Author Topic: Poll - Alloy Bundts or regular wheel with hub caps (Read 14367 times)

Larry & Norma · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2011, 07:31:23 »

Prefer and have regular.

jacovdw · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2011, 07:46:46 »

Even though the alloy bundts were a factory option, I still prefer the original rims with hubcaps (but that's me).
Just looks more classy in my opinion.

Ulf · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2011, 08:54:24 »

Think the alloys look great on later, dark cars, otherwise the hub caps...maybe both options (anything but the ghastly chrome wire wheels that I have on now...)

Jim Donati · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2011, 13:44:09 »

The bunt allows LOOK like aftermarket wheels that someone tried to trick their car out with.. The regular wheels and hub caps look period correct and classy.
I realize these cars came with both and the bunts were an option, but I just do not like them. Hey, it's an opinion poll!

Jim

Frank Mallory · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2011, 14:26:28 »

Bundt's, Baby! Part of "looking good" is also knowing that you have less unsprung weight along with the perfect stance that really sets our cars off.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2011, 14:34:00 »

Frank, there is not much weight difference between the alloy bundts and steel wheels, I'm afraid...some, but not much. I believe the steel wheels weigh 21#. The pressed alloys are about half of that; the bundts somewhere in between. They are hefty and substantial.

My own opinion is that the bundts take the look of the car ahead to the 1970s; a different time and place than the car's 1960s origins, but that is purely subjective. I think they also look better on certain colors than others. They do look better, again subjective, than some aftermarket non-MB products including wire wheels. Ulf, don't feel bad--I've seen them around here too. You are not the only one.

thelews · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2011, 15:06:30 »

regular are easier to keep clean

Olazz · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2011, 20:58:16 »

Quote from: Frank Mallory on August 19, 2011, 14:26:28

Bundt's, Baby! Part of "looking good" is also knowing that you have less unsprung weight along with the perfect stance that really sets our cars off.

Frank, its probably already well known here, but I'm a relative newbie on this site....

Did Frank Snr have those mirrors fitted at the factory, or are they his own doing?

Frank Mallory · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2011, 23:50:21 »

My understanding is that he ordered his 250SL without any external mirrors at all, and then he mounted those Talbots himself. The factory refused to certify that his car would be importable into the U.S.
BTW; You're not the only "newbie" here, and I am learning new W113 stuff every day. There's still not enough time left in my life to learn even HALF of what my Dad knew about these cars though ...

zoegrlh · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2011, 00:31:22 »

Bundts all the way for me. I feel better handling with them.
Bob

Iconic · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2011, 01:42:32 »

Opinion: I love my hub caps over my pressed alloys (circa 1980's). Yea, I know I love stock and original, but I couldn't resist taking 10 pounds off of each corner, unsprung !

Frank Mallory · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2011, 02:41:02 »

10Lbs per corner = 40Lbs total unsprung weight. It is commonly stated that each pound of unsprung weight is the equivalent of 4 pounds of sprung weight in terms of handling and acceleration... so the car sees, "feels" a 160Lb weight loss... one (overweight!) female passenger gone!

Garry · « **Reply #13 on:** August 20, 2011, 09:29:23 »

I think Michael was saying that the pressed alloys were 10lb lighter and the Bundts only about 5 lb but a demonstration that Joe Alexander did with all three different wheels at PUB this year demonstrated that there was actually only about 2lb difference from the steel to the Bundt wheel and 10 lb between the steel wheel and the pressed alloy.

The way to go was with the pressed wheel with the original hub cap for the weight savings. Bundts unfortunately did not provide much difference, well maybe a bag of potatoes.

Garry

Iconic · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2011, 13:50:00 »

Garry,
Sorry to differ from your response, maybe all those miles in the Jag has tainted your memory.

I believe I can support what Michael was saying. As demonstrated by Joe at PUB 2011, I remember:
The steel wheels were in the very low 20's, let' say something like 21 lbs.
The bundts were approximately 15 lbs.
The early '80's aluminum wheels (pressed aluminum) that look like a steel wheels were approximately 10 or 11 lbs.
I weighed my steel and pressed aluminum wheels a year or so ago. I remember figures just like this. I'll have to dig up the data.

And yes Frank Mallory, you can really feel the difference !!. I hadn't heard the 1 lb to 4 lb relationship. My butt agrees with your math.

You really feel the car "spin" up faster any time you lean on the throttle and the front wheels are more free to change direction (less gyroscopic effect).
Once I get my suspension fully sorted I'll be able to appreciate even more from those wheels.

harleydan · « **Reply #15 on:** August 20, 2011, 14:22:57 »

Frank,

It seems that we have the same paint color of the exterior and we currently are the only two who have voted for the bundts. I have 15" alloy bundts with "better" perfomance tires on mine...and that sure made a differeence, but that is another topic.

Danny
1970 silver 280SL Euro 4-speed

Frank Mallory · « **Reply #16 on:** August 20, 2011, 14:35:51 »

I posted this on the "Drivetrain" forum, but I think I need to mention here that there is currently a Smokin' deal on Vredestein 205/70VR14 Sprint Classics, only $155 each here> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-Dino-246-Vredestein-Tires-NEW-205-70-VR14-/230655841093?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b428d345 And free shipping too!

Kurt Miller · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2011, 20:37:16 »

Like them both...but alas I'm a Bundt man myself. Agree the look better on Grey or White...Thanks!

hauser · « **Reply #18 on:** August 20, 2011, 21:17:47 »

Frank, Thanks for posting the early photo of your Dad and his Pagoda. From what I've been told this was a very special car with one off features. Any chance of posting early pics of the engine bay and interior?

Thanks!

Garry · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2011, 01:13:29 »

Maybe those hot english cars do pickle your brain, nothing would surprise me. Its that or all the smoke the electricals generate that adds to the pickling that you get driving the thing.

But maybe Joe A can confirm that there is a that much difference between a bunt and a steel wheel.

Raymond · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2011, 02:19:13 »

There were an easy 15 of us standing around Joe, and the others as they took every variety of wheel ever fitted and weighed them... and nobody wrote it down?

I have a set of pressed aluminum so I didn't worry about the numbers. I do recall being surprised that the bundt wheels were a shade over 2 lbs lighter than the steel. I wonder how much the wire wheels of the era weigh.

scoot · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2011, 05:46:58 »

I don't think that these weights are correct. I weighed once in the past year, and my recollection was:

Steel wheel: 22 pounds
Aluminum disk wheel: 11 pounds
Bundt wheel: 13 pounds

I would have to check again (which I can do) but I'm pretty sure that the bundt was much less than the steel...

Raymond · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2011, 11:55:58 »

I could be mistaken because I didn't record the numbers. But if the bundt wheels are that light, then it doesn't make sense to pay the recently advertised $400 per rim for the pressed aluminum just for the weight advantage.

Olazz · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2011, 19:49:44 »

Interesting Poll thus far and I don't think it will change much either... to use an Americanism... almost from the "get go", the ratio has been circa 66% for original wheels and caps ..

What is interesting is that we now all need to know .. WHAT IS THE EXACT WIEGHT OF A BUNDT ALLOY?

I don't have one so c'mon chaps, whose up with the information?

Lazz

zoegrlh · « **Reply #24 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:01:43 »

Maybe Joe Alexander can do another measurement at his garage and give us the figures again, but this time, not like demo at PUB, place hub cap on steel wheel as well as alloy pressed wheel, after all, you would be running with hub caps or center caps with rings wouldn't you. I am still a believer that the Bundts are better performance wheels, and yes, with Vredestien tires. Great combo for the new Bilstein shocks too. Daimler-Benz undoubtedly designed these wheels with performance in mind.
Bob

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Which do you think looks better on our cars?

Author Topic: Poll - Alloy Bundts or regular wheel with hub caps (Read 14367 times)

jacovdw

Jim Donati

Frank Mallory

Frank Mallory

Frank Mallory

harleydan

Frank Mallory

Kurt Miller

hauser