URGENT advice, wheel fitment on SEC

[aka$h]

I 99% certain a set of wheels I sold a guy with an SEC will fit. His mechanic however, is doubtful.

The wheels in question are these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270167033154

They are the 3 piece AMG's, size 8.5 x 17 et30. I know the SEC ones usually run et18. This would mean my wheel fit 12mm further inside the wheel arch, which a 10mm spacer would resolve.

The mechanic says even without the spacers the wheels would rub the wheel arches, unless the arches were modified. The car has not been lowered, I see no reason for there being any fitment issues.

Could I have some thoughts on this please.

Many Thanks
Simal

 

[jaymanek]

well in terms of offset they are the same as my RH ones and i am using 10mm and 15mm adaptors/spacers IIRC...

my car is lowered and am not getting any rubbing..

they wont fit without the spacers for sure...

 

[Will]

Doesn't look like a problem to me - has he fitted tyres already or something?

What width is correct for the SEC type wheels?

Which arch does he think he has a problem with - front/back?

Will

 

[Mudster]

They are W124 wheels only, wrong offset for an SEC.

The period AMG wheels for SEC's were Aero I's 17"x8" ET11.

 

[aka$h]

They are W124 wheels only, wrong offset for an SEC.

The period AMG wheels for SEC's were Aero I's 17"x8" ET11.

Im aware of that, however the SL split rims will fit a SEC and the 8.5x17's run an offset of 18, so by using a 10mm spacer the offset of the wheels I have would come down to et20, and 2mm of difference is nothing, espcially when its going to sit 2mm further inside the arch.

 

[Mudster]

I have to be honest here and say I'm really not a fan of spacers and actually a little unsure what is safe/recommended.

Is there a rule of thumb when using these things? (Something I've always avoided).

 

[aka$h]

Is there a rule of thumb when using these things? (Something I've always avoided).

The key to using spacers is to make sure you get hub-centric spacers, these will make sure you avoid any woble.

 

[Chris Murray]

I have to be honest here and say I'm really not a fan of spacers and actually a little unsure what is safe/recommended.

Is there a rule of thumb when using these things? (Something I've always avoided).

There's a lot to be careful of when using spacers. That they are hub-centered is a minimum requirement.
Lots of errors can be made with bolt length, bolt seat radius, and especially the type of spacer used on the front of the following cars: 126/171/203/209/211/230 - they all require spacers that replace the bearing dustcap.
If you're not sure about anything to do with spacers then post a thread and I'll advise.

 

[Stephen Wilde]

I was the prospective buyer put off by my mechanic.

He was eventually satisfied that the wheels could be made to fit but whatever the solution they were not really designed for the SEC and would additionally raise tracking issues.

I initially agreed to purchase on the basis that they were designed for the SEC and various other models without the need for any special requirements or any disadvantages.

In the event the seller honourably recognised my concerns and we agreed not to proceed.

Any ideas as to where I could get a new set of Aero 1 wheels either AMG or replica ?

 

[Chris Murray]

Nearly every major tunng firm for Mercedes and BMW require and supply adapters for their wheels to fit the various models.
There is of course a wide range of quality in the products described by "adapter".
AMG no longer have available the 126 versions of most wheels, so the only way to get good condition wheels that fit your 126 is often to buy the 124 version and get proper adapters.
Maybe you can still approach the seller?

 

[Mudster]

I was the prospective buyer put off by my mechanic.

He was eventually satisfied that the wheels could be made to fit but whatever the solution they were not really designed for the SEC and would additionally raise tracking issues.

I initially agreed to purchase on the basis that they were designed for the SEC and various other models without the need for any special requirements or any disadvantages.

In the event the seller honourably recognised my concerns and we agreed not to proceed.

Any ideas as to where I could get a new set of Aero 1 wheels either AMG or replica ?

I have a four sets of Aero I's and two sets of AMG OZ split rims en route from Japan, they should be here this week. One set of the Aero I's are brand new boxed, but I think spoken for, the other three are in various states of used condition and I need to have a good look at them once they get here.

One set of the split rims is W124 fitment as the originals in this thread, the other are R129 staggered fitment that also fit straight onto a W126 sec.

I'll post photos, condition and prices once they are here and I've paid the import duty.


The new Aero I's (ET11) will not be cheap, they are likely to be around £1,600 for the set because they are simply so hard to come by brand new.

Refurbished will be less than half that. A good condition used set should be around £300 - £400. Personally if I buy used I like to get them refurbed myself as I get to see the condition of the wheel before anything is hidden.

 

[maggot]

I was the prospective buyer put off by my mechanic.

He was eventually satisfied that the wheels could be made to fit but whatever the solution they were not really designed for the SEC and would additionally raise tracking issues.

I initially agreed to purchase on the basis that they were designed for the SEC and various other models without the need for any special requirements or any disadvantages.

In the event the seller honourably recognised my concerns and we agreed not to proceed.

Any ideas as to where I could get a new set of Aero 1 wheels either AMG or replica ?

If you liked the split rims you had originally purchased via ebay UK, German ebay is a good place to look. The Aero 1's surface quite regularly and there seems to be a plentiful supply of AMG splits. I think these may fit your SEC
.... http://cgi.ebay.de/AMG-8-5-und-10-x...oryZ9892QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Mudster]

If you liked the split rims you had originally purchased via ebay UK, German ebay is a good place to look. The Aero 1's surface quite regularly and there seems to be a plentiful supply of AMG splits. I think these may fit your SEC
.... http://cgi.ebay.de/AMG-8-5-und-10-x...oryZ9892QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They look pretty good condition too, be interesting to see what they go for.

Lots of the Aero 1's available tend to be ET30 for the W124, the ET11 are becoming increasingly rare like the original Pentas. I've found a few sets that were badly buckled and beyond repair.

 

[Stephen Wilde]

I have a four sets of Aero I's and two sets of AMG OZ split rims en route from Japan, they should be here this week. One set of the Aero I's are brand new boxed, but I think spoken for, the other three are in various states of used condition and I need to have a good look at them once they get here.

One set of the split rims is W124 fitment as the originals in this thread, the other are R129 staggered fitment that also fit straight onto a W126 sec.

I'll post photos, condition and prices once they are here and I've paid the import duty.


The new Aero I's (ET11) will not be cheap, they are likely to be around £1,600 for the set because they are simply so hard to come by brand new.

Refurbished will be less than half that. A good condition used set should be around £300 - £400. Personally if I buy used I like to get them refurbed myself as I get to see the condition of the wheel before anything is hidden.

Thanks Mudster,

I'm not happy with the need for adapters or the handling consequences of the ebay set so I'd like to go for a set of Aero 1.

Oddly I did order a set from the SEC SHOP some 10 weeks ago but I was so fed up waiting that I went for the set on ebay as an alternative before discovering the implications.

The story about their arrival from Japan by sea was exactly the same as yours so I wonder whether you have a link with the SEC SHOP and that in fact I am the customer for the 'spoken for' set that you mention.

 

[Mudster]

That'll be you then, I deal with Chas quite a lot and I actually bought these wheels three months ago - I pass them all over to chas to sell as He has the contacts. I've been waiting for UPS to get them here which is a saga in itself. The only way I can ship the weight and volume for sensible money is groupage rate on containers.

That means I buy 2 cubic metres of a 20' container, and once the rest of the container is full it sails, that may take two weeks or three months.

Add the language barrier into this and I'm pulling my hair out.

Anyway, the ship should have docked on the 10th, so I'll be onto UPS in the morning to find out where they are.

They are real - it's just a matter of time. Oh and they are ET11 - W126 fitment - which is why I went to bother and expense of buying them as I've never seen another new set in that size.

 

[Stephen Wilde]

Excellent news. I'll keep waiting in view of the problematic alternatives.

The size being 17" ?

 

[Mudster]

Yes these are 17" x 8" ET11. Genuine AMG.

 

[Mudster]

Wheels arrived in the UK this weekend, I'll have them by the middle of next week.