JAM

Hey folks, I've received a lot of requests to post pictures of my wheel choice, so here ya go. What do you think? This was a monumental decision. I wanted to keep the wheels original (Benz or AMG), and wanted them to look refined, not cheesy. This is what I came up with...

Bigdot

not my cup of tea.


why dont u get brabus replicas? or even AMGs from Ebay, you acn get a a nice used set for less than 800.

Mkar

mebeJOE

They look good, but not exactly the look I would go for -- kind of elegant. I have to agree with Mark. BUT, what's important is that YOU like them. I like something a little more sporty, like the AMG's on my car.

silver500

How did you get those to fit. I was going to get a set of takeoff from the 06 SL500, but the dealer told me the offset and bolt size don't fit.

JAM

RedM,
These are genuine AMG wheels, from a 2003 SL55.

JAM

RedM,
These are genuine AMG wheels, from a 2003 SL55. I would never consider cheap knock-offs.

blume

i dont like to "slam" cars or trucks for that matter, but i think yours could use an inch or inch and a half drop.

JAM

No issue with offset, just had to purchase shorter bolts. Another misconception is that there are safety issues. Now, if the bolts were too short, sawed off, or too long, then it would be a concern. But, if they are the correct size, and not modified with a hack-saw, all is well.

SL BRABUS

they look ok... .....all I know it would be a ***** to clean it when it get dirty.....

JAM

Interesting point, Joe, regarding the sportiness, and your car does look great, but I did choose these becasue I always thought th R129 looked more elegant than sporty.

Now, IMO the R230 looks more sporty than elegant, and remember these AMG wheels were the standard wheels on the 2003 SL55, which I do find odd, since the SL55 is a very sporty looking car.

The other thing is that pictures are tough, unless you're a terrific photgrapher, and really know how to compose a picture. As I scrolled back through my post, I know that the wheels look better in person than they do in the pictures.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, it is appreciated.

JAM

Okay, here's another picture, seems to look better head-on. Wish I could capture this the way my eyes view the car....

BTW, what no photgraph can capture is how well the wide Pirelli's go around the corners...

mebeJOE

Yeah . . . that's a nice shot. I think it would look great lowered about an inch (Maybe some day I'll lower mine.

I agree that the R129's are more elegant looking than the R230's. It will be interesting to see which model withstands the test of time better.

agentMurdoc

NICE! I was considering getting those wheels for my car, but I opted against it because I wanted a more aggressive look rather than a elegant look. And yes those wheels are almost a bolt on affair, just like the thin spoke amgs mebejoe rocks.

It would be nice to lower his car, however, it would also be very very costly, at least in my opinion. You'll be looking at like ~2k. Remember guys, he has hydrolic suspension, so the car does lower itself. At times the car will have a nice tucked look, but usually when you are parked the front will be 4x4ish. I could fit 4 fingers in mine. I thought I had a picture of mine nice and tucked, but I don't know what happened to it.

JAM

Yeah, I would love to lower it a bit, but it would be a nightmare with the ADS suspension. If I had a 500 without ADS, I would probably go for it. But, with ADS, there is too much of a chance in something getting seriously out of kilter.

But, at least with ADS, I can firm up or raise the ride height with a flick of a switch. Raising it really gives the car a 4x4 look....

bradmg

I think they look nice on the white R129 but I am looking at replacing basically the same wheels on my SLK55. I don't care for the look on the R171 and they are absolutely a pain to clean. However, the BBS RS wheels I have on my SL looked like they would be difficult to clean but they wound up really being quite easy. More room for the hands to get between the spokes.

gqmagic

AMG 5 star or AMG Monoblocks look better to me on a 129. Easier to keep clean too, one quick wipe, not a lot of nooks and crannies

Pigzmickey

JAM.

Yours definately looks higher than mine in the front!?!

(Please excuse the dirty pic).

agentMurdoc

that's cause you have an sl60, I could be wrong but I don't think those had hydrolic suspension either

Wolfman

Actually, that SL600 looks too high in the front. The rear looks about right. So if the car isn't raised in the pic, something isn't right.
It's been many years, but I seem to remember that the ADS is still spring-based like the ABC suspension. There may some height adjusters that could be removed.

IMHO, I find the orginal AMG 2-piece wheels to be the best match for the car (like on the SL above). Nice lip, yet not over the top.
The turbine wheels don't quite have the look and the car doesn't have the stance due to the different wheel offset. Are they even staggered?

Wolfman

Pigzmickey

Hi! Mine is an SL600, just badged SL60. This is the only reason I attached a pic, to show you the difference. Try cleaning the ADS connector, this can solve many ADS probs!

HLG600

Rims look classy.

ShervSL500AMG

I think it looks good and I am even thinking about buying those rims for my SL

Lincoln

They look better on the R129 then they do on the R230. I hated them until I saw them on your car and now I like 'em. I agree with the others, your car looks unusually high in front. I'd get it checked to make sure something isn't wrong.

Onash

Where is the ADS connector? My light is on and it has defaulted to the firm ride. Dealer tells me its the front valve block for 2 grand. Independent tells me it is the rear, but not sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Omar

JAM

I think it is becasue you have the sport package, which I do not have. The suspension is normal. I went through a pianfull major ADS repair.