The wheels on my 1993 280E

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Billby - 14 Oct 2005 01:04 GMT

I picked up a second hand 1993 280E (Japanese import, but who's
counting?) earlier this year. The car has four beautiful low profile
mag wheels, but the spare is a conventional wheel. The mags use shorter
than normal wheel bolt. I need the old style longer ones to use the
spare -- five in a set. Are these parts generic or do I need to hunt
down a specialist auto-breaker to find them?

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ws - 14 Oct 2005 04:51 GMT

> I picked up a second hand 1993 280E (Japanese import, but who's
> counting?) earlier this year. The car has four beautiful low profile
> mag wheels, but the spare is a conventional wheel. The mags use shorter
> than normal wheel bolt. I need the old style longer ones to use the
> spare -- five in a set. Are these parts generic or do I need to hunt
> down a specialist auto-breaker to find them?

Should be quite generic. My W124 had a conventional spare too, and I was
near a gas station with a tyre change service when I had a flat, and
didn't bother to change it myself. Fortunately, the nice service guy
noticed I needed longer bolts, rummaged in his bucket of bolts and gave
them to me - free.

Cheers,
WS

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Billby - 14 Oct 2005 22:28 GMT

Funny, I thought they'd be generic too, but I contacted a car breaker
across town (I'm in Auckland, New Zealand) who said there are many
different wheel bolts on this model and he could only find me the part
if I could show him an existing one. Of course that would mean taking a
wheel off the car -- which is a bit difficult.

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ws - 14 Oct 2005 04:52 GMT

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mcbrue - 14 Oct 2005 04:58 GMT

Ah so! Japanese import all have spare wheel standing up so must have
different bolts! And be sure to dust off the kudzu seeds.

mcbrue observingly under the bridge in the trailer down by the river

96 S420

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Scott Gardner - 14 Oct 2005 05:04 GMT

>I picked up a second hand 1993 280E (Japanese import, but who's
>counting?) earlier this year. The car has four beautiful low profile
>mag wheels, but the spare is a conventional wheel. The mags use shorter
>than normal wheel bolt. I need the old style longer ones to use the
>spare -- five in a set. Are these parts generic or do I need to hunt
>down a specialist auto-breaker to find them?

You could just go down the dealer and buy/order a set. I'm constantly
amazed at the parts that my dealer either a) has in stock, or b) can
order and receive within a few days, and I'm driving a 1972 250C.

Owning an older Mercedes has really forced me to adjust my thinking.
If I need a part for my '72 Dodge Charger, my best choice is usually
eBay. (I learned this after having the parts guy at the local Dodge
dealership laugh in my face a few times).

With the Benz, I have to constantly remind myself to ask the dealer
*before* I go hunting all over hell-and-gone. The last time I was in
there, the parts guy told me that another of his customers needed a
gas tank for a 1960 190SL. He called Mercedes, and they actually had
FOUR of them in stock in a warehouse somewhere.

I suspect five wheel bolts won't be a problem.

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Scott Gardner

"There is a wicked pretense that one has been informed. But no such thing has truly occurred! A mere slogan, an empty litany. No arguments are heard, no evidence is weighed. It isn't news at all, only a source of amusement for idlers." (Gibson-Sterling, The Difference Engine)

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