears to be around 27mm versus some of the taller versions, by the way). So I end up with a centerbore in the front wheel that doesn't match the wheel cap or the rear wheel, I would probably have all (4) altered so they can be rotated and match.

I got curious as to what year of Eurovan they came off of so i could get some info and couldn't find them listed on any of the usual sites I use for VW alloy ID or searching for Eurovan specific alloys. I checked VW and Audi car wheels as well, no go.

The VW logo labels on the center caps seem a bit cheesy for OEM so I asked in the Eurovan section to see if they recognized them. Photos are in my gallery (only two photos), maybe you guys know what they are?

Here are details from the back side of the casting:
5 x 112
7 x 16"
Et40
Borbet
Front side of the casting has KBA 45899 on the lip by the valve stem.

Summary and questions:
Has anyone used these wheels on their Vanagons? What spacers and studs did you use?
Are there any existing VW caps that cover the front end centerbore needed for the Vanagon?
Do the Vanagon nut/bolt ball seats fit the Eurovan wheels?

Thanks!

[Christopher Schimke]

888, those wheels are not factory VW. They are aftermarket made by Borbet. The center bores may need to be opened up, but it depends on that the original application was for. They may already be big enough.

There is no doubt that you will need spacers for the front, but I would definitely recommend them for the rear too. The reason is due to the 2wd Vanagon's wider front track width. Adding spacers to the front and none to the rear exaggerates this width discrepancy.

The Borbet wheels use conical seat lugs, not ball seat.

If you drop a tape measure down the center bore until it touched the backside of the center and let me know that measurement, I can tell you if the addition of spacers will be enough to allow you to run the existing center caps.
_________________
"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]

[888]

Thank you for the reply. This is sort of what I expected, I had been searching on Borbet 16" and hadn't found them yet but it seemed clear it wasn't likely VW OEM.

The inside depth of the bore is a little tough to measure. It's actually sort of a rounded bore versus a straight sided bore, I've added a photo in the gallery.

There is what appears to be a registered area to fit the axle OD at the axle facing side of the bore, it opens up a little and them starts the rounded shape. My 0 - 6 calipers won't fit down in the wheel and neither will my metric scale. Only thing I have is a 6" scale in inch....registered bore is pretty close to 2.75" and the bore at the centercap is close to 2.25".

I think I know what you're after and this probably isn't a lot of help??

I suspect I'll install one up front and see how it does with the grease cap. The grease cap is around 27mm, this is an 84 watercooled destined for a Subaru 2.5 swap.

Thanks again for the reply.

[Christopher Schimke]

[888]

1.800" from the outside back of the wheel to the middle/inside of the centercap.

I thought you were looking at interference in the bore.

Thanks

[Christopher Schimke]

You should be able to get the wheels properly (not sticking out too far, keeping the offset correct for a Vanagon) to fit onto the front and retain the center caps, but you may need to drill a hole in the center cap for the tip of the speedo cable. Rear cap fitment isn't an issue with the proper spacers in place.
_________________
"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]

[888]

Thank you

[ALstew]

Hello I need some help with fitment. Thinking about picking up these wheels for my dads 2wd 88' wolfsburg tin top. I read the facts and the rears 17x8.5 is not a recommended fit. looking through the thread, I really like the look with the tin top, the air dam, body cladding.

[levi]

Those CAN be made to fit.
I almost did this about 10 years ago, so I've forgotten the details.
Concerns;
It's a fine line for the rear, getting enough adapter/spacer because of the 55 ET and still being able to use the slider.
The 50 ET front has to be pushed out with spacers too, and I believe there is a concern about the front bearings dealing with a 20 mm spacer.

Christopher knows these porshe wheels very well.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[candyman]

So i got a line on a set of 2013 jetta 16" 5x112 rims stock. Anyone know anything about them? What hardware would be needed. Sorry if this was covered in this thread, but cant read 145 pages

[Christopher Schimke]

[candyman]

[Christopher Schimke]

[1of6]

I'll be picking up my new 1987 2WD Doka next week. In the meantime my 1992 is up for sale. I'm wondering if the alloys I have now will fit the older Doka? The wheels were originally from an Audi R8, they're staggered 18s...8.5/42 and 10.5/55 fitted with 235 24 18 and 285 40 18. The rears were fitted with H&R 1" spacers. I really like the wheels and I'd rather not sell them with my 1992 if I can fit them onto the 1987...thoughts?

_________________
1958 Beetle, sold
1964 Cabriolet, sold (avatar)
1973 Westphalia, sold
2002 Turbo Beetle GLX, sold
1992 4 door Double Cab Transporter
1987 3 door Double Cab Transporter

[Christopher Schimke]

1of6, congrats on the new Doka.

Those Audi wheels wound not be a very good fit for the new Doka though. 8,5" wide front wheels will poke out from the fender openings. Even if you did decide to install them, you would need to have the center cores machined to 66.56mm. On top of that, you would need spacers front and rear, new lugs front and rear and new rear studs.
_________________
"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]

[1of6]

Thanks Christopher, I appreciate your expertise!
_________________
1958 Beetle, sold
1964 Cabriolet, sold (avatar)
1973 Westphalia, sold
2002 Turbo Beetle GLX, sold
1992 4 door Double Cab Transporter
1987 3 door Double Cab Transporter

[kurtk]

This is a 'What wheel fits over my big brake?' question.

I have the NLA South African Starburst 15" wheels on my syncro, with the Passat/Audi 8EO 615 123 calipers up front as part of a big brake kit. The alloy starburst wheels will clear the calipers, but my vw/audi ET30 15" spare tire steel rim won't fit over the outside surface of the caliper. The inside surface of the steel wheel is dished enough so that it creates an interference fit as the wheel is fitted. An 8mm spacer helps a little, but not completely (and it doesn't leave much stud for the wheel nuts anyway).

The South African wheels are NLA, and I haven't any listed by anyone for individual sale. Who out there has these calipers and is running a 15" wheel? Let me know what you have!

Thanks
Kurt
_________________
'87 Syncro Westfalia