4200/GS alternative space saver from a Mercedes SL R230

LORENZ-GS

Junior Member
Messages
412
Im in agreement with mike and catman. If it does in fact clear the caliper, id only use it around town and to get the car off the road to the nearest parking lot
 

Edward Anthony

New Member
Messages
3
I have invested in the Mercedes with adapter alternative spare wheel option.
I have an adapter and bolts for sale for £72 + postage as they are manufactured in pairs.
Contact me on drelanthony@gmail.com or 07836514414

Thanks to MJHeathcote for his excellent article.
 

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Another VERY BIG thanks to MJHeathcote for his excellent article.

Having recently bought a 4200CC Facelift I too am worried about having to rely on the pump plus slime kit, and am thus considering Mike's excellent solution.

As a starter I emailed TT Tools to get current pricing. They replied very quickly indeed, but they (still) only want to sell in pairs, their pricing is now £168 for the pair PLUS shipping, for which they've quoted £12 for mainland UK and a massive £60 to me in France (where I retired to).

Before taking the plunge, can anybody answer any of the following questions, please?

Has anyone found a cheaper source for the adapter - particuarly one that doesn't insist on selling you two...

Has anyone actually used Mike's set up, on the front or on the back, and are there any clearance issues?

Has anyone considered using Mike's set up but with the similar but smaller width equivalent wheel from certain Mercedes SLK's? The tyre size is 145/70-17 92P, giving pretty well the same diameter and weight limit as the 185/60 - 17 93P. The potential benefits could be : cheaper to buy, possibly might get a more recent one (rubber ages...) and should fit a little lower down in the 4200's spare wheel well (the rim is narrower too - 4.5x17 versus 6.x17), leaving more stowage space and perhaps making buying the humped boot floor less necessary.

Finally I am also considering the Ford Mondeo (suggested earlier) solution. This involves a "normal" space saver from a 2001-2007 Mondeo, 5x108, and in 125/85/16. This of course will not fit into the spare wheel well of a 4200, but (a) they are dirt cheap and (b) being 5x108 have the correct PCD. However has anyone actually used one of these? Potential issues I see are: 125/85/16's diameter is on the small size - problems with the car's electronic gismos ? "16" not "17" - will they clear the calipers? Centre bore size apparently 63.5mm versus 67.imm - won't actually fit on? And finally what is their "ET" - any problems with clearance?

I have also just found other space saver wheels in 5x108 but in 125/80 - 17 - a better size - from both Fords and Volvos which might be better - but still worried about their bore size and/or "ET". Anybody got any experience of these, please?

And one final question, please, relating to the correct "ET". Please could anybody with an actual original 4200 Maserati spare wheel tell me it's "ET" - presumaby stamped or molded on it somehere?

Many thanks to all,
Tony
 
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alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Tony,why don't you give DA a call, he's had one sitting outside the kitchen back door for the last 6 months, it looks fairly new too!;)

Dave
 
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tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Tony,why don't you give DA a call, he's had one sitting outside the kitchen back door for the last 6 months, it looks fairly new too!

Dave
Thanks Dave, but I'm new here. Who is DA and how would I contact him? Also he's had one what sitting outside his kitchen door, please? An original 4200 Maserati spare wheel? Or what?
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Given that it is David Askew we are talking about I imagine it is a 4200 spare wheel. It certainly won’t be one from a Mondeo!
 

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Given that it is David Askew we are talking about I imagine it is a 4200 spare wheel. It certainly won’t be one from a Mondeo!
OK, Thank you ZEP. Like I said, I'm new to Maseratis, so what is obvious to others is not at all so to me. I have since found his website. I'll try to contact him tomorrow.
 
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Masera

Member
Messages
144
Gents, across the pound here, I am giving this alternative a shot. I was able to purchase a Merc spare in great condition. I reached out to TT Tools for the adapter, but was told price for one hub adapter would be £ 168 plus shipping to US. That was not going to be cost effective so I found a place here that is fabing me 2 for a reasonable price. I plan on giving it a try then offer up the spare hub to any interested Maseratilife forum members. Only thing I still need to get is a humped "boot" carpet at a decent price. Will report back.
 

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Gents, across the pound here, I am giving this alternative a shot. I was able to purchase a Merc spare in great condition. I reached out to TT Tools for the adapter, but was told price for one hub adapter would be £ 168 plus shipping to US. That was not going to be cost effective so I found a place here that is fabing me 2 for a reasonable price. I plan on giving it a try then offer up the spare hub to any interested Maseratilife forum members. Only thing I still need to get is a humped "boot" carpet at a decent price. Will report back.
I imagine the £168 was probably for a pair (as that's what they just quoted me) but shipping to the US would presumably be charged even more than the £60 they quoted to ship to me in France, plus you might have had to pay US import duty / taxes. EDIT EDIT : In fact TTT could probably "only" charge you £140 (£168 without the UK's 20% VAT (Sales Tax) if they wished.
 
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tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
This lot seem to do a pair of adapters for £112.

https://www.superforma.co.uk/home-featured/pcd-adaptor.html
Thanks for this - that already seems a lot better.

Living in France, I've found a supplier where the price seems to be 99€ for a bespoke pair (around £90) with free shipment to France, which THEY have made to order in Germany.

I've yet to decide which route to take. See my first post - none of my questions answered yet (including no reply as yet from DA but it's early days). I'm also thinking about fitting one or other of the two Mercedes wheels using "wobble" (or "wobbly") bolts. This would involve machining the bore (to make it 67.1 mm versus 66.6mm) which is fine, but also I think slightly enlarging the bolt holes, which is probably less wise... The benefit, though, would be no requirement to buy an adapter, and avoids the wheel being pushed too far out if that is the case with an adapter.
Tony
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
When I first looked into this I also considered wobble bolts, but I ruled them out, firstly from an engineering standpoint, I personally think they are unsafe, and secondly, I recall they wouldn't be enough 'wobble' anyway.
You can't beat a solid bolted adaptor, you don't want it to come off!
 
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Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
When I first looked into this I also considered wobble bolts, but I ruled them out, firstly from an engineering standpoint, I personally think they are unsafe, and secondly, I recall they wouldn't be enough 'wobble' anyway.
You can't beat a solid bolted adaptor, you don't want it to come off!

I second that!
 

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
When I first looked into this I also considered wobble bolts, but I ruled them out, firstly from an engineering standpoint, I personally think they are unsafe, and secondly, I recall they wouldn't be enough 'wobble' anyway.
You can't beat a solid bolted adaptor, you don't want it to come off!
I'm pretty sure you're right! However nobody has yet replied to say they've actually used their car with the Mercedes wheel plus adapter,so I'm concerned about the possibility of the tyre (once inflated) hitting the wheel arch when actually driven.

Another safety issue is the wisdom of using any tyre that by now is at least twelve years old...
Tony
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I must stress the main reason I went with the Merc wheel is the same size tyre and rim diameter.
I don't think anything less than 17" will clear the brakes, and I didn't want to risk any tyre that is smaller in rolling circumference that could cause problems.
It is over 5 years now since I made the kit up, and it is a valid point regarding age, I recall one instance of the space saver (not sure if Merc or OEM) being inflated and found to be 'rotted'.
I've never used me, but my FD rims stick out right to the very outer lip of the front wings with no issues.