Benz Werd

Hi guys, I'm just curious about something.

In the USA/Canada/UK can you order the AMG Sports package (SP1) combined with ON & OFF-ROAD package (430)?

For the USA I know the ML550 is standard with the AMG sports package, so can you also get ON & OFF-ROAD with it as well?

Here in Australia the AMG pack isn't standard on any MLs, it's an optional extra at $6900 (plus stamp-duty) for ML250s or 350s, but only $4200 (plus stamp-duty) for ML500s because Airmatic is standard on the 500s. They won't combine the two packages here and I'm not sure why. It could have something to do with our option for AMG sports pack is standard with the 21" AMG 5-twin-spoke wheels (757).

I have ordered my ML500 (same as 550 in US/Canada) with the ON & OFF-ROAD package, and fortunately I didn't want the AMG pack anyway, but I am considering changing my wheels to the 21" AMGs when it arrives as they look heaps better than the 20" AMG 5-spoke alloys (758) which are standard on the 500. I think in the USA the standard wheels on a 550 are only a 19" wheel.

I asked my sales rep about this & she was unsure, but guessed that maybe any 21" wheels won't work with the ON & OFF-ROAD package as they might be too big!

Any thoughts/comments anyone please?

Thanks in advance!!


P.S. Here are the specs for Australian MLs if you are interested:

• M-Class Specifications

xxGenericSNxx

I think MB themselves don't think 21" wheels are suitable for off road driving. If you order an ML with the off road pack and put the 21" wheel on after you get the car it will probably be fine. Just don't do too serious of off roading. Of course my post is purely speculation but to me, there's no logical reason that your car with the off road package WON'T work with larger diameter wheels.

Benz Werd

Yeah, I was thinking along the exact same lines as you. If I did put those wheels on I'd still have my original 20"s so I would swap back to them for any off roading or snow driving. I'm also sure MB would charge like wounded bulls to buy a set of those 5-twin-spoke 21"s, so I'd probably look around for after-market ones. The other thing I failed to mention in my earlier post was obviously you can't get a ML63 with ON & OFF-ROAD Package either, so I wonder if that's the same worldwide. I imagine so, because I imagine all ML63's would come standard with 21" wheels.

xxGenericSNxx

No off road pack here in the US for the ML63. Probably due to the lower clearance of the bumpers along with the rims and the fact that it's a "sport" model- they don't expect anyone to go off roading with one of those.

Here in the states the 21" will set you back somewhere over $1,000 per rim. On my R Class the 21" AMG they want $1,045 each which is actually pretty reasonable. But the S Class 19" AMG is $1,200 each. So your mileage may vary on exactly how much the MLs are. Just keep an eye for takeoffs in Australia and you should get them at a pretty good deal with new tires.

iankayem

If you do intend to go off road, you would be much better off with a second set of tyres on 18" or even 17" rims. They give you much more rubber flex when you nudge a rock, (or pothole) which means the alloy will not need to flex.

And I presume you realise Alloy rims do not flex, but your Visa card does.

Now comes the sticky question.
Where do you get the smaller rims for a W166?
I have just been told by the Nokian distributor that W164 rims foul the W166 caliper.