Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (December 2000, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:55:21 -0500
Reply-To:     Brian Cirulnick <techrat@VM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Brian Cirulnick <techrat@VM.COM>
Subject:      Mercedes Rims -- 112mm 5bolt pattern?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Howdy List!

I'm tired of my standard 14inch steel rims with their tinker-toy 185R14 tires. On a whim last night, I realised after some e-bay surfing that Mercedes rims could be had used for less than used Vanagon rims. Now many Mercedes(s) use a 15 or 16 inch rim with a 112mm 5 bolt pattern. Plus, the Mercedes, being a heavy car, probably forges the alloy rim to take a great deal of weight, so it's probably OK for a Vanagon.

Now, if I go trashing through junkyards for some rims, is there anything I should be aware of? Would just about any Mercedes rim fit the Vanagon, provided they are 112mm 5bolt? Do I have to drill out the center hole like with Audi rims, or add spacers (2 wheel drive '85 Vanagon GL), or do anything other than just get tires and mount them?

I want to keep the job simple and (fairly) cheap. I don't want to spend more than $600 for 4 rims and tires AND, I want to have at least 6inch wide tires, but I'd prefer 7inch. Am I talking pure fantasy for 15 by 7 inch rims with the biggest tires I have clearence for?

Help me Obi-Wan...

(Oh, and if anybody's been following my exploits -- thanks for the info regarding the square versus round headlights -- I've been convinced to keep the rounds since apparently, I can get much brighter lights for the old 7inch rounds)

TTYL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: techrat@vm.com URL: http://www.vm.com/ http://www.obsolyte.com -- where the antique is elYte!!


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.