mjheathcote
Centenary Club
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- 9,046
The alternative space saver is from a Mercedes SL R230, part number A2304010602. I paid £100 delivered from German eBay and was an unused one as new.
This shares the identical space saver tyre as the Maserati OEM, being a deflated 185/60 17 with the same load rating. The alloy wheel is also the same size being 6x17, the difference being the Mercedes has a different bolt PCD and wheel offset.
It therefore fits in the boot, per the OEM, but requiring a humped boot floor, again per the OEM.
To get around the different bolt PCD the only safe way is via a bolted hub adapter, from the Maserati 108mm PCD and locating centre bore of 67.1mm, to the Mercedes 112mm PCD and locating centre bore of 66.6mm. Both use the same 60 degree taper seat M14x1.5 bolts.
There is nothing you can do about the offset. The difference between the Maserati and Mercedes, with the 20mm thick hub adapter, I estimate to be 40mm, so the Mercedes space saver when fitted is 40mm further out than the genuine OEM space saver. However per the pictures below, it appears that the space saver is flush with the bodywork when fitted, worst case on the front. I have not inflated the space saver, for I wished to keep to deflated as once inflated, it can be difficult to shrink back down in size!
The hub adapter fits very well, a snug fit to the car, and the space saver. In my case a very snug fit to the space saver, requiring a good tug to remove the space saver once it has been bolted up tight. Better that way than sloppy.
Unfortunately you need 4 different sockets to fit the space saver. A 22 to remove the original bolts, a 13 to remove the two disc locating screws, a 17 to fit the short head bolts, and finally a 19 to fit the nuts onto the studs. I could have selected to have tapped holes in the hub adapter, but I feel studs and nuts are a better solution and solves the problem of locating the space saver onto the hub and potential cross threading of threads in the aluminium.
The hub adapter was supplied by T T Tools Ltd http://www.tttoolsltd.co.uk/ who specialise in alloy wheel modifications, spacers, and hub adapters.
I bought a pair for £156 all in delivered, of course only needing one, selling the second onto a forum member.
The description per order was as follows:
20mm adapters type c-Maserati 5X108mm PCD centre bore of 67.1mm, to the Mercedes 5X112mm PCD centre bore of 66.6mm. 10X M14X1.5 NUTS INCLUDED / 10X M14X1.5 SHORT HEAD BOLTS INCLUDED
Of course it is up to the individual if they decide to copy my solution to the alternative of the OEM space saver that costs £££. It's not of course approved by anybody, and if copied, used at your own risk.
Oh, it only took me 10 minutes to jack up the car, fit the hub adapter, and then the wheel, taking pictures at the same time!
Hope this is helpful to others.
Cheers,
Mike
This shares the identical space saver tyre as the Maserati OEM, being a deflated 185/60 17 with the same load rating. The alloy wheel is also the same size being 6x17, the difference being the Mercedes has a different bolt PCD and wheel offset.
It therefore fits in the boot, per the OEM, but requiring a humped boot floor, again per the OEM.
To get around the different bolt PCD the only safe way is via a bolted hub adapter, from the Maserati 108mm PCD and locating centre bore of 67.1mm, to the Mercedes 112mm PCD and locating centre bore of 66.6mm. Both use the same 60 degree taper seat M14x1.5 bolts.
There is nothing you can do about the offset. The difference between the Maserati and Mercedes, with the 20mm thick hub adapter, I estimate to be 40mm, so the Mercedes space saver when fitted is 40mm further out than the genuine OEM space saver. However per the pictures below, it appears that the space saver is flush with the bodywork when fitted, worst case on the front. I have not inflated the space saver, for I wished to keep to deflated as once inflated, it can be difficult to shrink back down in size!
The hub adapter fits very well, a snug fit to the car, and the space saver. In my case a very snug fit to the space saver, requiring a good tug to remove the space saver once it has been bolted up tight. Better that way than sloppy.
Unfortunately you need 4 different sockets to fit the space saver. A 22 to remove the original bolts, a 13 to remove the two disc locating screws, a 17 to fit the short head bolts, and finally a 19 to fit the nuts onto the studs. I could have selected to have tapped holes in the hub adapter, but I feel studs and nuts are a better solution and solves the problem of locating the space saver onto the hub and potential cross threading of threads in the aluminium.
The hub adapter was supplied by T T Tools Ltd http://www.tttoolsltd.co.uk/ who specialise in alloy wheel modifications, spacers, and hub adapters.
I bought a pair for £156 all in delivered, of course only needing one, selling the second onto a forum member.
The description per order was as follows:
20mm adapters type c-Maserati 5X108mm PCD centre bore of 67.1mm, to the Mercedes 5X112mm PCD centre bore of 66.6mm. 10X M14X1.5 NUTS INCLUDED / 10X M14X1.5 SHORT HEAD BOLTS INCLUDED
Of course it is up to the individual if they decide to copy my solution to the alternative of the OEM space saver that costs £££. It's not of course approved by anybody, and if copied, used at your own risk.
Oh, it only took me 10 minutes to jack up the car, fit the hub adapter, and then the wheel, taking pictures at the same time!
Hope this is helpful to others.
Cheers,
Mike