b4mmy

I got my new rims 18" x 8.5 and 9.5 and put them on my SL and they look greeeeat! Started the car up, moved 6 inches and heard this awful knock/cracking sound. Stopped. Got out.

As the sound seemed to come from the rear left, I took the wheel off and car slips off jack and crunches to the floor! Got my hydraulic jack out and put the wheel back on. . Made sure no metal was touching metal anywhere.... Started her up, and the emergency roll over bar flips up... . Stopped.

I notice that the rear left is a few inches higher than the other side... I wondered if having jacked the car had done something to the suspension, so I moved the car backwards and forwards a few inches a few times. This has sorted the level out . But as I rolled the car back into the garage there was still this awful knoocking sound, as though the alloys were unhappy... strangely worse going backwards than forwards....?

Does anyone have any idea what has happened?

And does anyone know how to get the roll over bar back down?

I love this car. I just completely rebuilt the engine, and had a brand new soft top fitted... it costing me a fortune but I will not be beaten....! I am almost crazed by it, possessed even......... :v

Help.

Bigdot

hold the roll bar butten up, for like 20 seconds, you should heart a click, then press the down butten. make sure teh car is on while you do it.

MArk

BANANA

I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT A NON STANDARD SET OF ALLOYS FOR ONE OF MY SLs. THE WHEEL OFFSET WAS TOTALLY WRONG WHICH MEANT THE BOLTS WERE WAY TOO LONG. YOU GOT TWO CHOICES, EITHER CHOP THE WHEEL BOLTS DOWN TO THE CORRECT SIZE WHICH IS WHAT I DID, BUT I SERIOUSLY DO NOT RECOMMEND IT YOU WILL BE COMPROMISING SAFETY. I ONLY DID IT SO I COULD GET THE CAR BACK DOWN ON FOUR WHEELS SO I COULD MOVE IT AROUND THE HOUSE, AND FOR LOCAL TRIPS, BUT THE HANDLING WAS AWFUL . AND THE SECOND OPTION IS GET THE RIGHT WHEELS FOR THE CAR. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, I'M USELESS WITH MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF CARS. BUT I'M JUST TALKING FROM EXPERIENCE CAUSE I HAVE HAD MANY CARS SO I LEARNT A THING OR TWO ON THE WAY.
HOPE THIS HELPS.

BANANA

P.s: The Nonstandard Wheels Are Gone Now And Were Replaced By The Correct Wheel And Offset For The Car With A New Set Of Wheel Bolts. What A Difference In Drive.

vraa

I think your offsets are wrong and your parking brake thing is interfering with your car.

What kinda rims did you get, and what is their offset?

b4mmy

Thank you Redmongoose that sorted my roll over bar out straightaway!

I checked the level again this morning and it has completely flattened out now thank the stars...

Ricky, my wheels are X2 8X18" fronts + X2 9X18" rears both with polished lip and offset ET20-25 (I was sure to ask for the correct offset) and are unbranded.

Bananna: I checked the bolts before I put the wheels on and they were shorter than the originals to take into account the wheel recess, but it's possible they are popping out of the back so I'll try putting the original wheels back on to see if the problem is still there. Do you think the offset would cause the loud knocking sound though?

Any other ideas anyone?

Thanks again
Chris

vraa

It's your bolts.


Is there a way to return those rims and get a set from me? I can include matching bolts and what not as well.

b4mmy

I thought about buying some Aeros from TireTrack a while ago but the shipping to the UK cancelled out any saving I might have made. I'm interested though... what do you have... or maybe I could buy some bolts from you in the interests of Anglo/American trade etc...? Actually, I also have a Mini Cooper S that I was thinking of spicing up a bit so let me know Ricky. Thanks again.
Chris

vraa

I have, um, basically everything, and if I don't get it, i can direct you to someone who can.

What kind of style are you looking for? If you want to keep that style, you can check the TSW Wheels thread for similair styles.

b4mmy

I tried to buy Aeros and would prefer those over any other, buy my guy over here couldn't get the spec I wanted which was x2 @ 8 and x2 @10... apparently the rears were the problem. I'm running out of sensible cash for the Merc but if you have some contacts for er... economically priced Aero style then I would be interested in seeing where it went...
cheers
Chris

vraa

I'll be dead honest, AMG parts are hard to get. Lorinser used to make a 'copy' but they discontinued that.

Just so we're on the same page, you're talking about this wheels right?

b4mmy

ahhhh..... yep, that's one of them... I just love these, I wish I had them... the ones I have look smart enough but these are the business and look fantastic on the r129... the best one for the car in my opinion.

Ricky, I have to go out for dinner right now. I'll have to pick this up 2morrow. Thank you so much for your advice, I'll check back with you.

Chris

vraa

Anytime man, I love helping out other members, only reason I do this.

b4mmy

Hi Ricky, Bannana
I just put my old wheels back on, but before that measured the length from the shoulder of the bolts and sure enough the new bolts are 10mm too long. Thank you for the clues.

I'm not sure where to get the correct size bolts, I called the guy who supplied them but he hasn't returned my call yet. Is there anyone in the UK that would be interested in selling me 20 bolts that are the right size? Actually I need 4 locking bolts (nuts) out of that...

I really wish I could justify getting original AMG's but for something that is inevitably going to get kerbed and knocked about I just couldn't justify more than double the price. Don't get me wrong I'm not *anti-label* I like my Gucci and Armani, but alloys are going to get knocked and banged no matter how hard you try to look after them... er well, in Manchester anyway.

I was wondering though... have I caused any damage to the internal workings of the disks by running the car for a few yards, the bolt ends definitely had a little chunk taken out of them....

sl500_dallas

I got a set of wheels like yours from the Tire Rack ( www.tirerack.com ) earlier this year. The mounting hardware and MB center caps were included.

You may be able to buy the mounting hardware from them. Luke over there is very knowledgable and helpful.

vraa

Take SL500_Dallas's advice, give Luke a call, tell him you're a member of mbworld as well.

He should really take care of you.

(The only thing Dallas, is those 19" AMG's are a grand and then some.. per rim!)

sl500_dallas

Earlier in the thread, he indicated that his wheels are 18" just like mine and unbranded.

Yeah, I saw the AMGs at my local MB the other day. I think they were $5870.00 for the set. As soon as I have a $100,000.00 car I will look into spending 7 grand on a wheel and tire setup. In the meantime I am extremely happy with mine.

b4mmy

hi sl500_dallas.... yep they look exactly the same. They look nice on what I can see of your car.

I looked at the back of the alloys yesterday and the offset and sizes are stamped in there, along with a Made in Germany stamp... which is a bit strange as I'd expect it to say Gebildet in Deutschland, or Hergestellt in Deutschland.... or something like that...

I was wondering though... when you say 'mounting hardware' did you get something else other than the bolts....?

I'll give Luke a call as soon as I can Ricky.

Many thanks to both of you.

Bigdot

to give my opinion, these rims dont look good on a 129, i have them on my 124 E500 and they look great, but on a 129...... my friend has similar ones on his 129-320. and every time i see them i feel like they mess up the flow of the car.

My .02

Mark

gqmagic

Well thats why there is more than one set to choose from, I have them and think they look better than the 5 star type, but thats just me and many others.

b4mmy

cool.... a debate! So what IS the best alloy for the 129????

sl500_dallas

Yeah, the "hardware" is just the bolts.

Bigdot

i dont want to sound like a dousche, but i only like the ones i have, my dad had the same type on his 91, and i think they look the best.

Mark

SL BRABUS

I think this wheels looks the best...... :p

Big J

nice rims sl brabus! what size and ets are those?