1234001502 wheels

[Davek1]

Hi all,  Just wondering if anyone has a set of aluminium steelies (1234001502 with the solid silver strip around) they are looking to sell. fI so please get in touch. Thanks

[rwmastel]

Well, do you want aluminum or steel?  Two very different materials.

[mdsalemi]

Well, do you want aluminum or steel?  Two very different materials.

Rodd, he's looking for the lightweight aluminum ones that look like OEM steel. Somewhere, sometime, someone gave aluminum wheels that look like steel the nickname "steelies". Probably the same people who talk about eating their "veggies" or having "sammies" for lunch. 

These were on a 300 wagon briefly in the 1980s. They came in two sizes: 5.5x14, and 6x14. The 5.5 were rather common, the 6 somewhat rare. Took me several years to find a full set. Putting these on your Pagoda reduces the unsprung weight significantly. I run the 6" on my car, and I have a 5.5" as the spare.

Our member (or former member) Scoot once made a market in these, running into every junkyard in CA picking up every one he could find.

[Brennie]

Apart from the weight( obvs) ,how can you tell the difference if you find one with a tyre on,for instance?

[Davek1]

I live in the UK, so even harder to find for me, as most people on Ebay in the US will not send overseas

[JamesL]

@Brennie - The part number - it's as above or 123 400 1302 (the latter being the 5.5 width

The challenge is that I think the wheel was only fitted to W123 Diesels that were for the US market

@scoot may know as he was a great source of them for a while when he scoured the US for Mercedes parts

[mdsalemi]

Apart from the weight( obvs) ,how can you tell the difference if you find one with a tyre on,for instance?

If I’m not mistaken, the 6” model has a solid silver stripe around the bolt holes. The 5.5” model has a similar stripe, but dashed. Then of course there’s the part number stamped into the wheel. This is providing that the wheels have not been refinished. Mine for example, were powder coated after acquisition.

[mdsalemi]

I live in the UK, so even harder to find for me, as most people on Ebay in the US will not send overseas

That’s true.

When eBay changed policies a few years ago tipping the scales AGAINST the sellers, all in favor of the BUYERS, many (including me!) stopped selling internationally. I won’t bore you with further details.

Make friends with an American here to take delivery and re-ship to you, if you find a set at a price you’re willing to pay.

[Davek1]

I have set up a third party courier (Planet Express), so hopefully if I can find a set then they could send to California, Oregon or Florida and Planet Express with forward them on to me in the UK. There is a set on Ebay at present which are priced OK, but the seller will not change to international shipping so I can not buy.

[mdsalemi]

Here are some photos of wheels, in their native and original state.
The solid silver stripe is the 6"
The hashed stripe is 5.5"
You can see these got pretty nasty looking and I only have the 5.5" from the backside.
Everything was powder coated prior to deployment.

Many years ago at a PUB, I had my full set of four 6" on the car, plus my 5th 6" thrown in the trunk. I ran into my friend Tom Sargeant, who had three 6" and had been searching desperately for the 4th. Well, we made a no-cash swap, and I took his 5.5" to use as a spare, gave him my 6" extra, he was able to complete his set, and everyone happy. One of the great moments at a PUB and a good example of camaraderie.

[Landan]

Apart from the weight( obvs) ,how can you tell the difference if you find one with a tyre on,for instance?

You could use a magnet... if it doesn't stick its aluminium.  Fridge magnet would prob prove the point

[Cees Klumper]

Here's a set of 5 in Van Nuys, California. The price is a bit on the high side, but you do get a cool car as a bonus:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/van-nuys-1965-mercedes-220sb-sedan-w111/7787587132.html

Later, when this for sale ad for a 1965 Mercedes 22S has disappeared, its significance to this thread is contained in this sentence:

"I found and swapped on rare 14" Aluminum "steelies" wheels that were on 70's coupes. They are the ones with the silver lines in the middle. I also got a full-size matching spare, in the trunk, so 5 total aluminum wheels with 1-year-old tires hardly driven on. I had them painted white to go with the rally theme."

[doitwright]

Apart from the weight( obvs) ,how can you tell the difference if you find one with a tyre on,for instance?

Test with a magnet.

[Merc_Girl]

Isn’t Jack the Knife showing as selling aluminium wheels, or are you looking for something different?

[mdsalemi]

Isn’t Jack the Knife showing as selling aluminium wheels, or are you looking for something different?

See my earlier answer with photo— That’s what he’s looking for. They are aluminum wheels that look like steel and take the full wheel covers just like the steel ones. They are somewhat rare because they were original equipment on certain diesel wagons only sold in the USA for a couple of years.

[Jack the Knife]

Could put a limo cover on mine but in my opinion it looks too big for the car.

[Davek1]

Hi, Just chasing up if anyone has any leads on a set of these. thanks

[Jack the Knife]

Hi, Just chasing up if anyone has any leads on a set of these. thanks

Best price on eBay currently for a 6" width set of these is somewhat local to me. I can assist in picking them up if you want. See: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255303782016

More options in 5.5" with significant cost savings:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116358003132
https://www.ebay.com/itm/194286143809

I'd check with that Montreal seller, seems it would be reasonable to get to the UK.

[JamesL]

I have the 5.5s (set of 5 so weight saved in the boot) and the tyre is the same size as for the 6"  (it's 12.5mm at the rim difference, same contact patch on the road) so I still struggle with the cost difference: 5 for $1000 is a comparative steal v the 4 for $1600
But if you gotta have the 6s...

[mdsalemi]

I have the 5.5s (set of 5 so weight saved in the boot) and the tyre is the same size as for the 6"  (it's 12.5mm at the rim difference, same contact patch on the road) so I still struggle with the cost difference: 5 for $1000 is a comparative steal v the 4 for $1600
But if you gotta have the 6s...

Way back when when I sourced mine, the prices were not crazy like they are at the moment. I remember going to a Mercedes parts warehouse, Independent, in Seattle… with Pete Lange, the engineer. They had a MOUNTAIN of 5.5s, and I literally climbed the mountain and sorted through every one and found one 6 inch! I then sourced other ones from all over the place. Ended up selling all of them because I did get one pristine set of 6”. But I do have a 5.5 with the spare.

[Davek1]

I am beginning to see how hard it is to source the 6 inch wheels. I did find a great looking set but the seller would not sell due to me living in the UK.
They are out there, but seem few and far between. Patience could be my best friend here. Still holding out hope someone on here may have a lead in the future.