Bundt's refinish or neu

[node105]

W123 Rims



Well time to re-finish, or replace, the alloy rims on my 84 280CE, as I really want to change tyres. Michelin 195/70 R14 Energy XM2+ seem a probable option, although made in Thailand. If anybody knows a made in EU option?

Ideally I would prefer to go to 15” - mostly from aesthetics, just to reduce that wheel arch gap visual a small amount.
I am NOT after ‘wide’ per se, but higher ratio in the 75-85% rim:tyre ratio range is never a bad thing, depends what is available…
There are options, and generally $$ of course more on that below.

The first option, is to have the existing rims repainted. Enquired this week at a known Mercedes crash repairer in Adelaide, ‘don’t do rims or work on old cards’…, but suggested a tyre place ( they seem to use) up the road.

Tyre & Rim place use DeBeer paints, I do not want to go the powder coat route, takes a month (?) and $350 per rim. I do want original satin silver. SO a candidate.

Now I have painted rims myself before, for my 105 Alfa, and the results were fine and lasted years, but absolutely no time these days. One trick was to use a roller stand; have a support stand with metal rollers for input/output to a 3-phase MEK cold saw (Italian), put the rim(s) on that, apply rotational motion, and while it’s spinning around, trigger the spray gun, holding the spray gun steady, very even result, worked a treat.

There are multiple sources of new rims, and many claiming to be made in Germany, TUV approval etc, but I am inclined towards if I were to go the new route, as close as possible to original as practical.

One bit of trivia I did pick up - KBA , is not a brand , as the now unknown source stated it:
“…KBA 43907 on the wheels. This is a german numbering, which means, the type of wheel had a special MOT examination an then got a permission (KBA number) for use (in Germany). Wheels are a remake (starting in the late 90s) of the original 70’s magnesium wheels, made now in alluminium by Cromodora Wheels S.p.a. commissioned by Frank Hanel GmbH, supplier of Alfa Romeo parts, specialised in type 105 cars.
The wheels were produced with offset 30mm for Berlina/Giulia and offset 24 for GTV/Spider/Junior Zagato and are still available. Prize in Germany is 860,- Euro for a set of 4, including metal valves, nuts and cap”


Back to real bundts
I read that Fuch’s still does them, but have not been able to find a believable source

Another issue is, are the quality remakes ( as distinct from the copy herd), even if they are Fuchs, the same mid magnesium alloy as original 70's, ie are they as light?
Which also raises another as yet unresolved query - I did read, possibly in Mark Cosovich, that the ‘light’ /magnesium based rims were only made in the 70’s. Don’t want to be chasing phantoms…

Niemoller has obvious cheaper remakes of unspecified origin.


MBZ parts has listing for Genuine Mercedes:-
New OE Mercedes Aluminum-Alloy Bundt Wheels, 14” Diameter and 6” Wide. Set of five.
Includes Two-Year Manufacturer Warranty

$3506 USD ( c. 5015 AUD) which is a bit of a stumbling block, and were one to stump up that sort of dosh, I would really wanting to be getting 15”. Sounds a bit OTT I know, but C123 are appreciating as we all know, so … ( yeah, yeah, overt self justification; I have done sillier things)



A outside alternative I have also been contemplating, is a set of genuine Penta, but that is a bit of a bottomless pit

I really like the look of the original rims, but really do want decent tyres.


Genuine new

genuine-mercedes-benz-aluminum-alloy-bundt-wheels-14x6-new-oe-set-of-5__25119.jpg

powder coated

powder_coated.jpg

[node105]

not mine, but first time I have seen one in same colour as mine, I like. Have been slow to warm to 877. A colour very much affected by quality of light; far better I think in Europe, or lower lighting times. Nice framing on the pic.


Does look a bit like they ran over someone wearing white tennis shoes though
(there was a time one would not have to have qualified tennis shoes with 'white')

877_blue green.jpg

[300TDT]

MB Classic Centre in California had 15" Bundts on sale not long ago.
Their new online store still has glitches so unsure if they still have them or not.
You could search with a part # but I don't have it, nor for the 14" Bundts.
And you'd have to arrange your own shipping as they only seem to use Fedex which would be $$$.

I'd advise caution re MBZ parts.
Professional-looking, convincing on-line presence but they have a really bad reputation on the S123/T model FB groups.
And can somehow get many difficult to find parts... which turn out to be cheap, ill-fitting reproductions or just don't show up.
I've read about many people who have been burned - a recent one being a restorer in Europe who was fixing-up a customer's car, had already paid for a large order, and was livid.
I signed up for their newsletter in the past and they have been spamming me with endless, aggressive promotions ever since with no way of unsubscribing Luckily I didn't try to buy anything!

[CraigB]

second the classic centre comment - but I can't remember if forged - you would think so.

I have seen 15" through a local distributor of no doubt copies and no doubt cast, but were at a very resonable price - a while ago someone on here bought a set and was really impressed with quality - if you can't find googling I should be able to find it again - classic wheels or something like that.

Refinish - only did powder coat on one set of steel rims - first change of tyres and the fitting machine broke the seal and then just started corroding under and a nightmare to get off. Would never do that again when original paint has done well for so many years. I'm sure any normal crash place will take that on.

and original mercedes part number wheels forged - most other copies cast..... I am told.

[node105]

thanks for the MB Classic Centre, it was one that hadn't made it to my list of x100 MB parsts sources.

I had 2 orders from MBZ in 20/21 , in Oregon correct?
they had genuine rear side window seals at the time, $$$ , but hadn't found them anywhere else. Both deliveries were ok, but correspondence made it obvious seriously driven by opportunistic margin. So they fell off my list. Now a disabled option, thanks.

Powder Coat is polyester, and yes an absolute pita to get off. Steel parts need to be plated first, which the coaters don't like, to minimise the corrosion once chips and scratches occur, otherwise as you say, you get corrosion propgation under the powder coat. Plating with inc passivate is nowhere near as corresion resistant as Cadmium. Ahh the good ol days...

I'll keep at it, but I'm already leaning to just getting the paint job done, time is limited currentlty.

[CraigB]

California. Hope this link works. https://www.mbusa.com/en/classic-center

[tsharkey]

If have often thought about 15" bundts, but the 14" genuine are so plentiful and beautifully made that I have never seriously pursued them. You can get genuine 15" versions, and one member here has them but never seen a set for sale. All the aftermarket ones are expensive and if I am to believe the general wisdom of the net, not as good.

[matthewz108]

This company in Melbourne stocks the Maxilite 15in and maybe 16in bundt copies.
http://www.classicwheels.net.au/

[300TDT]

Their new online store is still a work in progress so maybe use the email for parts enquiries.
All genuine parts that are Mercedes branded so come at a cost.
But for authentic 15" Bundts maybe the place to go
CraigB has posted the link

thanks for the MB Classic Centre, it was one that hadn't made it to my list of x100 MB parsts sources.

[node105]

at this price, despite the shipping , I might order 2 sets :-)

rims_mb_classic.png

The problem with the US MB (legit) sites, is they do NOT ship internationally.

Ther is the option potentially of freight forwarders possibly, but I have tried that a couple of time and loathed the experience

And then, there is the frequent refusal to recognise any Visa etc that is not issued by a US bank.

[tsharkey]

Ther is the option potentially of freight forwarders possibly, but I have tried that a couple of time and loathed the experience

I use someone who ships in US Muscle Cars. My boxes sit in their container and I pay them for the paperwork etc plus some freight. Generally works well but they did loose a crank shaft for 6 months (the box was the wrong way around at the depot in Orange County so the label wasn't showing). They were going to cover the cost of it and were relieved it was found.

[300TDT]

You have to email the parts people at Classic Centre, not go thru the online store, for international shipping.
I've never had a problem (other than the expense) over the years, even with credit cards.

I might have to try freight forwarders as the cost of shipping from the USA is getting prohibitive.

TSharkey, do your muscle car people have containers going to Sydney?

The problem with the US MB (legit) sites, is they do NOT ship internationally.

Ther is the option potentially of freight forwarders possibly, but I have tried that a couple of time and loathed the experience

And then, there is the frequent refusal to recognise any Visa etc that is not issued by a US bank.

[node105]

ok, I'll send them an email

And I wont be surprised the the cost is not $2 plus core

[tsharkey]

TSharkey, do your muscle car people have containers going to Sydney?

No - Only into Melbourne and then on to Ballarat.

[300TDT]

The parts advisor at MB Classic Centre says that 126 400 22 02 15" Bundts suitable for a S123 wagon are NLA.
But Bundts for C123 are slightly different?
Good luck.