Alloy wheels

[Barnfind]

I have a rescued 71 280 that was in storage 33 years wearing a set of slotted alloys dated 1970. Does anyone know if that was available from the factory? Otherwise I assume it was done at the dealer after delivery.

[Bonnyboy]

Pictures would really help. There were few different manufacturers making alloy wheels in that time so maybe someone can identify them.   Are there any production numbers or emblems on them other than the date.

Congrats on the car.    We would like pictures of that as well - we love pictures.    If you are up to it a story would be nice - how did you find it - any interesting history?  And Pictures...

[scoot]

Slotted alloys?  Do you mean Bundt wheels?  or ?

[zoegrlh]

If you mean Bundt wheels, Yes, these wheels were options for the W113 in mid 1969.  I have a set that have the correct DB part number.  Can you find a part number on your wheels (underside of wheel)

[MikeSimon]

Look at my post  in "Old pictures of our SLs"
One picture shows a W113 with aftermarket alloy wheels. They are "BBS" style. There were many aftermarket manufacturers in Germany offering alloy wheels for the SL in the late 60s, early 70s.
The factory "Bundt" wheels were made by Fuchs and were forged. They carry a MB part-number. The same design was offered in cast alloy by companies like Intra, Ronal, Rial and others.

[Shvegel]

The dead giveaway if you can't see the inside of the wheel is the Fuchs wheels have zinc plated steel inserts where the stud lugs go and the rest have no insert.

[wjsvb ✝︎]

Importantly, the factory alloy (Bundt) wheels are forged, while aftermarket ones may/will probably be cast.

[MikeSimon]

Yes, all aftermarket wheels I know of are cast. Only Fuchs wheels are forged. All the aftermarket sets that I had also had a clear identity mark on the outside. Easy to tell from original Fuchs wheels.

[zoegrlh]

The original Fuchs wheels were stamped with MB parts number 180 400 09 02, as shown in MB parts catalog under Sonder-Ausfuhrung (Special Version) 1-SA 10 858.  Special Version means option equipment.  And yes the wheels had a zinc plated steel insert at lug holes.

[col320ce]

Is the spare wheel holder in the boot/trunk different if they are factory too?

[MikeSimon]

Yes. If they are factory, the car came with 5 wheels. There is another thread named "Alloy Wheels" where we talk about the holder.

[MikeSimon]

That last statement is probably not correct. The factory may not have supplied 5 alloys. Nobody has been found yet who can tell.

[MikeSimon]

All is shown here:

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=32738.0