mugsy415

Is it safe or good for the car if I always drive my car in the raised position? 2001 S430

mugsy415

Anybody know?

mugsy415

[I]Also does anybody know where I can get a good set of smoked tail lights?[/I]

mugsy415

And when do I get out of newbie status?

dmike67

I had a 2001 S430 for a year or so with 20" x 10" Lowenharts that were rubbing in the rear. I ended up keeping it on the raised status permanently which minimized the rubbing. I asked my guy at the dealership and he said that was fine so I think you should be OK, however I would call your local dealership and verify it with them. Good Luck !

LetsJet

Well, it's my understanding that all the raised position does is raise the body over the chassis. So, I don't think it would harm the car. But, it will change the performance. It will rasie the CG and prob. cause more body roll. Usually you want the weight as close to the ground as you can.

Why do you want to run this way?

Skylaw

Raised position is for rough roads; I find it useful to clear too-high curbs after you've hear the sickening scrape while parking; and may help if snow is piling up on your snow tires. It wasn't designed or conceived to be run that way all the time. Once you exceed a certain speed (it's in your owner's manual, which you'll find helpful to spend some time with) the car will automatically lower.

If you find that the car sits too low, especially to the point you must raise it, you have another kind of airmatic problem - likely either ride height sensors or leaks. Hopefully, no prior owner "lowered" it deliberately.

Newbie status: Because of the quality of contributions, some people never actually get out of it regardless of the numbers of posts, despite the fact that only post counts determines what status is shown. Some people show they deserve higher status in their very first post.

My opinion aside, however, the actual status shown is determined by the number of posts, not their quality - the numbers are discussed here: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=12314, in the forum site and support section.

Based on that thread, it's as follows:

Newbie = 1 post
Junior Member = 2 - 24 posts
Almost a Member! = 25 - 74 posts
Member = 75 - 249 posts
Senior Member = 250 - 499 posts
Super Member = 500 - 999 posts
MBworld Fanatic!! = 1000 and more posts

mugsy415

Because ever since I put my new wheels on 20x8.5 245/35/20 front and 20x10 275/30/20 rear my back wheels rub on certain occasions. So when i seldom put people in my back seat i want to raise it so it wont rub at all. And skylaw thanks for the info and but I always read the manual and the manual didnt say anything about safe to run it all the time on the raised position.

mugsy415

Oh ya and for the performance part, I drive like an old lady now. I dont floor the gas pedal i dont go fast on corners. I just drive normal after I wrecked my Jaguar in April going 140mph and some ******* decides to jump one inch in front of me 2:00am at night all lanes empty and he decides to jump in my lane a quarter mile away from my exit. So everytime I feel like punching it and take off I think twice now. I survived no scratches on me the other guy's piece of ***** grand prix tumbled a few times and he and his passnger went to the hospital.

LetsJet

I understand your issue........

I recommend you go back to an 18" or 19" wheel. There is no performance gain going to a 20". In fact, as you can see, using these large rims are actually worse for ride height, comfort, performance, damage easier, and usually weight.

LetsJet

When I talk about performance, I'm not talking about racing style. I'm talking about safety. A car with a higher CG will be more diff. to control in the rain or any defensive manuver. Those big rims will also provide less sidewall protection from a blowout and that is a big negative for me.

mugsy415

thats true but in Miami you have to keep up with the Jones'. You really have a spyder?

LetsJet

Forget the Jones'..... They will be over leveraged and bankrupt in a few years. Follow someone like Warren Buffet...

You said you just had an accident... I would think safety would be put before bling..... and that's all this is, bling. A waste of weight, perfomance, and money.

Yes I really do have the Spider (not Spyder, fyi)

Good luck & stay safe

mugsy415

got a pic?

LetsJet

No

I think I have a few..... thousand


Do you understand what I'm trying to say regarding your wheel / car issue?

Skylaw

You're welcome. However, my manual says, in part:

"Vehicle level control with Airmatic
Your vehicle height adjusts automatically to:
•reduce fuel consumption
•increase vehicle safety"

It then discusses the automatic lowering with increased speed, then provides a chart indicating the following with respect to level:
"Level
•Normal - for driving on normal roads
•Raised - for driving on rough roads or with snow chains"

It then says "Select the 'Raised' level setting only when required by current driving conditions. Otherwise:
•Fuel consumption may increase
•Handling may be impaired"

To me, those mentions of increasing safety and handling impairment plus the caution to use the raised position "only when required" by driving conditions - which are explained - indicate that it shouldn't be done all the time, absent those conditions.

The manual goes on further to state that the vehicle lowers automatically when you exceed 75 mph or maintain a speed between 50 mph and 75 mph for more than 5 minutes; if your tires are rubbing at lower speeds, what do you think is going to happen when the car lowers back onto them at 75?

That was from my '05 owner's manual; but I recall very similar instructions in my '00 manual.

Your best bet is to follow LetsJet's advice. Outfit you car with wheels that won't rub in the normal driving position. The Tire Rack can provide plenty of excellent advice in that regard.

mugsy415

I think it's because the width of the tire is 20x10. So no matter what type of wheels I put on if they're x10 they will rub. I'm not going to drive on the raised position because after a few days of driving with the wheels, they dont rub as much as I thought. I just have to watch out for speed bumps and and high driveways or big dips. I've driven it on the raised position and could tell the difference in the performance. It's almost like driving an F150 mercedes not a S430. I usually drive by myself mostly and on my day off (ya only 1 day off) I throw the wifey and maybe the kids in the car.
Thanks for the input fellas.
Oh Ya I was also told my Dmike67 that I can try to shave something under the wheelwel with a dremmel tool to give it some more clearance. THe wheels rub from the inside. And I've look at my tires and I don't see any grooves or rubbing marks on the wheels.

LetsJet

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't.......


Stay safe Mugs

newton22

There's a metal piece in the rear fenders that cause rubbing. My previous 19s with aggressive ET35s rubbed all the time. I believe Benznodubs had them shaved, so he wouldn't rub anymore. His car is SLAMMED.

mugsy415

yours rubbed on the inside or the outside?
What about Benzondubz, can you help me?
Dmike67 told me he shaved something to. But is it from the inside as in the left side of the tire or the outside the right side of the tire?

Vader55

I recommend toyo t1'r's because the they have a nice rounded track that tucks nicely.. I run nittos now which are the widest 275/30 (very square) but my fenders are rolled and upper rear wheelwell metal is grinded off.

ps. I had 20x10 rear in the past and had no rubbing issues with the toyo t1r 275/30/20. I could not even drive it with the same size nitto extremes, so the tire it self can help/hurt dramatically I would also have the fenders rolled and that little piece of body metal in the upper rear wells grinded down.

mugsy415

I thought they were rubbing somewhere from the left side of the tires. But I guess from what you're telling is its coming from the outter side of the tire and plus from the upper part of the wheelwel huh? I cant switch tires now. I just need to go to the body shop and let them do the work. SO I just tell them roll the fenders and shave the uppper metal piece of the wheelwles?

Vader55

You can look at your tires and see where your scraping. I am betting it is the outer corners of the tires... You can try just changing the tires which will make a big difference, and if still rubbing have the the metal in upper well grinded ( it is like a triangle piece that is up there about the size of a credit card ) if you take the wheel off and stick tour head in there you will no doubt see it... also try to find a shop that has a good fender roller and will bust a dremel out to do this... The cheap way would to go to a shop where you are getting the toyos and while they have it on the lift ? have them grind the piece of metal off, or bring your own dremel and do it yourself if they let ya.

mugsy415

Does that metal serve a purpose? Like would I damage anything? Because honestly I just got the wheels and tires and I"m not trying to spend on another 2 and they still rub you know. Someone else told me about the shaving method too and it worked for them but I just didnt know what to shave. So look for a shop that has a dremmel too first then huh, no other tool will work?

Vader55

No, not at all, and it does not matter how you shave/grind it etc. Mine was done with a shop compressor and dremel like attachment.