I like how the factory wheels look on the wagon, so I have no plans to swap them out for a period option.    The period AMG wheels look great on the C124 though.     I hadn’t thought much of those wheels until this week when I decided to get a new set of tyres for the 300TE.

I had a voucher for a local tyre shop expiring in August, and Michelin were doing a cash back offer.    Since the tyre on the car were 7-8 years old, it was time for a new set.     I went with Michelin XM2s.    Before I went and had them fitted, I checked those other wheels I purchased to see which was the nicest set to fit with the new tyres.    While both sets were pretty good, the ones on the car were slightly better.  At the same time, I noticed something – the wheels were actually different.

The W124 Gullideckel wheels are also known as 15 hole wheels.   And the main difference between the two sets was the raised sections between the holes had a different profile.   The set on the car was more pronounced.   The other set, which apparently came off a Series 3 E280 were less raised. The holes were also a different shape, my wheels having a squarer hole and the later ones being rounder.   While I was aware the wheels came in different widths,  I had (naively) assumed that all the 15×6.5 Gullideckels for the W124 were the same.     I had hoped to be able to mix and match them – e.g. if I scraped one of the wheels on the car.    They are different enough that I would need to treat them as two separate sets.

While I was having the new Michelin’s fitted, I asked the tyre centre to put the best of the old tyres on the spare.   As with Mercedes of this era, the spare is a proper alloy, but it was fitted with an ancient Michelin MXV.    I couldn’t find a date code on it, so it was probably from the 1990s – perhaps even original to the car, although it looked like it had some use on it.     With the spare out, this gave me the opportunity to properly compare the two wheels:

• Left – 300TE Wheels:  124 401 0802.   15×6.5 ET48
• Right – ‘E280’ Wheels:  124 400 1802.   15×6.5 ET49

Looking at the EPC, the wheels on my car seem to be correct.      However, I don’t think the wheels off the E280 were original to that car.   The part number seems to indicate they are a pre-89 wheel.    This makes sense, as most of the 3rd generation W124s had the later 8 hole wheels.    The first picture below shows the wheels on my car, and the second photo shows the second set I purchased.

From what I can piece together, the factory changed from forged to cast wheels in 1989.    The set that were apparently from an E280 (pictured above) is actually an earlier forged set.    The forged wheels are stronger and lighter.  This would appear to be an early example of Mercedes cost cutting and turning away from their earlier philosophy of “The best or nothing”.  Had I known this, perhaps I would have gone with the forged set with my new tyres?  Perhaps I should look out for one more of these wheels so I have a complete set of five.

Before I put the spare wheel away, I took the time to clean out the very muddy spare wheel well.    Should prevent rust forming if moisture gets in there.

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The reason why I had the Gullideckel wheels on my 450SLC goes back to late 2018 when I purchased my 560SEC.   At the time, it came with a set of Simmons wheels.   They are a high quality Australian made wheel that are very popular on Fords.   I didn’t think they looked right on the SEC.    At the time, I was able to buy a lovely set of refurbished Gullideckel wheels from MB Spares and Service.   I originally planned to put them on the SEC, but in the end I decided to put the 8 hole replica wheels on the SEC and put the Gullideckel on the SLC.   The 8 holes rubbed slighly on the SLC and didn’t look quite right.

Based on all this, I purchased the Penta wheels for the 450SLC which I am very happy with.   I originally planned to wait a year or so to put the refurbished Gullideckel wheels on the 560SEL.  That was because the ratty wheels had good Michelin tyres from 2016 and the refurbished wheels had cheap tyres I didn’t like the feel of.   Two things changed that.   Firstly, a Black Friday sale for 50% off Pirelli tyres.   Secondly, I noticed that one of the Michelins had worn down on one of the edges from the alignment being slightly out.

I had recently had the front suspension rebuilt on my 560SEL.   My mechanic took it to be aligned, but I don’t think the alignment shop used the right specs as the handling was downright scary after the change.  I really noticed that driving in the wet for the Youngtimer Sacco Day.    I took the car back, and it took my Mechanic a few goes back to the alignment shop for them to get it right.   At the same time they wanted the castor bushings changed, which were slightly worn, but not that bad.    At least now I had a good alignment to start with for my fresh tyres.

The Black Friday sale meant that the tyres were only $270 fitted.   A great deal that also included some fuel discount cards.   I also kept the Goodride tyres, as they have tread left and I should be able to get $100-$200 for those.  They are currently for sale!

To take advantage of the deal, I fitted the nice wheels to the car a couple of days before.   While I was at it, I cleaned the wheel wells like I have for the SEC and SLC.    They were just as dirty and grimy as those cars.   I had the new tyres fitted the other day and the look of the car is transformed.   Its also much nicer to drive as well.

A nice set of wheels really make the car.   The Gullideckel were always an attractive style of wheel.   In my opinion, much more so than the previous set of available alloys.    The change also allows me to use the old wheels as spares in the various cars.   Three of the four Michelins are in good shape and from 2016.   This gives me a spare in the SEL, SEC and SLC.   The spares in all of those cars were well over 10 years old and not something to be relied on for long trips.   This was especially important for the 450SLC, as I plan to drive it to Adelaide in 2022 for the Mercedes Benz Clubs national rally.   I may even take a second spare in the boot.

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When I moved back from the USA, I brought the 16″ wheels I had bough for my 1988 560SEC with me.   They are ASA Type 8 wheels, a replica of a later wheel but with low offset for the earlier cars.   They are 16×7.5″ and the fit nicely on that car replacing the hideous chrome wheels it came with.    At the time I bought them (2009) I also purchased a set of Yokohama Avid V4S tyres.   After almost 30,000km on the 560SEC and over 20,000 on the SLC they are starting to get close to the end of their life.  These tyres were quiet, inexpensive and lasted better than any other tyres I’ve owned.

I put the 16″s on the 450SLC when I returned in 2011.   They worked reasonably well on the car but rubbed a little.    The car handled better with wider tyres than 195.   I still have the 14″ alloy wheels if I ever want to go back to original.

Yesterday I purchased a set of 15×7″ alloy wheels for the W126.  These wheels were the alloy wheel available for the W126 for the second generation 1986-1991.  They were also used on the R107 SLC from 1986-1989.    These same wheels were also produced in high offset form for the W124 and W201 (including a 14″ variant).   There was also a very similar wheel for the R129.   This style of alloy wheel is known as the Gullideckel or ‘manhole cover’.

These wheels have 205/65R15 tyres and should not rub on the 450SLC.   I therefore removed the replica wheels and replaced them with the refinished manhole covers.   Looks great.

In contrast the replica 8 hole alloy wheels don’t look as good on the 107 chassis in my opinion.   They seem to work better on the W126.

The final contrast is the car with the original 14″ wheels.   This photo is from 2003 when I first purchased the 450SLC.   I find this style of wheel works better with the ultra rare 15″ edition of these wheels.

The alloy wheel swap also allowed me to do something about the spare in the 450SLC.  Originally the car would have been sold with 5 alloy wheels.   In the 80s, it was common for dealers to harvest these 5th wheels for adding alloy wheels to other cars they had for sale not originally equipped with them.    It is possible this is how my 300SE got alloy wheels as they were not originally specified.

The spare on the car was a steel wheel complete with a tyre that looked like it is from the 80s.   Certainly it did not seem to have a date code on it.   The 5th 15″ wheel fits into the spare wheel compartment with the cover sticking up 5mm.   In my mind an acceptable compromise for having a good spare and not needing to carry around a spare set of lug bolts.

As I replaced the wheels I saw where they had been rubbing.   I had some old rust protective paid that I used to paint over these areas.  It was quite old and I didn’t have a proper brush but it should hopefully stop rust from developing here.

These new wheels look better and should no longer rub on the car.

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