SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG (R230) 2002 - 2011 (2003 US for SL55 and 2004 for the SL65)

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: A very very bad day.

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Old 10-20-2014, 10:55 AM
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
A very very bad day.

I have been experiencing vibration, sounds like miss fire, so I took it in to
my tuning guys, are you sitting down they said, well he said all your wheels
are F**ked . One rear is nearly flat and they all spin like wobbling jelly.
Now they are not the most expensive, but expensive enough. My guys
said all caused by potholes and very low profile tyres.

Now guys how about some clues, is it lowering , cheaper wheels, low
profiles, or maybe I should have got some ADV's instead, or just wear
and tear. Luckily I didn't sell my stock wheels.
Old 10-20-2014, 11:19 AM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I've been lowered, on 20" wheels with 255/30/20 and 305/25/20 for damn near the car's entire life. Never bent a wheel.

But to answer your question, yes. It's a combo of everything. Low quality wheels, lowered (less suspension travel) and low profile tires are a recipe for bending. It's the price we pay...

But how did you misdiagnose that as a misfire? Any car running on less than all of it's cylinders would be painfully obvious. Not just a wobble in the steering wheel and seat...
Old 10-20-2014, 12:02 PM
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
That's not the end, I still have the miss fire, look at my new thread codes.
Thanks for your help Benz-)-Rama.
Old 10-20-2014, 04:08 PM
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2004 SL55 AMG
With the state of the roads in the UK have always stuck to max of 19". What wheels are you running?
Old 10-20-2014, 04:45 PM
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'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
Generally I believe that using non-OEM sizes and rims are a bad idea. I leads to excess wear and tear on components and can make the car handle in a way that it is not designed to.

Please read the attached article from MBUSA.
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Old 10-20-2014, 04:49 PM
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Now you know why I still run the stock 18 inch wheels that my SL came with. Many don't like them, but that extra bit of side wall takes the ****t(y) roads of southern Wisconsin much better than 20s and the stock AMG wheels are tough and can be re-trued when bent.

By the way, you might be able to have your current 20s trued as well.

Sorry to hear about your troubles though and hope you get it sorted out soon.
Old 10-20-2014, 05:49 PM
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That's the reason I chose to stay with the stock size on my 07. 20's look nice but I like the stock ride.
Old 10-20-2014, 06:03 PM
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06 SL65AMG, 13 Tesla Model S 60kwh, 02 Jaguar S-Type 3.0, 12 S550 4 Matic, 07 E320 Bluetec, 06 LX470
Around this season I try not to drive my car due to the pot holes that fill Wash. D.C but yeah it can happen, I hit 2 really deep potholes in DC and caused 1 of my wheels to bend and the other to crack, and these were Carlsson 1/16 ULs that are forged aluminum 1 piece (2000 USD per wheel), I didn't want to cough up 4 grand just on replacement wheels, but lucky enough I managed to get 1 wheel from the UK for 1,000 and another here in the US for 300 since the vendor was going out of business and it was his display wheel (talk about luck).

But I sold off those wheels and went with a nice pair of DPE 3 piece wheels, from someone who needed the cash (I paid 5 but the rims were about 7500) Now if I mess up a wheel all I have to do is change the barrel.

Idk how bad it gets in the UK with potholes but if there tends to be alot you might wanna look into 3 piece wheels, at least with those it's not a total loss if a wheel is damaged, and its better to replace a barrel then fixing the bend itself.

Only downside is when it rains and water gets trapped behind the wheels, it can make the car shake like crazy, but you can get water diverters that will push water that's trapped behind the wheels
Old 10-20-2014, 06:48 PM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Originally Posted by cal1
Now you know why I still run the stock 18 inch wheels that my SL came with. Many don't like them, but that extra bit of side wall takes the ****t(y) roads of southern Wisconsin much better than 20s and the stock AMG wheels are tough and can be re-trued when bent.

By the way, you might be able to have your current 20s trued as well.

Sorry to hear about your troubles though and hope you get it sorted out soon.
Cal, my SL feels like a 80's Lincoln Continental after switching back to my 18's whenever I have to. Can't stand the way it looks, but it rides so damn nice...

I feel ya...
Old 10-20-2014, 08:15 PM
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The Stock AMG 19 inch Two Piece Wheels Bend Very easily!!

I have had 3-4 sets of the factory 19 Inch AMG two piece wheels that have been bent!

On my own SL65 I had the rear wheels flat spot and I never hit any deep pot holes...

The wheels looked absolutely perfect not a mark on them anywhere, looked like brand new. BUT when you spin them they both had flat spots on the inner edge!!

I bought another set same issue... Looked perfect but bent when spun!

The wheels are $2,500 each new but they bend like they were made of Jello...
Old 10-20-2014, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by EXECMALIBU
I have had 3-4 sets of the factory 19 Inch AMG two piece wheels that have been bent!

On my own SL65 I had the rear wheels flat spot and I never hit any deep pot holes...

The wheels looked absolutely perfect not a mark on them anywhere, looked like brand new. BUT when you spin them they both had flat spots on the inner edge!!

I bought another set same issue... Looked perfect but bent when spun!

The wheels are $2,500 each new but they bend like they were made of Jello...
Couldn't agree with that statement more. The two piece magnesium 19" wheels they put on all the early 65's bend very very easily.
Old 10-21-2014, 08:30 AM
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Thanks to all you guys..
for your comments.
I have put my stock 65 wheels on, and although they don't look too bad,
it drives crappy, loss of grip, barely any difference in ride.
I suppose it means new wheels 20" as before, repaired or new, and
very, very , very careful driving.

My wheels are 20" Mandrus Velo 9 at the front and 10.5" at the back.

Can anyone recommend a strong deep dish wheel for no more than 5K.

couldn't come at a worse time, money is tight.
Old 10-21-2014, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Benz-O-Rama
Cal, my SL feels like a 80's Lincoln Continental after switching back to my 18's whenever I have to. Can't stand the way it looks, but it rides so damn nice...

I feel ya...
Ahh yes, the constant battle between form and function. I figure I spend more time driving than looking at my car so I lean toward the function side of the equation. BTW, I always thought your R230 was one of the nicest looking out there.
Old 10-21-2014, 10:34 AM
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
Originally Posted by cal1
Ahh yes, the constant battle between form and function. I figure I spend more time driving than looking at my car so I lean toward the function side of the equation. BTW, I always thought your R230 was one of the nicest looking out there.
Thanks for compliment, I really had settled down with my 65, got her just
looking superb, now, stock wheels and an engine fault, and I got no money
to spare, Life really can be a bi**h.
Mercedes are no help, all they want to do is put coil packs and other bits
on and charge a fortune without finding the real problem.
Old 10-22-2014, 01:46 AM
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mine came with the 19" AMG wheels, I'm debating to just leaving them as they are or going with 20s....
Old 10-22-2014, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by SGTzAMG
mine came with the 19" AMG wheels, I'm debating to just leaving them as they are or going with 20s....
I love those wheels. I have a set of 20' Mandrus on mine but I like the stock AMG much better.
Old 10-22-2014, 09:25 PM
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02 C32 AMG, 05 SL55 AMG, 09 SL63 AMG, 14 E350, '18 G550, 92 300ZX & 15' GL63 AMG
Originally Posted by RoundTheBenz
I love those wheels. I have a set of 20' Mandrus on mine but I like the stock AMG much better.
Thank you! yeah i am torn as well, wether leave them as is just lower a tad bit or go for a much more aggressive set up + lower on 20s...ekkk the modding never ends..
Old 10-23-2014, 08:50 AM
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SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
I am hoping that they can repair my wheels, It just inconceivable that
wheels can only last 6 months, wheel companies would be out of business.
I bent 1 stock wheel on my 65 last time I had one, but I did hit a pot hole
very hard. My 20" Mandrus only hit 1 pot hole so how 3 can be bent is
beyond me.

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