fromthebeginnin

The wife got a new camera thought I would post up some new pictures of my W212 E550, just about done for now except for some performance mods.

FTB

Tjdehya

Very Nice FTB, these pictures really show make the tint look like a must have. Your car doesn't look as low as I remember, I think this height you have now is perfect. I see you haven't removed the side chrome yet. I like mine so I have no plans of removing them. What performance mods are you getting done?

fromthebeginnin

Thanks T, I've been playing with the height "I think I have it close to where I want it". Yes I decided to leave the chrome stripe, since I decided not to do a hood emblem and grill (I sold them before they were installed) the feedback from the crew at my house was to leave "the stripe", the grill and the star because it works with the chrome theme. I bought a set of clear lenses that Brad recommended and I may try them. I think I'll put in the Sprint Booster (thanks to the write up by everyone and of course Philly) and I'm planning on a ECU tune in future.

BTW the tint is a Llumar II ceramic.

FTB

Dema

What's the camera? New Canon?

fromthebeginnin

The wife got the Canon T2i.

FTB

K-A

Looks awesome.

fromthebeginnin

Here are a few more that provide a better perspective on the lowering height.

FTB

park423

The drop looks real nice.
What % tint do you have?

fromthebeginnin

I have the Llumar II high performance series 30%, ceramic.

FYI, I found out all the brands are a slight difference in shading even though they have the same tint percentage.

FTB

blackbullit

Sweet ride!

What size wheels and tires do you have?

I know you spent a lot of time cleaning that car. Not even a water spot visible!

golfster

Nice pictures and background! Great looking car!

fromthebeginnin

Well you know what they say taking care of a black car is a part time job.

The wheels are 20x9 and 10.5, I used 245x35's in the front and 285x30's in the back. The shop that did my wheels does a lot of the high end cars in Silicon Valley and I didn't want to have the front and rear side walls out of perspective nor did we want too low of profile. I posted this before but the car rides excellent IMO and the handling is more enjoyable for me.

FTB

RNBRAD

Speaking of sidewalls, maybe it's the picture but the back looks like you have some tire stretch exposing the sidewall. Maybe it's brand of tire as I've heard tread width on Continentals are narrower comparitively which is good to help prevent rubbing with lowered cars. Looks good anyway!!

fromthebeginnin

Thanks Brad I'm very satisfied with the outcome, yes there is a very little intentional stretch nice pick up!

RNBRAD

I'll hit you up later on those tires, I came within a gnats azz of buying those cause of the ratings and price. Let me know how they do? My Michelins seem a little noisy and won't keep the back planted under hard exceleration, though not sure what would.

fromthebeginnin

B sent you a pm on the tires, thanks for the tip on the clear markers they came today, nice quality!

pkancel

I dont see in the information the offset on the fronts and rears. Do you mind sharing those please? I have been looking at wheels and was wondering whether 19s or 20s and you helped answer that question as these fit perfectly. I just need to know the offset as I like how yours are pushed out further to the edge of the fender well.

fromthebeginnin

Responded with a PM all the info is included, the Vossen's are made with a guarantee fit for MB W212.

mambodave

Very Nice. Mine is dropping in the next few weeks!

ngerstman

Hi. I just got my e550 sport 4matic. I live in New Jersey. Love the wheels. If I had 20 inch rims on these roads my 57 year old body would break!! I also have a 2001 obsidian black e55 with the full Kleeman mods(compressor, headers, ECU, LSD(not the Grateful Dead kind!!)). If you are considering performance mods, why didn't you just buy an e63? The airmatic suspension is great. Aren't you afraid of voiding your warranty if you do mods?

ngerstman

FYI, I have Michelin Pilot Sports on my 2001 e55 and think they are great. Have had Dunlops and top of the line Goodyear. The Goodyears were a nightmare, the worst tires I ever had. There don't seem to be any really good rated performance all weather tires for my 18 inch rims for my e550 4matic. My car has the stock Contis right now. Any thoughts. Sorry for going off thread.

golfster

The OEM all season option is the Pirelli PZero Nero.

ngerstman

My OEM all seasons are the Contis. Are the Pirelli's a meaningful upgrade. Thanks. Ned.

fromthebeginnin

In NorCal the roads are still fair, especially since I live out in the East Bay, so the 20's and the modest lowering just seem to take the slush out of the E550's handling. Regarding the mods, I'll probably just do a ECU tune, OE Tuning has a module that allows you to flash your ECU back to the stock settings so when you go in for service you can flip it back (they also have a valet tune which when you turn you car over to a valet you can limit the speed to say 40mph which I think is worth it) I doubt I'll go much further than that, just to get a little more get up and go. I'll probably wait 2 years for the twin turbo before my next purchase which is why I didn't go for the E63 now.

FTB

fromthebeginnin

I like the Conti DW and DWS (check them out), good ride, thread life and great reviews at Tire Rack (good if you're a cruiser, which is what my car is set up for). I also like the Michelin, but never really had much luck with the Dunlops and Pirelli's on heavy cars.