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Question about bundt alloy 14" wheels

Started by 13B, 22 April 2011, 07:59 PM

13B

Hi, How does one tell the difference between OEM bundts (from the factory), german-made aftermarket bundts, and bundts made elsewhere in the world.

I just picked up 4 from a friend who bought the wheels with tyres at a wreckers and he only wanted the tyres for his Kingswood.

There are 3 different types of alloy he's given me, one marked made in W-Germany, the other three not clearly marked..  And come to think of it the wheels on my 6.9 and track car are mis-matched.  Ok I know two I got from Carl888 are made-in-Aus aftermarket wheels but I'm trying to deduce what my 6.9 should have come with, and then get some new tyres fitted to those.  The non-originals I'll use on the track car.

So, everyone, what am I looking for? 

I'll post pictures later to try to help if people think its appropriate.

Cheers,

I.

450SEL 6.9 #5440 = V MB 690 , 450SE # 43094 = 02010 H , 190E/turbo # 31548 = AOH 68K

TJ 450

Original bundts will have a small three-pointed star on the inside... under all the crud most likely.

Tim 
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

KenM

Should be a part number cast into the rim, mine have got 108 400 10 02, I think there are a number of variations on this though.

Squiggle Dog

The original bundts were forged and the newer ones are cast. Somehow the forged ones are better.
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1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

1980sdga

Kind of strange that they made aftermarket rims exactly loke OEMs.  Most folks go with a non-stock look when changing rims.

Were the aftermarket jobs dealer installed or something?

Squiggle Dog

I think there is a cutoff date when they started casting them instead of forging, due to cost. I think all W116 bundts are forged, but some of the W123 and W126 cars may have cast ones. I'm pretty sure the new ones for sale on eBay are cast.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

powerglide

My UK-delivered 350SE has 5 forged originals and they are specified on the build card. All the data are STAMPED on the inside, and this varies a little from year to year.  I have acquired two others that are also forged, and they carry the offset # (30) as well.

My 280SE has 4 Intra after market wheels provided (I was told) by Duttons in Melbourne, and the original steel wheel in the boot looking like it was never on the car (I carry 5 extra steel-wheel nuts for it).  All the data are CAST in to the ouside of the Intra whells, that are also painted a shade of crackle grey, in contrast to the factory originals that are painted silver on the outside, with a clear cat on top (usually peeling after 30+ years).  The rim profile just before the flange is also more squared off on the forged wheels, whereas the Intras are kind of rounded slightly. There are some other small differences that you notice when comparing them side by side, but they are essentlially the same specification - it's just that the forged originals are better in every way, and that's what you use if you have them.

It is easy to tell the difference. If I were pushing one of these 2-tonners around a race track I would fit forged rims, but the Intras look nice and are fine for the road.  Factory originals are everywhere, having been used on early W126 as well as compacts up to the mid 1980s, and as one guy posted, you can get them for almost nothing, so why pay good money for an inferior copy?  Now, the 15" alloys, and the wider rims, well, they are another story ...
Powerglide

koan

Isn't there something about OEM bundt wheels having steel inserts around the stud holes that non-OEM don't have?

koan
Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Amen!

KenM

Hey Powerglide would you post some pics at your leisure of the stamping versus the casting of the info so that we can see exactly what you mean?

Thanks mate,

powerglide

Ken,

My Intras are cast with "Made in West Germany", dated 1979, and without steel lug inserts as Koan says (knowledgeable dude, Koan, in spite of his TV viewing tastes ...).  Can't seem to post pics as site is a little Safari unfriendly, but will try if any other members of the Mac Mafia can tell me how. I posted pics of my yellow 280SE in Gallery a few weeks ago, and it is fitted with the Intra wheels. Dunno how to upload those pics, either, even following the instructions posted elsewhere on the site.  The Intras do look nice, though.
Powerglide

powerglide

... more 'detailed programmatic specificity' later
Powerglide

KenM

The steel insert bit is the part I'm interested in, as well as the casting versus stamping thing. I've got a set here that have the inserts but no stamped three pointed star as TJ says, want to know if they are OEM or not.

Cheers,

koan

Quote from: powerglide on 30 April 2011, 07:36 AM
...and without steel lug inserts as Koan says (knowledgeable dude, Koan, in spite of his TV viewing tastes ...)

After a conversation in a Merc wrecker when I was looking for 15" bundts. Seem to vacuum up these facts, unlike the important decisions about what colour curtains we should have in the bedroom...

(And what is wrong with my secret love Joyce Barnaby, the sexiest little minx on TV?).

koan
Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Amen!

craigb

I have a range of wheels, some from Jon, so can vouch for a few variations. My W108 wheels that came with that car have a part number "108....." and also the rim size. My understanding is that the same wheel and part number was on the W116. But in the wheels I got there are a couple of 108 ones and also "126......" part number ones that to me looked identical in size with same offset - but sounds to me like the answer could be that these are cast. I bought Jons wheels to see if I could get a set to go on my 280s and get rid of the imitation Ronals on there. My plan is to run the 2 108 and 2 126 wheels. There are another couple of types, JLL? to wet to go to the shed and check but they do look a bit different. When I get sorted might offer the odd ones back in case someone has a set and wants a couple of cheap spares in case they crack one or something later in life.

But back to the question, clean the back of the wheels and if you can find a smallish square with "108....." and 61/2 x 14 then I reckon they are the ones

..... but then I am not an expert!
1980 280s

oscar

Quote from: craigb on 01 May 2011, 07:53 AM
There are another couple of types, JLL?

Re JLL does it look like this mark below Craig?  If so it's JWL, just an industry standard mark and stands for Japan Wheel Light, ie Japan Light Wheel.  It's kind of like a CE mark on electrical equipment or DOT stamp on tyres.  Not sure if it's used world wide or just Japanese produced or marketed rims as it is required in Japan on all alloy wheels.   It does raise a further question though if any bundt with a JWL mark is OEM or not.

1973 350SE, my first & fave