thought that I would share a couple of pics....

 

where in NYC

 

Brooklyn.

 

Didn't think a wagon could be this nice. No tint, clean looking.

 

strait sex right there!

 

staggered wheels on a 4matic FTL... Good luck with it guy

Now you need to do the AMG front bumper and it will be complete

 

E55 ...

do you have an AMG E55 or a E500 ? kinda hard to tell with all of the banners....

we don't need to rehash your opinion on staggered wheels on the 4matic system...I already know it and I really don't care.

I am running tire sizes and tire pressure (245/40/16 x 8.5 @ 30lbs -275/35/18 x 9.5 @ 35lbs) that gives me a radius from the spindle to the ground as a close to the same measurement.....so in essence... actual rpms at the hub or disc brake will be within 5% or less the same...well within any "give" that might be programmed into the system from MB (to compensate for uneven tire wear / pressure).

the E500 uses revolutions to calculate information not weight.. (actual TPMS monitors in the wheel gives that away..) (for example.. the CLS and a lot of the newer cars are suggested by other people here on the forum to use the actual weight of the wheel make calculations??? I'm not sure about that.. )

as far as how it has effected the car:

* the car is much more alive driving ... less like a 4matic
* no under-steer or plowing as predicted by other desktop experts.. just a much better turn-in and tracking
* no change in straight line tracking.. I actually expected a little of wandering caused by the bigger tires.
* no ESP lights have flashed under any circumstance including testing with extreme wheel angles in a parking lot. (I had done all of these same maneuvers with the 17s in the morning...then rechecked with the 18s that afternoon)
* no binding under any circumstances
* I have pushed the car to extremes on a number of off ramps.. and the car tracks like it is on rails ... (more a result of the PS2s) (again.. no lights)
* a bit firmer ride
* more of a diff can be felt between the airmatic settings...
* a ton of approving stares.. and more random people on the street make positive comments ..(when was the last time you saw a group of urban teenagers stop and check your ride..then make nice comments about your car when they see you get in it? and I haven't even affixed the DUB stickers on the side!! )

if you want to bang me a little... then maybe you can nick me for not even using E55 wheels... instead I used CLS wheels.. I'm sure that you know the offset is off by 5mm?

no interest in the front bumper... though I would put the AMG quad pipes on the rear.. of course, I would have to change the rear lower bumper cover.. and while I'm at it.. could change the side skirts.. (my appearance package versions are more aggressive than the standard versions...but not quite up to the AMG skirts.)

guess I will just have to stick with my DUB stickers for now and my $1600 aesthetic and handling upgrade!... any comments about my OEM AMG pedals?

If I had found 4 wheels (either 8.5 or 9s) all the same size... I would have done it... but it just didn't happen that way. The aesthetic effect of having staggered CLS wheels is minimal. (4 front CLS AMG wheels would be perfect and what I would recommend to anyone who wants AMG wheels on a 4matic)
..with the E63 or E55 AMG wheels the difference front to back of the deep dish of the wheel is much more pronounced.

sometimes... I get the opinion that some AMG people get a little bent out of shape when us "poor" people who couldn't or didn't want to spend the money on an actual AMG car want to improve our standard cars with things that make it more attractive..... funny.. if we were back in the "fatherland" ...all of these dudes would have AMG E55s painted taxi yellow and no badges. (I remember seeing a ton of w124 500Es painted that way back in 1992!!)..
I am no better... I can't bring myself to remove the E500 and 4matic badges off of my car! (I don't want anyone to confuse me with some mere E320/350) now about those DUB stickers!

 

Narrower front wheels/tires and lower front pressures will ultimately result in pronounced understeer. If you haven't experienced it, it's because you haven't pushed the car to its limit (not that I recommend you do so).

 

I don't think that 8.5 inch up front would qualify in anyone's book as narrow... and no... I haven't pushed the car enough on the streets to see about that...do you regularly find yourself pushing your car to those kind of limits? (without being on a track)

I'll remember your comments the next time I'm slamming around the "Tail of the Dragon" at Deals Gap.... unfortunately .. I will be on my Aprilia not in the Benz that I used as a tow vehicle.

 

(forgot to comment on your tire pressure comment)

and yes.... the lower pressure up front will definitely have its negative effect at those outer limits... incidentally... the recommended pressure from MB with the 17s (under 100mph) is something like 29 or 30 F and 34 or 35R (can't remember exactly) ... would be curious of the recommended pressure on an E55 wagon?