Wheel downsizing E400d AMG Line Night Edition 4Matic

[Grello]

Hello everyone. I’m new here.

I’ve searched this forum but I haven’t managed to find an answer to my question. Sorry if I’m missing something.

My E400d estate has AMG 20 inch alloys with run flats. After 3 cracked alloys and 3 new tyres in the last 6 months, I’m looking to move to a smaller wheel and go for non run flats.

My local main dealer has suggested a set of 19 inch wheels but were unable to say if they would fit, which was surprising and disappointing.

The wheels they suggested are 8J x 19 ET43 A21340105007x44 front and 9J x19 ET53 A21340106007x44 rear. Apparently the offsets are ok but they couldn’t advise on whether the inner circumference would clear the very large brake discs on the front of the car.

Can anyone please advise if these would fit or perhaps suggest an alternative? I’m not bothered if they are OEM, I’d be quite happy with after market wheels.

Thanks ever so much.

Graham

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , if you look in the car hand book that will inform that wheel / tyre size will fit you car.

Really surprised you have had three wheels fail , if any changes are made suggest you inform your insurance company first.

 

[HB]

Have you been monitoring your tyre pressures? Low pressure is a key ingredient of cracked wheels.

 

[Grello]

Hi , if you look in the car hand book that will inform that wheel / tyre size will fit you car.

Really surprised you have had three wheels fail , if any changes are made suggest you inform your insurance company first.

Hiya. Thank you. I’ve just been through the hand book and it’s very general, sadly; it doesn’t give any information on compatible wheel sizes. I appreciate the thought - it hadn’t occurred to me!

Cheers

 

[Grello]

Have you been monitoring your tyre pressures? Low pressure is a key ingredient of cracked wheels.

Morning! Yes, I’m pretty hot on tyre pressures. Sadly, the condition of the roads down here in East Sussex is appalling; my wife and my mates have all had pothole damage to their cars and the local tyre place had half a dozen cracked alloys to send off for welding.

Took the car to France in July - not a pothole in sight!

Cheers

 

[tonysmb]

Is there an online brochure? If so, that should show what were std size and optional size wheels for each 'trim/version', assuming that you don't have some form of non-standard upgraded brakes. What wheel sizes are shown inside the fuel flap cover, though this might cover all versions of your model, not just your car.

How much clearance is there currently between the wheel and caliper?

 

[tonysmb]

Something like this (see E Class) around page 48 onwards:

E-brochure Download

E-brochure Download

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

(document is too large to attach here)

 

[Grello]

Is there an online brochure? If so, that should show what were std size and optional size wheels for each 'trim/version', assuming that you don't have some form of non-standard upgraded brakes. What wheel sizes are shown inside the fuel flap cover, though this might cover all versions of your model, not just your car.

How much clearance is there currently between the wheel and caliper?

Hiya and thank you for your time and thoughts.

Great shout - I found an e-brochure for mine which suggests that none of the 19” wheels were available as options for mine (see attached) but there was a 19” specced for the E53 which surely would have the same size discs/calipers as mine? I wonder if they might fit…

I measure roughly 2cm between the inner circumference and the caliper and there’s about 8mm between the caliper and the spokes.

I’m going to put a bit of pressure on my main dealer as they really should be able give me a straight answer on this.

What about just going over to non-runflats? Keep the same size tyres and hope for a bit more give in the sidewalls?

Thanks again

G

 

[SmartAmg]

Look on wheel-size.com should tell you.

 

[CabrioChap]

I am looking at doing the same.. I've had both front wheels crack and need welding and straightening. I can tell that one of them has gone again, so I'll have to go back to my wheel specialist and get it fixed again.

I asked my wheel specialist if I should downsize to 19inch wheels, they told me that they were just as bad and they fix just as many Mercedes 19inch wheels as they do the 20inch ones. They said that 18inch wheels were stronger in their opinion.

I started looking at aftermarket forged 18inch wheels on eBay, but loads of those are cracked and welded as well, so I'm a bit stuck as to what to do TBH. I don't want to spend a load of money on 18inch forged wheels and new tyres just to have them crack and buckle.

 

[SmartAmg]

Personally wouldn't go to 18s they will look lost on your motor, 19s are a good compromise. If as you say 18s are just as bad, what's the point in dropping down to them, as they won't look good, all only my opinion of course.

 

[tonysmb]

Looking at the attachments, the AMG Line Edition and the AMG Line Night Edition appear, to me at least, to have the same calipers and, most likely, the same size discs. Therefore, in theory, the 19" wheels as fitted to the AMG Line should fit. Of course, the factory optional extras are usually, if not always, for larger diameter wheels, not smaller, which is why none are shown.

The hybrid, with 18" wheels, appears to have smaller calipers. Reducing the diamerer by 1" should, if my sums are correct, bring the wheel approx 12-13mm closer to the caliper, so likely okay size wise.

What's your ins. co.'s views on fitting smaller wheels? Probably acceptable if fitted to other models similar to yours, as, in reality it's just a trim level difference, rather than a more powerful variant.

With regard to Cabrio Chap's comments, there have been several threads on here about cracked 19" wheels (BMW seem to be affected by the same issues as well).

 

[Grello]

Look on wheel-size.com should tell you.

Thank you. What a great resource! Unfortunately it doesn’t cover the Night Edition which I have and which has different front disks.

Appreciate the thought though!

Cheers

G

 

[Grello]

Looking at the attachments, the AMG Line Edition and the AMG Line Night Edition appear, to me at least, to have the same calipers and, most likely, the same size discs. Therefore, in theory, the 19" wheels as fitted to the AMG Line should fit. Of course, the factory optional extras are usually, if not always, for larger diameter wheels, not smaller, which is why none are shown.

The hybrid, with 18" wheels, appears to have smaller calipers. Reducing the diamerer by 1" should, if my sums are correct, bring the wheel approx 12-13mm closer to the caliper, so likely okay size wise.

What's your ins. co.'s views on fitting smaller wheels? Probably acceptable if fitted to other models similar to yours, as, in reality it's just a trim level difference, rather than a more powerful variant.

With regard to Cabrio Chap's comments, there have been several threads on here about cracked 19" wheels (BMW seem to be affected by the same issues as well).

Thank you. Ok, so the Night Edition calipers and disks may well be the same size and the only differnce may be the ventilated disks. Appreciate that.

I’ll come back here if I can get a definitive answer from the dealer after I put a bit of pressure on them.

Cheers

G

 

[Grello]

I am looking at doing the same.. I've had both front wheels crack and need welding and straightening. I can tell that one of them has gone again, so I'll have to go back to my wheel specialist and get it fixed again.

I asked my wheel specialist if I should downsize to 19inch wheels, they told me that they were just as bad and they fix just as many Mercedes 19inch wheels as they do the 20inch ones. They said that 18inch wheels were stronger in their opinion.

I started looking at aftermarket forged 18inch wheels on eBay, but loads of those are cracked and welded as well, so I'm a bit stuck as to what to do TBH. I don't want to spend a load of money on 18inch forged wheels and new tyres just to have them crack and buckle.

Oh wow, that’s bad news! It’s a heck of a dilemma isn’t it? It wouldn’t be so bad if Mercedes Roadside Assistance would recover you home, not just to the nearest dealer.

I don’t know quite what to do then if 19’s are just as bad. Surprised about that with the increase in side wall size that you’d get.

It’s a bit of a gamechanger when you can’t go anywhere without worrying whether you’ll make it home.

Thanks for the info - let me know what you decide to do.

Cheers

G

 

[rayaans]

It's mostly always down to runflats. Change them to normal tyres and a lower pressure approx around 36psi and it should reduce the occurrence.

 

[Grello]

It's mostly always down to runflats. Change them to normal tyres and a lower pressure approx around 36psi and it should reduce the occurrence.

Thanks Rayaans. Would you suggest exactly the same size tyres as per the runflats?

 

[as400]

Yep 19" alloys and potholes don't mix well.

You can go down to 17"

I don't know your exact car details but this will help, also inside the fuel filler there may be a sticker showing tyre pressure for wheels that fit your car.

I went down to 16" square set up on my E350cdi, enjoying the comfortable ride and no fears about dodging pot holes.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Br213 Facelift [2020 .. 2024] - Wheel Fitment Data and Specs for Europe

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Br213 Facelift [2020 .. 2024] has some differences in wheel parameters for the region of Europe. See OE wheel size, manufacturer optional sizes, ET, PCD, center bore, and max wheel load for Mercedes-Benz E-Class Br213 Facelift [2020 .. 2024] (Europe)

www.wheel-size.com

 

[rayaans]

Thanks Rayaans. Would you suggest exactly the same size tyres as per the runflats?

Yes I wouldn't change the tyre size on that wheel.

The issue with runflats is that there isn't anywhere for the energy to go. There's no absorption in the sidewall so all of it just goes through the wheels

 

[CabrioChap]

I'm sure this will be unpopular, but I'm happy with them..


18" Alloys from a C Class A205, with 15mm spacers. Rides lovely.

7.5J ET44 225/45/18 fronts
8.5J ET49 245/40/18 rears

I might run these as winter wheels, then swap the 20s back on in the summer (once I have had both front wheels straightened again)