Difference Between W116 and W126

[Michel]

Is there a difference in wheels ET between a W116 and W126?
I bought a set of Bundts that were fitted on a W116 but when I tried them on my 380SE they seem to foul and touch somewhere...

 

[c107]

There shouldn't be. But the W126 was never fitted with the 5.5" and 6.0" wheels to my knowledge so perhaps only the 6.5" fit?

 

[Michel]

I bought a set from Victoria, they are chrome and they were fitted to a W116 that drove all the way from Sydney to Melbourne.
Sadly as I fitted one at the back it touches and makes a bit of a grinding noise... but I can't see where it touches!
I'm wondering if I should get some spacers?

 

[c107]

I bought a set from Victoria, they are chrome and they were fitted to a W116 that drove all the way from Sydney to Melbourne.
Sadly as I fitted one at the back it touches and makes a bit of a grinding noise... but I can't see where it touches!
I'm wondering if I should get some spacers?

You shouldn't need the spacers and running spacers without engineering certification on the car would void your rego and insurance.
What are the specs of the wheels? part number and width?

was it a six? they had narrower wheels on the 116.

 

[c107]

Two other possibilities:

1) The brake dust shield is bent and touching the rim.
2) your lugs are too long and they are touching the handbrake mechanism inside the hub.

 

[Michel]

Two other possibilities:

1) The brake dust shield is bent and touching the rim.
2) your lugs are too long and they are touching the handbrake mechanism inside the hub.

Not those two options. The lugs are standards and we visualised the dust shield is clear.

 

[Michel]

You shouldn't need the spacers and running spacers without engineering certification on the car would void your rego and insurance.
What are the specs of the wheels? part number and width?

was it a six? they had narrower wheels on the 116.

The wheels, when held near what's on it now look (almost) identical, they are a different design and I can't find who made them or a size

 

[c107]

I had a quick look in the 1981 technical data book.

The W126 280SE also had 6" wheels, like a W116 280SE, so I would have thought they should fit.
There is a note next to the W116 and W126 V8s saying the 6" rims should not be used, but it doesn't say more than that.

it also lists the 6.5" bundt as part number 108 400 10 02, so at least early W126 had the same rim as the W116 v8 cars. There is a bundt with a W126 part number but I think that change had something to do with valve stems.

Moving to the 1983 book, it confirms the part number of the rim is now 126 400 21 02. As a footnote, it says starting October 81, they moved to rubber valve w126 part number, as I thought.

Lug bolts should be part 108 401 00 70 M12x1.5 and 29.5mm in length.

There was of course a 5.5" version of these wheels for the W115 and W123. This is not meant to be used on the W116 or W126 but no idea if it would bolt up or not. S1 W126 brakes are bigger than W116, so possible a wheel that is marginal on the W116 would not work at all on the W126. Having said that I always thought the main difference was the fronts which isn't a problem here.

 

[Michel]

Great bit of information.
Here's what I discovered today:
The wheels are KBA, 14 x 6.5 and ET+30

 

[c107]

That is the standard wheel then for your car.
Does it have stick on wheel weights on the inside?

 

[c107]

Note I should have said these are probably replicas.

The most common seem to be the aussie made wheels that were all 6.5". My 450SLC had those fitted on my purchase. There were also the Italian ones (my 280 had them) and then other ones I've seen around the place, some german made too.. they all have minor differences from the stock wheels that are only apparent when you compare them side by side.

 

[Michel]

That is the standard wheel then for your car.
Does it have stick on wheel weights on the inside?

They did have weights that originally fouled the dust cover.
So after removing them there was still something that touched but we could not see.

 

[Michel]

Note I should have said these are probably replicas.

The most common seem to be the aussie made wheels that were all 6.5". My 450SLC had those fitted on my purchase. There were also the Italian ones (my 280 had them) and then other ones I've seen around the place, some german made too.. they all have minor differences from the stock wheels that are only apparent when you compare them side by side.

I have no idea who KBA are or where they were made!

 

[c107]

I have no idea who KBA are or where they were made!

I think KBA is some kind of government certification or standard as they all have that.

The aussie ones don't have many markings. Unfortunately I looked at the photos I took of my set and they were not that zoomed in, so I can't confirm, but I suspect that is what you have. They seemed quite high quality with the steel inserts etc.

 

[BenzBoy]

From a quick Google search:
What is KBA on wheels?

The KBA certification (Germany's federal motor transport authority) includes all the safety requirements established by the German Traffic Laws (StVZO). The KBA certificate is issued only by Certification Bodies designated by the same KBA and is mandatory for the sale of alloy wheels in Germany.
Also have a look at: https://www.ronal-wheels.com/int/faq

You may need to look further to find the manufacturer, assuming that the KBA marked on your wheels is genuine and not done for effect in another country...
Regards,
Brian

 

[Michel]

I'll clean one of them a bit more than what I have done so far and advise further.
Thank you of your support and help.