Hub Caps - Stainless or Chrome?

[bpossel]

  Hi All,

I am getting mixed signals and wanted to clear something up with the group...

Are the chrome hubcaps original (OEM) and the polished stainless hubcaps "after market"???  I am referring to the 1-piece, later version.

Thanks!
Bob

bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320

[rwmastel]

I think all hub cap centers were painted from the factory (right?).  As to the parts of 1-piece caps that were not painted, I think they were chrome.  I've not paid much attention to this type (I have 2-piece), so others could be more accurate.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Douglas]

Early one-piece is chrome; later (and more common) one-piece is stainless.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[DavidAPease]

Okay, I can't stand it any longer!  I am going to take a cue from Dr. Benz, and start arguing semantics.  

When I was young (a few years ago), cars usually had something that covered up a part of their wheel.  If this thing covered only the center (hub) of the wheel, and left the rest of the wheel visible, it was called a "hub cap" (for obvious reasons).  If this thing covered not only the hub of the wheel, but the entire thing, it was called a "wheel cover".  Might not this terminology be easier than the confusing use of both hub cap and wheel cover to refer to either, followed by some description like 1-piece or 2-piece, small or large, old or new, etc.?  

I believe that early 113s came with hub caps and trim rings, and late 113s came with wheel covers.  'Sorry, I just had to say it.

-David Pease
'66 French 230SL

[hauser]

The Adsit Company refers to the later style as wheel covers.  BTW the www.adsitco.com has a newly updated look to their website.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Douglas]

I'm not sure if we've been through this before or not, but I recommend you proceed with caution when buying from Adsit.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[ja17]

Hello,
The W113 cars had three versions. All three had painted centers. First came the 230SL and 250SL with the separate hub caps and beauty rings.
With the 280SL came steel, chrome plated, full wheel covers with painted centers. After 1969 sometime, the full wheel covers were made from stainless steel. so the last two version on the 280SL looked identical, just the material changed.

The 230SL small hub caps were manufactured from steel and were chrome plated. Many aftermarket versions were manufactured in stainless. These are easily identified. The original steel hub caps will usually have ivory paint color on the back side and some surface rust inside. the stainless aftermakets are not quite as crisp looking but close. They are not usually painted on the backside and of coarse, have no rust being stainless.
These early hub caps were used on 300 SLs, 190SLs, finback sedans, and early W108 sedans.
the special 14" solid beauty rings were used only on the 230SL, 250SL, and the W111 and W112 coupes and cabs.

Mercedes began manufacturing the full wheel covers in chrome plated steel. The centers were then painted. Mercedes switched to polished stainless steel around 69/70 they also had painted centers.  The chrome plated covers were the most brilliant of the two, but many of the steel/chrome wheel covers were lost due to rust.

Sedans of the era and in later years used these full wheel covers. Many aftermarket suppliers also manufactured polished stainless steel wheel covers. Here again some aftermarket copies were not quite as crisp as the originals.  I believe Mercedes only supplies the stainless steel wheel covers today.


Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Douglas]

Joe,

Nice summary. One correction though -- I believe Mercedes only supplies stainless for the one-piece today.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Cees Klumper]

Yes I am also pretty sure that Mercedes only sells the polished stainless steel wheel covers.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[ja17]

Hello Doug and Cees,
Yes, you  are absolutely correct. It was my slip, it was late.

 The stainless steel wheel covers were the last version and only version available from MB today. I have corrected my post. Thanks!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio