pluggers
MB Enthusiast
Those wheels look like a cardboard disks painted with spokes 
Mercedes owners obsession with OEM+ Wheels?
Fandango
Active Member
Took the words right out of my mouthSpinal said:
I agree, they don't do it for me either. (I'm nearly twice your age, Michele)
I like the discrete, discerning look of most OEM Mercedes wheels.
I saw an SLK with chrome spinners the other day, it just looked wrong in so many ways. It drew some attention though, the pointing and laughing type though.
Regards.
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I'm with the majority of others, although I think this is a very nice looking car:
GSBellew
Active Member
I'm a bit confused at this thread, its not simply a Mercedes thing, its a personal preference.
I dont get the VAG / Audi bashing which appears to be suggested, as someone who has been in the VAG scene for 10+ years I have to say that my experience has been much the same as here, the majority of the real VAG enthusiasts are conservative about what wheels they fit, new spurious wheels just look wrong.
Now the notion that OEM wheels are of poor quality, thats the biggest load of crap, Wheels are out sourced from manufacturers who specialise in making wheels! My G40 has its original wheels on, BBS RA's, outsourced from, guess who BBS.
I know for a fact that W211 elegance wheels for one are made by Ronal, yet again a respectable wheel manufacturer, my point is OE wheels are not cheap poorly made substitutes made in house, its the no name spurious wheels I would be wary off.
I dont get the VAG / Audi bashing which appears to be suggested, as someone who has been in the VAG scene for 10+ years I have to say that my experience has been much the same as here, the majority of the real VAG enthusiasts are conservative about what wheels they fit, new spurious wheels just look wrong.
Now the notion that OEM wheels are of poor quality, thats the biggest load of crap, Wheels are out sourced from manufacturers who specialise in making wheels! My G40 has its original wheels on, BBS RA's, outsourced from, guess who BBS.
I know for a fact that W211 elegance wheels for one are made by Ronal, yet again a respectable wheel manufacturer, my point is OE wheels are not cheap poorly made substitutes made in house, its the no name spurious wheels I would be wary off.
aka$h
MB Enthusiast
Its each to their own, I know the wheels I had on my CLK were not to everyone's taste, but then I see more than 10 CLK's a day running 17" AMG's. This is my understanding of it, most AMG wheels are of a simple and elegant design that suits the car, it is only due to the replica's flooding the market that they get labelled as 'too common'.
In Germany where MB's are far more common than in the UK, the owners tend to want to personalise them more, to stand out from the crowd.
My choice on the CE was to keep it AMG (a set of 3piece splits), but in the past have gone for something different. And the Green CLK below always used to attract some attention.
In Germany where MB's are far more common than in the UK, the owners tend to want to personalise them more, to stand out from the crowd.
My choice on the CE was to keep it AMG (a set of 3piece splits), but in the past have gone for something different. And the Green CLK below always used to attract some attention.
Parrot of Doom
MB Enthusiast
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Thats the only one I like. The rest look hideous, especially as they're lowered. What is it with people lowering suspension so the wheels almost rub against the arch? They look stupid when the gap between tyre and arch isn't perfectly linear.
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To BLING or not to BLING that is the question, i would rather not.
I would agree with the others, that OEM wheels are the best. Mercs are of a different pedigree to the rest of the marques. They are always best when understated.
IMHO Your pics do not suit the cars at all and look rather pimpish. Why would any one spend 70K and ruin their S class by putting those rims, I will never know!!
IMHO Your pics do not suit the cars at all and look rather pimpish. Why would any one spend 70K and ruin their S class by putting those rims, I will never know!!
Most of the wheels I posted up in the first thread, apart from the rezax2 on the SLK and the Kranze are NOT chrome. The 2 exceptions are triple plate chrome, a far cry from that Chinese produced Lexani rubbish sold in the US.
Some are full billet wheels as well, the Budniks. Some are mirror polished (the BBS LM's), and the Work outer rims are mirror polished and annodised.
As for trying to compare a set of 15" BBS RA's that are one piece cast to a full custom billet wheel from Budnik, that's a ludicrous comparison. As is the proclamation that Ronal are a manufacturer of "quality" wheels in Germany because they produce OEM wheels, they are not.
By far the best quality wheels produced in the world currently are Japanese. Weds Kranze, Lowenhart, Work, Trafficstar, etc, all bespoke hand built 2/3 piece designs and fully forged.
Most of the factories of the principal OEM wheel producers are now located in Eastern Europe, Poland etc, quality control has gone downhill rapidly, Keskin alloys are the prime example, but Ronal I believe are also located out there. All the US alloys, other than a handful of manufacturers, are produced in China and imported into the US. Lexani the prime example of this, quality is abysmal.
There's a world of difference in the quality of a single piece cast alloy (e.g. an 18" AMG original) and a fully forged 3 piece wheel, and we're not talking simply price here (the price differential is actually minimal, OEM wheels are hugely marked up). Weight, construction, and the forging process all make for superior wheels, well beyond the aesthetic appearance of the wheel (that is personal choice in any case).
As for the guy commenting about VW tuning, you're entitled to your own opinion. I write freelance for PVW and have been modifying VW's for 12 years now, I'm pretty knowledgeable about what's going down in the scene, and the scene isn't just the UK (where people have become obssessed by BBS RS wheels over the last 3-5years), Europe still leads the way, though the US has some sh1t hot cars now.
P.S. I think Akash has owned some of the freshest cars on this board, and his matey with the 560coupe owns my most favourite UK benz of the moment. It's nice to see someone trying something different, different wheels, bigger drops.
2 words probably epitimse my view of how Merc's should be styled:-
Southall Style
Some are full billet wheels as well, the Budniks. Some are mirror polished (the BBS LM's), and the Work outer rims are mirror polished and annodised.
As for trying to compare a set of 15" BBS RA's that are one piece cast to a full custom billet wheel from Budnik, that's a ludicrous comparison. As is the proclamation that Ronal are a manufacturer of "quality" wheels in Germany because they produce OEM wheels, they are not.
By far the best quality wheels produced in the world currently are Japanese. Weds Kranze, Lowenhart, Work, Trafficstar, etc, all bespoke hand built 2/3 piece designs and fully forged.
Most of the factories of the principal OEM wheel producers are now located in Eastern Europe, Poland etc, quality control has gone downhill rapidly, Keskin alloys are the prime example, but Ronal I believe are also located out there. All the US alloys, other than a handful of manufacturers, are produced in China and imported into the US. Lexani the prime example of this, quality is abysmal.
There's a world of difference in the quality of a single piece cast alloy (e.g. an 18" AMG original) and a fully forged 3 piece wheel, and we're not talking simply price here (the price differential is actually minimal, OEM wheels are hugely marked up). Weight, construction, and the forging process all make for superior wheels, well beyond the aesthetic appearance of the wheel (that is personal choice in any case).
As for the guy commenting about VW tuning, you're entitled to your own opinion. I write freelance for PVW and have been modifying VW's for 12 years now, I'm pretty knowledgeable about what's going down in the scene, and the scene isn't just the UK (where people have become obssessed by BBS RS wheels over the last 3-5years), Europe still leads the way, though the US has some sh1t hot cars now.
P.S. I think Akash has owned some of the freshest cars on this board, and his matey with the 560coupe owns my most favourite UK benz of the moment. It's nice to see someone trying something different, different wheels, bigger drops.
2 words probably epitimse my view of how Merc's should be styled:-
Southall Style
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No VAG / Audi bashing intended, I myself have a VW Mk1 and a MK4 golfs subtely done up on standard wheels.
like i said before, the BBS`s look great on the mercs, just dont think the chrome plated wheels do anything but cheapen the car, no matter what the quality is!
and David, its not "southall style", its the "Euro look", you being a VW person should know it didnt start in southall!
like i said before, the BBS`s look great on the mercs, just dont think the chrome plated wheels do anything but cheapen the car, no matter what the quality is!
and David, its not "southall style", its the "Euro look", you being a VW person should know it didnt start in southall!
GSBellew said:
I'm sorry to say I have to agree!Flash said:
Clean, neat and mint are the first 'mods' to any car - then OEM upgrades, aftermarket stuff rarely looks nice IMO
Sadly most of the vehicles that wear the 'blingiest' wheels tend to be lower specced/powered models - gives a general impression that the car is making up for what it lacks elsewhere
Will
GSBellew
Active Member
Alps said:
I think the same can be said of chrome plated wheels on any car, leave them to the Corsa / Saxo brigade.
PS good to hear I am not the only VAG person on here, a lot of people I meet seem to be narrow minded and think you can only be enthusiastic about one brand.
Doodle
MB Enthusiast
GSBellew said:I think the same can be said of chrome plated wheels on any car, leave them to the Corsa / Saxo brigade.
PS good to hear I am not the only VAG person on here, a lot of people I meet seem to be narrow minded and think you can only be enthusiastic about one brand.
Oh dear god no...why else do I have a rusting hulk of an Alfa on the drive?
bolide
MB Enthusiast
Interesting topic. I liked the same rims as Parrot of Doom and pretty much hated the rest for the same reasons as everyone else - too low, too big, too bling, too vulgar
I think manufacturer designs take some beating for the sheer visual quality. Think of the multispoke (Ronal) alloys on the Audi Quattro and the Audi 100/200, ATS 5-spokes on the Opel Manta, the wierd assymetric alloys on the Renault Fuego, Porsche 911 Cookie Cutters with black centres and silver rims, flat-face Porsche 928 slots and classic ATS Cups on an early modified Golf Mk I. My all-time favourite is the optional forged Fuchs wheel on the Audi Quattro
On Mercs I think the 15-hole alloy from the W124/W126/etc is great. Early ones were forged, not cast, and they're tough old wheels. I keep toying with having a set polished but it's a bit too bling for me. Here's a set that aren't even clean [pic updated - they're clean now!] and they look good!
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
I think manufacturer designs take some beating for the sheer visual quality. Think of the multispoke (Ronal) alloys on the Audi Quattro and the Audi 100/200, ATS 5-spokes on the Opel Manta, the wierd assymetric alloys on the Renault Fuego, Porsche 911 Cookie Cutters with black centres and silver rims, flat-face Porsche 928 slots and classic ATS Cups on an early modified Golf Mk I. My all-time favourite is the optional forged Fuchs wheel on the Audi Quattro
On Mercs I think the 15-hole alloy from the W124/W126/etc is great. Early ones were forged, not cast, and they're tough old wheels. I keep toying with having a set polished but it's a bit too bling for me. Here's a set that aren't even clean [pic updated - they're clean now!] and they look good!
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
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Some good points from some people for sure.
I think the difference with this forum is that no one really "modifies" their car in the true sense of the word. Everyone on here just replaces or upgrades parts in their cars. Fitting a freaking cup holder or taking a door card off is not modifying your car.
I'm yet to hear of anyone re-painting any part of their car simply to remove a spoiler, or as they've rolled the arches to clear their wheels and the paint's cracked. It just doesn't happen on these forums. Also I have read about one post of someone changing the engine in their car and upgrading it for a bigger one. No one flows the heads on Mercs, I know the AMG ones are already done, but go on club202.com and people put turbo's on their cars and modify the hell out of them. Some of them very successfully, others less so. In the UK it appears we are different.
Part of this comes down to the cost of the car, I have a dirt cheap Merc myself, I bought it cheap so I can afford to spend a bit modifying it. If it goes wrong it's no big deal, no harm done. Also I own the car outright for cash.
Those on finance deals can't execute big mods to their cars, nor do they necessarily have the cash or inclination to do so. They may own newer/more expensive models so are less willing to risk changing the wheels/suspension setup anything beyond OEM.
As for being brand specific, I'm a great believer that any well built car can look great with a little bit of help in the styling stakes. A lot of VAG people are very blinkered and don't really think outside the box, but things are changing.
In all this isn't a modified car forum, and this post proves as such Not a bad thing, just it's different from many of the forums I'm on.
I think the difference with this forum is that no one really "modifies" their car in the true sense of the word. Everyone on here just replaces or upgrades parts in their cars. Fitting a freaking cup holder or taking a door card off is not modifying your car.
I'm yet to hear of anyone re-painting any part of their car simply to remove a spoiler, or as they've rolled the arches to clear their wheels and the paint's cracked. It just doesn't happen on these forums. Also I have read about one post of someone changing the engine in their car and upgrading it for a bigger one. No one flows the heads on Mercs, I know the AMG ones are already done, but go on club202.com and people put turbo's on their cars and modify the hell out of them. Some of them very successfully, others less so. In the UK it appears we are different.
Part of this comes down to the cost of the car, I have a dirt cheap Merc myself, I bought it cheap so I can afford to spend a bit modifying it. If it goes wrong it's no big deal, no harm done. Also I own the car outright for cash.
Those on finance deals can't execute big mods to their cars, nor do they necessarily have the cash or inclination to do so. They may own newer/more expensive models so are less willing to risk changing the wheels/suspension setup anything beyond OEM.
As for being brand specific, I'm a great believer that any well built car can look great with a little bit of help in the styling stakes. A lot of VAG people are very blinkered and don't really think outside the box, but things are changing.
In all this isn't a modified car forum, and this post proves as such
Not a bad thing, just it's different from many of the forums I'm on.Users who are viewing this thread
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