[W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels

[Chiappinelli, Joseph]

Can someone explain the advantages of fabricating a wheel by the =
assembly of multiple parts (rim, hub, fasteners, gaskets, etc)as opposed =
to machining one from a solid forged billet of aluminum alloy?=20

J.Chip

-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-admin@mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-admin@mbcoupes.com]On
Behalf Of Sharan Bains
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 5:19 AM
To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels



Great wheels Jim !

I have refurbished two sets of BBS RS 3-piece wheels. And you do NOT =
need=20
professional wheel refurbishers - you can do this all yourself. You'll =
only=20
need finishers for the outer rim and the centre piece coloring - the =
labour=20
part, which is the greatest on split rims, you can do yourself and save =
alot=20
of money.

I have also refurbished 3-pice AMG wheels. The only difference between =
the=20
two is that the BBS RS wheels have 2 rubber gaskets, the AMG only one. =
This=20
is due to the fact that on the AMG wheels, the centre piece sits INSIDE =
the=20
inner rim and the fasteners go through the inner rim, then the outer rim =
and=20
then the centre piece.

Here are links to pics showing refurb of AMG 3-piece wheels - nothing=20
different for BBS RS's except the RS's have 2 gaskets and have 12-point=20
fastener heads. The OZ AMG's have 10-point heads.

http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=3Dhakkinen&album_id=3D16458=
2

http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=3Dhakkinen&album_id=3D17321=
1


On the BBS RS's, the centre piece sits between inner and outer rim, =
hence=20
two gaskets, one between inner rim and centre piece and then another one =

between outer rim and centre piece. You'll see what I mean when you =
split=20
the rims.

Also, you do not need the gaskets - you can use RVT sealant. It's far =
more=20
durable than the rubber gaskets. And it should be availbe fromgood auto=20
parts stores. There are 2 types of RVT sealant - clear and black. The =
clear=20
is the better sealant to use.

Here's some main points :

- on the BBS RS rims, you'll need 8mm and 10mm 12-point sockets, with =
1/2"=20
drive. The fastener head is 8mm and the nut on the rear is 10mm.

- before beginning loosening of the nuts, spry penetrating oil on the =
10mm=20
nuts, and leave for a couple of hours

- you may need to hold the fastener head with the 8mm socket whilst=20
loosening the 10mm nuts on each fastener, as the fastener tends to turn =
with=20
the nut

- some of the fasteners may be seized (especially on wheels which have =
been=20
used on the front where there is excessive brake dust etc). You may need =
to=20
heat these before attempting to loosen - otherwise too much force will =
just=20
break the fastener. Some of them maybe so seized that they'll break =
anyway.=20
You may need to source additional BBS fasteners for these wheels - DO =
NOT=20
use aftermarket fasteners. The BBS fasteners are 10.9 tensile strength =
and=20
have this figure imprinted on the head of each one, as well as the words =

'BBS'. I haev about 100 spare fasteners - they need chroming/polishing, =
but=20
they are original BBS RS fasteners. If you break some, let me know and =
I'll=20
ship you some.

- Once all the fasteners are out, you'll need to cut the rubber gaskets, =

visible on the sides of the rims. There are two on the BBS RS's (it may =
vary=20
for each type of RS wheel, but usually there are two) - take a stanley =
knife=20
and run it all the way along the gasket.

- Once gasket is cut, take a flat face screwdriver and place it between=20
outer rim and centre piece, on the gasket and hammer gently. Do this a =
few=20
points round the rim and eventually, the outer rim and centre piece will =
be=20
prised apart.

- Do the same for the centre piece and inner rim seperation, cutting =
gasket=20
and splitting with screwdriver.

- That's it - wheel will be in 3 seperate pieces.

- the outer rim (dish) should be hand polished, by a specialist =
aluminium=20
polisher. They should NOT be chromed. The fastners too should be =
polished.

- the centre pieces and inner rims should be sand blasted, powder coated =
and=20
lacquered. Great if you color-code the centre pieces - vintage 80's =
stuff.

- when putting rims back together, just use 8 fasteners evenly round the =

wheel, in the beginning to hold it all together, but do not tighten them =

fully. Leave about a 1mm gap between the inner rim and centre piece and=20
outer rim and centre piece. In this gap, fill RVT sealant, all the way=20
round, in both gaps.

- when you tighten the 8 fasteners fully, the sealant will form the seal =
and=20
at this point you need to wipe off the excess sealant. It drys quickly =
so do=20
this before beginning the fitting of the other fasteners.

- Once sealant is nicely wiped, it will look like an original gasket. =
But=20
it's alot better than the gaskets.

- fit remaining fasteners. Each fastener should be tightened to 40 Nm=20
torque.

- allow wheels to sit for 24hrs so sealant dries, before fitting tyres


That's it ! Fit nice steel air valves and fit the correct size tyres. =
Once=20
refurbished and on the car, these BBS RS wheels will now last for a good =
10=20
years without any further need for refurbishment. The BBS and AMG's are =
all=20
forged alloy and very strong. You just need to have the correct tyres =
and=20
look after them.

To maintain the outer polished dish, use Autosol cream or brasso  - it =
does=20
mean a good 10-15 minutes of hard work, but you only need to do it once =
each=20
month.

Whatever you do, do not have the outer rims chromed or lacquered. =
They'll be=20
ruined forever.

BBS RS's look great on the SEC. I bought one set for my E500, but the =
BBS=20
RS's look too dated for that car - but they are great on the SEC. Almost =
as=20
good as the AMG 3-piece's....


If you have any questions, let me know.

talbir












>From: JR560SEC@aol.com
>Reply-To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
>To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
>Subject: [W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels
>Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 18:51:45 EST
>
>Greetings, all, and Happy New Year--------
>
>I just received my shipment of 17 inch BBS RS 200 wheels from Germany.  =

>These
>are the 1980s-vintage 3-piece "honeycomb" wheels with 34 bolts holding =
the
>two flanges onto the central hub.  I will be disassembling them to =
clean=20
>them,
>repaint the centers and exchanging the inner flanges on one pair of the =

>wheels
>to make a "staggered" set for my 1990 560SEC Euro conversion project.
>
>My questions:  Does anybody know a source for the gaskets which go =
between
>the three pieces?  What are the torque values for the bolts used to=20
>attached the
>pieces together?  Has anybody found an interest group, and are there =
any
>directions for disassembly/reassembly?  I've only seen one set in the=20
>members'
>cars pictures.  Who else has a set on their SEC?
>
>Thanks in advance.........Jim Rothrock, Windermere, Florida


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