[W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels

[Sharan Bains]

Agree in some respects, it is an awful lot of money for a wheel. The 
increased cost is solely down to the labour involved in fitting the 
multi-piece wheels up.

For me, less unsprung weight, better looks and the convenience of being able 
to easily refurbish/replace a component instead of the entire wheel is very 
beneficial. However, I probably wouldn't buy them brand new - all the 
multi-piece wheels I have bought have been at bargain prices. I got my set 
of 4 BBS RS's and AMG's for less than $500 each set. And it only cost me 
$250 to refurbish them as I did most of the work myself.

Brand new, those 3-piece AMG's were over $4,500 a set from MB!

I got my multi-piece wheels at a price less than what I'd pay for single 
piece wheels, so it worked well for me.



talbir



>From: "Chiappinelli, Joseph" <joseph.chiappinelli@mirant.com>
>Reply-To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
>To: <mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com>
>Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels
>Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 11:17:30 -0500
>
>To me, the first two advantages wouldn't justify a 300% premium in cost and 
>the 3rd advantage is subjective. I do know they are harder to clean with 
>all those fasteners.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: mbcoupes-admin@mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-admin@mbcoupes.com]On
>Behalf Of Sharan Bains
>Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 8:17 AM
>To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
>Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels
>
>
>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 :
>
>
>Significant advantage no 1 - you can replace components instead of having 
>to
>replace an entire wheel. If you seriously kerb your one piece alloy, you've
>no option but to buy an entire wheel. With a split rim, you can just buy 
>the
>outer rim (which is cheap).
>
>Significant advantage no 2 - split rims are lighter. The outer and inner
>rims can be made from lighter alloy, hence saving weight.
>
>Significant advantage no 3 - they look 10x better than one piece wheels.
>
>Disadvantage - they cost 3x more, but only due to the labour that is
>involved in putting them together. The component parts would cost no more
>than the one piece wheels.
>
>
>talbir
>
>
>
> >From: "Chiappinelli, Joseph" <joseph.chiappinelli@mirant.com>
> >Reply-To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
> >To: <mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com>
> >Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] BBS RS Wheels
> >Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 07:53:38 -0500
> >
> >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?
> >
> >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
> >professional wheel refurbishers - you can do this all yourself. You'll 
>only
> >need finishers for the outer rim and the centre piece coloring - the 
>labour
> >part, which is the greatest on split rims, you can do yourself and save
> >alot
> >of money.
> >
> >I have also refurbished 3-pice AMG wheels. The only difference between 
>the
> >two is that the BBS RS wheels have 2 rubber gaskets, the AMG only one. 
>This
> >is due to the fact that on the AMG wheels, the centre piece sits INSIDE 
>the
> >inner rim and the fasteners go through the inner rim, then the outer rim
> >and
> >then the centre piece.
> >
> >Here are links to pics showing refurb of AMG 3-piece wheels - nothing
> >different for BBS RS's except the RS's have 2 gaskets and have 12-point
> >fastener heads. The OZ AMG's have 10-point heads.
> >
> >http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=hakkinen&album_id=164582
> >
> >http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=hakkinen&album_id=173211
> >
> >
> >On the BBS RS's, the centre piece sits between inner and outer rim, hence
> >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
> >the rims.
> >
> >Also, you do not need the gaskets - you can use RVT sealant. It's far 
>more
> >durable than the rubber gaskets. And it should be availbe fromgood auto
> >parts stores. There are 2 types of RVT sealant - clear and black. The 
>clear
> >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"
> >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
> >nuts, and leave for a couple of hours
> >
> >- you may need to hold the fastener head with the 8mm socket whilst
> >loosening the 10mm nuts on each fastener, as the fastener tends to turn
> >with
> >the nut
> >
> >- some of the fasteners may be seized (especially on wheels which have 
>been
> >used on the front where there is excessive brake dust etc). You may need 
>to
> >heat these before attempting to loosen - otherwise too much force will 
>just
> >break the fastener. Some of them maybe so seized that they'll break 
>anyway.
> >You may need to source additional BBS fasteners for these wheels - DO NOT
> >use aftermarket fasteners. The BBS fasteners are 10.9 tensile strength 
>and
> >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
> >they are original BBS RS fasteners. If you break some, let me know and 
>I'll
> >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
> >for each type of RS wheel, but usually there are two) - take a stanley
> >knife
> >and run it all the way along the gasket.
> >
> >- Once gasket is cut, take a flat face screwdriver and place it between
> >outer rim and centre piece, on the gasket and hammer gently. Do this a 
>few
> >points round the rim and eventually, the outer rim and centre piece will 
>be
> >prised apart.
> >
> >- Do the same for the centre piece and inner rim seperation, cutting 
>gasket
> >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
> >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
> >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
> >outer rim and centre piece. In this gap, fill RVT sealant, all the way
> >round, in both gaps.
> >
> >- when you tighten the 8 fasteners fully, the sealant will form the seal
> >and
> >at this point you need to wipe off the excess sealant. It drys quickly so
> >do
> >this before beginning the fitting of the other fasteners.
> >
> >- Once sealant is nicely wiped, it will look like an original gasket. But
> >it's alot better than the gaskets.
> >
> >- fit remaining fasteners. Each fastener should be tightened to 40 Nm
> >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
> >refurbished and on the car, these BBS RS wheels will now last for a good 
>10
> >years without any further need for refurbishment. The BBS and AMG's are 
>all
> >forged alloy and very strong. You just need to have the correct tyres and
> >look after them.
> >
> >To maintain the outer polished dish, use Autosol cream or brasso  - it 
>does
> >mean a good 10-15 minutes of hard work, but you only need to do it once
> >each
> >month.
> >
> >Whatever you do, do not have the outer rims chromed or lacquered. They'll
> >be
> >ruined forever.
> >
> >BBS RS's look great on the SEC. I bought one set for my E500, but the BBS
> >RS's look too dated for that car - but they are great on the SEC. Almost 
>as
> >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
> > >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
> > >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
> > >members'
> > >cars pictures.  Who else has a set on their SEC?
> > >
> > >Thanks in advance.........Jim Rothrock, Windermere, Florida
> >
> >
> >The MB Coupes Website!
> >W126 SEC Mailing List
> >Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
> >The MB Coupes Website!
> >W126 SEC Mailing List
> >Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
>
>
>The MB Coupes Website!
>W126 SEC Mailing List
>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
>The MB Coupes Website!
>W126 SEC Mailing List
>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.