My 15" Bundts - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 08-01-2012, 11:28 PM

I bought these about a year ago from Germany, to put onto my 82 300CD. 15" bundts for which Ill put on 195/65R15 Cooper CS4 H-rated tires. 195/70R-14 was just getting too hard to find a US made quality tire anymore, especially with a stiffer sidewall like I prefer for my highway use 300CD.

The wheels were stripped, as the seller refinishes wheels. I am getting them chromed with a winter-proof (the CD doesnt do winter driving, but I figure protection is always good) compound from a vendor in CA. I pulled them from their boxes to check them before sending them west... Figured it was long enough sitting there packaged up, I should check the product.

All look good and will look great after a chrome job. These are ATS 15" wheels in ET23. Two of these are made in 89, one in 88 and one in 87.

Some pictures:

Im not one for "bling", but chrome bundts on CA cars was common, and mine was a CA car. I think with the dark metallic blue they look good...

Extra point if you can name the places I took these pictures... Triple points for the first one, hint, it is in CA.

charmalu · #2 08-02-2012, 02:32 AM

First picture in the DMV in Los Angeles.
Second pic some where in New mexico
Third pic in Texas.

I remember years ago before we got the first MB in 97, hearing that the chormed wheels didn`t seal well and had air leakage. anyone heard that before?

Chromed wheels look nice, but sure look crappy when the lack of maintenance sets in and the brake dust eats into the chrome and they get pitted. It`s difficult enough to keep the painted Bundts looking good.

From what I remember reading your threads in the past, this won`t be a problem, you are pretty picky how your cars look and will be on top of things. they will look nice on a darker car.

Charlie

JHZR2 · #3 08-02-2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

First picture in the DMV in Los Angeles.
Second pic some where in New mexico
Third pic in Texas.

I remember years ago before we got the first MB in 97, hearing that the chormed wheels didn`t seal well and had air leakage. anyone heard that before?

Chromed wheels look nice, but sure look crappy when the lack of maintenance sets in and the brake dust eats into the chrome and they get pitted. It`s difficult enough to keep the painted Bundts looking good.

From what I remember reading your threads in the past, this won`t be a problem, you are pretty picky how your cars look and will be on top of things. they will look nice on a darker car.

Charlie

I've heard that, and wonder if it is related to wet air being used.

I've never liked chrome wheels besides on his car. Time will tell how it looks!

charmalu · #4 08-02-2012, 02:02 PM

All air has some moisture in it. Nitrogen is being installed by a lot of tire shops. It is dry and won`t expand when the tire is getting hot like air does and raise the tire pressure.

Charlie

Walrus · #5 08-02-2012, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

All air has some moisture in it. Nitrogen is being installed by a lot of tire shops. It is dry and won`t expand when the tire is getting hot like air does and raise the tire pressure.

Charlie

Somebody drank the kool-Aid, or forgot Gay-Lussac (et, al)...

P1/T1=P2/T2

The combined gas law or general gas equation is formed by the combination of the three laws, and shows the relationship between the pressure, volume, and temperature for a fixed mass of gas:

PV = k_5T

With the addition of Avogadro's law, the combined gas law develops into the ideal gas law:

PV = nRT

where

P is pressure
V is volume
n is the number of moles
R is the universal gas constant
T is temperature (K)

where the constant, now named R, is the gas constant with a value of .08206 (atm∙L)/(mol∙K). An equivalent formulation of this law is:

PV = kNT

where

P is the absolute pressure
V is the volume
N is the number of gas molecules
k is the Boltzmann constant (1.381×10−23 J·K−1 in SI units)
T is the temperature (K)

These equations are exact only for an ideal gas, which neglects various intermolecular effects (see real gas). However, the ideal gas law is a good approximation for most gases under moderate pressure and temperature.

This law has the following important consequences:

If temperature and pressure are kept constant, then the volume of the gas is directly proportional to the number of molecules of gas.
If the temperature and volume remain constant, then the pressure of the gas changes is directly proportional to the number of molecules of gas present.
If the number of gas molecules and the temperature remain constant, then the pressure is inversely proportional to the volume.
If the temperature changes and the number of gas molecules are kept constant, then either pressure or volume (or both) will change in direct proportion to the temperature.

charmalu · #6 08-03-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walrus

Somebody drank the kool-Aid, or forgot Gay-Lussac (et, al)...

P1/T1=P2/T2

The combined gas law or general gas equation is formed by the combination of the three laws, and shows the relationship between the pressure, volume, and temperature for a fixed mass of gas:

PV = k_5T

With the addition of Avogadro's law, the combined gas law develops into the ideal gas law:

PV = nRT

where

P is pressure
V is volume
n is the number of moles
R is the universal gas constant
T is temperature (K)

where the constant, now named R, is the gas constant with a value of .08206 (atm∙L)/(mol∙K). An equivalent formulation of this law is:

PV = kNT

where

P is the absolute pressure
V is the volume
N is the number of gas molecules
k is the Boltzmann constant (1.381×10−23 J·K−1 in SI units)
T is the temperature (K)

These equations are exact only for an ideal gas, which neglects various intermolecular effects (see real gas). However, the ideal gas law is a good approximation for most gases under moderate pressure and temperature.

This law has the following important consequences:

If temperature and pressure are kept constant, then the volume of the gas is directly proportional to the number of molecules of gas.
If the temperature and volume remain constant, then the pressure of the gas changes is directly proportional to the number of molecules of gas present.
If the number of gas molecules and the temperature remain constant, then the pressure is inversely proportional to the volume.
If the temperature changes and the number of gas molecules are kept constant, then either pressure or volume (or both) will change in direct proportion to the temperature.

Well I didn`t drink any kool-Aid (stuff is crap) and Don`t who the Gay guy is.
Iam also not a Chemist or a Scientist. all I know is what some Tire shop told me. what ever kind of stuff injected into the tire will do what ever it does.

Charlie

vstech · #7 08-03-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

All air has some moisture in it. Nitrogen is being installed by a lot of tire shops. It is dry and won`t expand when the tire is getting hot like air does and raise the tire pressure.

Charlie

the only difference Nitrogen installed by a tire shop will make is the SLIGHT lack of moisture in the tire, reducing rust build up on a steel wheel... that and the constant quantity of molecule size can reduce the tire leakage... slightly.

that and SOME tires will last longer with the lack of oxygen inside under pressure...
however, unless they mount the tire with N2, and blow out all air from the tire when they are mounting it... there's still a ton of air/moisture in the tire...

the difference in pressure across the heat range of the tire between compressed air, and pure N2 is like .03 psi...

Brian Carlton · #8 08-04-2012, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

the only difference Nitrogen installed by a tire shop will make is the SLIGHT lack of moisture in the tire, reducing rust build up on a steel wheel... that and the constant quantity of molecule size can reduce the tire leakage... slightly.

that and SOME tires will last longer with the lack of oxygen inside under pressure...
however, unless they mount the tire with N2, and blow out all air from the tire when they are mounting it... there's still a ton of air/moisture in the tire...

the difference in pressure across the heat range of the tire between compressed air, and pure N2 is like .03 psi...

Yep.

Nitrogen is simply a con game to make more money. They take the suckers all the time.

Makes absolutely no difference to a passenger vehicle.

And, as you mentioned, they certainly don't evacuate the air prior to inflating with nitrogen.

MBeige · #9 08-02-2012, 03:12 PM

Good luck on the chroming process! Polished still looks similar without the cons of chroming, maybe you can consider that too.

I do see the stark contrast of the chrome wheel design against the coupe's shiny dark blue paint, which is why that combination works well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

It`s difficult enough to keep the painted Bundts looking good.

I use ceramic pads in front, less brake dust. Some members use brake dust shields. Still others, like me, just have to clean them regularly

charmalu · #10 08-02-2012, 03:52 PM

Next time I do a brake over haul I`ll look into the ceramic pads.
I keep the painted (what is left of the paint) bundts clean, hardest part is cleaning the spoke part in between the holes. when I rotate the tires I always wash the insides of the rims of the grease, grime and brake dust. sure builds up.

I need the ceramic pads for the 240 with the wheel covers, they get just as bad behind the covers, well actually much worse as I don`t remove the covers to wash the rims.

This place I have posted before does a lot of different types of coatings. I wonder how the ceramachrome would look in these wheels. at least it wont peel, chip or pit. some tough stuff. click on the 2 pictures to inlarge them at the bottom.
Caps Brite Hot Coatings | Powder Coatings, Ceramic Coatings, Cermakrome, And More

I see these guys at the Good-Guys street Rod shows, been in business over 20 years and know what they are doing. I have some things I eventually want them to do.

Charlie

Markp · #11 08-02-2012, 03:56 PM

Very nice wheels!, I'd love some 15" bundts.

I have been trying to find some 15" wheels that would accept hub caps, looks like no easy solutions.

JHZR2 · #12 08-02-2012, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

Good luck on the chroming process! Polished still looks similar without the cons of chroming, maybe you can consider that too.

I do see the stark contrast of the chrome wheel design against the coupe's shiny dark blue paint, which is why that combination works well.

What im going with is the winter chrome process that is really a pvd/powder/clearcoating process. Supposedly makes it winter proof though my cd will see no salt.

MBeige · #13 08-04-2012, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

What im going with is the winter chrome process that is really a pvd/powder/clearcoating process. Supposedly makes it winter proof though my cd will see no salt.

That is interesting to note. If it protects against the salt, it should protect against moisture, is what I think the principle is...?

Most of the chrome 15" bundts I see are either pitted, peeling or in a generally horrible state. I'm glad to know an enthusiast is doing it right.

JHZR2 · #14 08-04-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

That is interesting to note. If it protects against the salt, it should protect against moisture, is what I think the principle is...?

Most of the chrome 15" bundts I see are either pitted, peeling or in a generally horrible state. I'm glad to know an enthusiast is doing it right.

Mine (14") do show some peeling in a few areas. Still shine well though. But yeah, the car sees no salt but is used in the wet, so a clearcoating (though bright chrome is used, it isn't a true electroplate) should protect.

You said chrome 15" but I've never seen a chrome 15" bundt.

gatorblue92 · #15 08-02-2012, 07:22 AM

I'm not a fan of chrome bundts at all but I think those will look great on that color CD.