ivanj

All Painted SilverAutomobile 2006-2008 Lexus IS250

Dear VVTiBob,

I am certain my wheels are chrome or have been chromed.

Will the 50mm offset (versus the 45mm stock) cause any rubbing problems since the wheel sits closer to the inside of the fender well? These are stock size tires BTW.

Coleroad

That only moves the wheel out .2 inches. That's not even close to being a issue. You would be hard pressed to even visually tell the difference.

ivanj

There is a reason I am considering this car, namely, the value I am receiving, in other regards, from the seller; it is extremely high as he is taking a BIG problem off my hands in part exchange.. I cannot find this problem resolution elsewhere. Thus, the price of the Lexus (or any of his other cars) is extremely low. The seller is willing to work with me.

Frankly, I like the SC because it is like a pastiche of various cars I have owned but still unique in styling and performance.

My other choice, from him, is a MB SL500 '04 with the "dreaded" ABC suspension. (If ABC is upgraded and maintained properly it is a godsend; otherwise it is the devil's plaything.)

MB SL500 Pros:
I am intimately familiar with the car series, year and configurations.
I understand the maintenance of the ABC suspension and that series of MB. I have owned several. Mine have been trouble free because of the maintenance schedule I follow.
If it were not for the unique situation I would look elsewhere as you have suggested. Either car is just a fun car for summers as I do not drive very much anyway as I work at home.
I presently own a G500 with 150k miles and it is over=serviced, as it were. It has a similar V8 to the Sl.
One of my best friends is a master MB technician with his own repair garage.
I know how to write contracts.

Cons:
I have not yet driven it or inspected it.
It has ABC.
I don't know how to get the MB service history as I did the Lexus with your help.
The cost of parts and maintenance is (much) higher than the Lexus.
It will cost me 2x the price of this Lexus.

I've owned several Toyota Tacomas - bulletproof - except for the frame rust problem - but I was able to turn that to my advantage.

ivanj

Which sort of wheel nut should I use or should have been used? Conical 45 degrees, conical 60 degrees, or flat?

If flat should I use a washer or a lock washer? On the wheel, the inner facing receiving or bearing on the nut is flat. Several of the nuts have flat washers with them or incorporate a flat washer in the design. Others are conical. A dangerous melange...

I take it the torque is approximately 97 ft/lbs?

(I found a couple of these loose today and got out my trusty torque wrench. There were all variety of nuts...besides the one behind the wheel. I haven't had a car with wheel nuts since my NSX, I believe.))