R129 wheels

[Doodle]

It appears that the finances will soon be in place to let me finish the work on the SL, and the jobs are clear and defined apart from one area - the wheels.

The car originally came on 8-holes; last year I bought Bill's Ceginus/Evo wheels when he upgraded. They look great on the car, but I can't help feel they still look a bit lost in the arches and that something meatier would be an improvement.

It's a pre-facelift car in Azuritblau, so I have been thinking about a set of the old school 3-pc 17" AMG's. However, I have a feeling they'll need constant attention to keep tidy; there's also the challenge of finding a good used set at a reasonably price (Brand new they'd be 1/3rd of the value of the car - pointless)

So, any other suggestions?

 

[stats007]

AMG IIs always look good.

 

[Chris Murray]

AMG I 18" are 0.5" wider than the AMG II and have nice wide rim lips. Opt for them in Sterling Silver so they last...

 

[stats007]

Not sure they were an original option on the earlier cars?

 

[Chris Murray]

no idea! They're approved for any kind of 129 though:

 

[buccal]

Look really good...

 

[IanA2]

Call me biased, but apart from the originals, these are the only wheels I like.

 

[Doodle]

Not sure those will sit well on my car though - the curvier bumpers and silver paint carry it much better.

I've seen a car on the undished AMG I's, and it looked totally wrong from a 3/4 view. Deep dish is a must for those.

This will probably cause controversy, but I'm actually quite liking Azev C's after seeing this one - link
They are quite similar to AMG I's though, which may help.

 

[IanA2]

The Azev's are not too bad really, I guess it comes down to price.......but what's wrong the originals?

 

[Doodle]

The Azev's are not too bad really, I guess it comes down to price.......but what's wrong the originals?

Originals as in current fitment? Sometimes I feel they look a little lost in the wheelarches, more so at the rear. I'll try and sort a pic shortly to demonstrate.

The 8-holes that preceeded them (which I still have) were even worse visually, but would do nicely for winter tyres.

I suspect the price between a set of Azev's and a set of carefully sourced AMG I/II isn't going to be much.

 

[MD5]

Originals as in current fitment? Sometimes I feel they look a little lost in the wheelarches, more so at the rear. I'll try and sort a pic shortly to demonstrate.

The 8-holes that preceeded them (which I still have) were even worse visually, but would do nicely for winter tyres.

I think the style of the pre-face lift bumpers make the right wheels imperative, to avoid the look you say. Mine is a 96, mid facelift which had the replica IIs (below) when I bought it (8.5" x 18" f and 10" x 18" r). They don't make for a good ride, though, and I have since fitted the later windmill style, as seen on the last facelift. Much smoother, and at 8.25" x 17", still look the part, I think.

 

[Howard]

I thought you had some nice Brabus's for it ?

 

[Doodle]

I thought you had some nice Brabus's for it ?

Lol, you mean the ones from Karl's "yuppie" photos? Yes, still got them, but they're for stuff like C/E-class; Olly warned me what they would (or wouldn't)be doing for the handling, something which became totally apparent once I fitted the Evo's. I'll be putting them up for sale at some point.

To be fair, if I could find a nice set of Monoblock IV's in staggered 18" that would do nicely - fat chance!

 

[Howard]

Ah , the 'yuppie' pics ....

I'd forgotten them !!

 

[94mattda]

I like the ones on mine.....they need a refurb but i love the deep dish and the staggered look.

 

[Doodle]

So do I, I keep looking at the pics enviously.

The OZ Opera's on EDZ's V12 are also causing me problems!

EDIT - just been looking at Bill's album pics of his SL, really highlights where the Evo's just don't quite fill the arches as much

 

[Roger Jones]

Does anyone know which wheels were standard on the R129 in its various stages of evolution? Photos if possible, please.

 

[MD5]

Does anyone know which wheels were standard on the R129 in its various stages of evolution? Photos if possible, please.

I'm sure there are others, but I think these are the basic incarnations.

 

[74merc]

My mate has a 129 and has been looking for wheels for his too. Apparently after-market wheels in the correct offset are very hard to come by.

 

[BTB 500]

For most of the R129's history the 16" 12-hole alloys were standard, with 16" 8-holes as a (very common) cost option. Think that changed in 1999.