For those of you that took a chance on Chinese knock offs, I will give you my review after a year of running a set on my Mercedes. They are junk and I will never try that again. 650 in the toilet. 3 out of 4 bent over the winter. Trashing them for some stock chrome wheels. Maybe AMG chrome wheels, but Mercedes wheels either way. I have new Nittos ready for the new rims when I decide which to pull the trigger on. These are 18" so I can't even use them for drag radials. If anyone is interested for drag radials, I will donate them to you for shipping cost. They can be straightened and would work for drag racing, but I would never run a set on the road again.

 

In fairness Doc, I bent all four stock wheels here this winter The roads were pretty rough and I can't see crap at 4:00AM. I'm working with Rob at NeedsWings to get some AMG replicas. Northwest Frame and Alignment up in Zionsville straightens wheels for $80 a piece I think...

 

 

Good to know in case someone wants some Chinese junk... They can have them straightened. In fact, Discount tire offered... They were a ***** to balance and bent way too easy. We don't have Indy roads up here. Never again.... But they would work for a drag race wheel... I run 17" for my drag radials though. So I can't use them. I will either go with the stock sport wheel for the E350 or the AMG version... Should have done that to begin with, but these were to serve as winter wheels... Both these places in CA have SRT6 wheels in chrome as well. Around 800 with old wheels in exchange.


Don't do replicas...that was what I did...amg replicas. But Rob didn't supply them.

 

Just curious.. Where did you source them?

 

they came from Kalifornia. Most replicas are Chinese today. I have been checking with all the online companies and all are sourcing from Asia. I took the chance, and never figured they would hold up, but I was stuck with them. Go with a good wheel company. You will pay more, but it is worth it in the end. I thought these would be a good winter wheel and run chrome in the summer. But, didn't work out. Just be careful.

 

Just one of the reasons I stay away from Chincrap.

 

yes sir. I pulled the trigger without doing some research. They aren't forged the same as higher end wheels. Wouldn't be good to fail at 150....

 

can you show the wheel or ebay seller so we all know in the future, I have seen others buy and flip to get rid of something like this.

 

I tried to look up the seller, and for what ever reason, I can't seem to find my purchase info on ebay. I still may find it on my paypal info. The key word is replica or cold forged. I am trying some TSW's. Hopefully they will fare better in the upcoming winter. Most 400-500 dollar wheel sets are going to be cheaply made. Especially the 5 spokes, where there isn't as much metal. I will post the info when I find it. I don't want to call out the wrong seller. But, there are other sellers on there selling similar rims. True AMG rims are going to be expensive, but well worth it. There are other great aftermarket rims out there as well, in the 800 and up category.

 

Doc, I wouldn't even buy those you know Surprised you tried them.

For $650 now days, you can only get some descent steel wheels for your E Class.

 

TSW wheels are gonna need some hubcentric spacers. Y'all know that I'm sure, but just though I'd mention it.

 

Doc, let me know if you need a set, I have 2 extra sets of wheels for my E, same model as yours. I have 16s with standard tires and 17s with snow tires at the moment.

My replica set was made in Europe, reasonably priced and I have driven them on Indy roads for nearly 4 years without a single issue. Do your research and you won't have problems...

Mine are TUV approved, as well as a few other certs that I forget now

HRE Explains: What is TUV? | HRE Performance Wheels

 

Thanks for these informative and helpful posts.

I've been looking for a new set of wheels for my '04 coupe. Thanks for the alert about the China wheels, I might have bought a set otherwise.

On one of the other threads I saw a member's car with Mandrus Wilhelm wheels that I thought looked great, so I've called TSW, which owns Mandrus,or one of their distributors, don't remember which, and was told by the rep that some of the parts of the Mandrus/TSW wheels are made/sourced from China, but the wheel was engineered/designed in Germany. I was also told that they come with a structural warranty to the original buyer.

Do you think the above makes any difference, i.e. would it persuade you to go with the TSW/Mandrus wheels or to avoid them?

Thanks in advance for opinions/advice.

 

It is the way they are forged. I will look for the explanation on the difference and try to post it, or you can research it. You have to ask what process was used in the making of the wheel. CNC machined wheels will cost a lot more for example. 3 piece rims are outrageous in price, but are the best. There are a host of 3 piece look a likes. So, you have to be careful there as well. I just bought a wheel without researching it, and it was a bad mistake I would normally not make...but hey, I'm getting old...lol. Just be careful, because these copies look like the real deal. I love the look of the rims....but I kind of figured I would have a problem with them and I did... The TSW I just purchased are a risk as well, but we will try them. The E model MB is a very heavy well built car... I would think the XF would be a little easier on these kinds of wheels, but I wouldn't chance it myself again.

 

Tire Rack has a great explanation on how wheels are made. I bought gravity cast wheels, and I wouldn't have normally purchased this type of wheel. But I did, they failed. The TSW wheels I just purchased are rolled and forged... give the wheels more strength while keeping the weight down. So rolled, pressure casted, forged, or 3 piece wheels is what you want. Gravity cast wheels will be heavier, and may have weak points. So, those I would stay away from.

 

thanks John. I still have my stock 18" wheels. They need to be refurbished. Previous owner curbed them pretty bad. I like the 5 spoke look. I just bought a set before asking how they were made. I never buy gravity cast wheels, but I did this time, by mistake. Anyway, hopefully the TSW's will fit the bill and we will be ready for a trip south in Sept to watch the Georgia half mile. All other trips are or will be cancelled. The house is killing me $$$$$ wise this year. Talk to you soon....need to go out and eat, drink a few....

 

Doc, these are the true AMG wheels I went with, after going through the 2 other sets for her. Older style E55 18s, but I really like that nice simple 5 spoke, so you know I had to clean up and paint the calipers...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwx...it?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwx...it?usp=sharing

 

I had a set of those bought, and decided on the TSW's. I got the wheels today, love the color and the look, but they had been previously mounted, and were scratched. I just filed a complaint with ebay, and my response to the seller was less than pleasant. I can't win on ebay, and I am done with shopping there. The Chinese have taken over the manufacturing of just about all the rims I have looked at. Rims4lessnyc is where the latest came from. So, back to the AMG wheels. This is exactly why I still have stock wheels on both the XF's. My other choice is to have the original refurbished, and that is probably my best bet. Let's gtg soon Johnny...and as the for rest of you, just be careful with rims purchases. You may think you are getting a great wheel until it puts you into the side of a mountain....later. I will update you on the latest bullshit response from ebay later.

 

Well, finally got the wheel thing resolved. They cut me a deal I could live with. In fact, I really like these wheels. I will run them on the MB for awhile, and if they hold up, maybe I have found an aftermarket wheel I could live with on the XF's. We shall see.