SL/R231: 2017 SL DOG
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Joined: Jul 2016
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2005 Lexus SC430
My 550 is sitting in Long Beach. Dealer said he expects it to get to me (Silicon Valley) in 7-10 days.
I ordered it in March.
Anyone have any good suggestions for a leasing company to use, at least for comparison purposes to whatever Mercedes program is? I used Credit Union of Texas for my last car, but they no longer service California. I suppose I should check out the local credit unions?
I ordered it in March.
Anyone have any good suggestions for a leasing company to use, at least for comparison purposes to whatever Mercedes program is? I used Credit Union of Texas for my last car, but they no longer service California. I suppose I should check out the local credit unions?
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 60
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From: Houston, Texas
2017 SL550 Iridium Silver/Bengal Red, 2017 S550 Coupe Obsidian Black/Crystal Grey
Is the car at the Port of Long Beach awaiting release to the dealer like mine currently is in Brunswick, Georgia? If so, is your dealer sure that it is going to be released now? Would like to know if you are getting the same BS story that I am that all '17 model MB cars, gas and diesel, are still being held at the ports for emissions certification until late July.
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 9
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2005 Lexus SC430
I don't know - he didn't provide any details and I didn't press. It's already bad enough for negotiation purposes that he knows I'm waiting for this car, I don't want to show any impatience. Actually, I haven't committed to buying it yet - I want to test drive it again. One concern is the move from 18 to 19 inch wheels might make the ride harsher. The main characteristic that attracted me to the car over its competitors was the quality of the ride, in comparison. (I'll almost always be driving in Comfort mode).
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 381
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From: FL
Sold 06 CLS500. SL550 09. SL550 2013. Own C6 Corvette heavily customized garage queen 2005.
You are not really going to notice a difference going from 18-19 as far as a "much" harsher ride is concerned. Run flats and in particular what tires come with the car and if you have the ABC option is what will make the difference.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: Houston, Texas
2017 SL550 Iridium Silver/Bengal Red, 2017 S550 Coupe Obsidian Black/Crystal Grey
We are trading in a '14 SL550 for the '17 model and we currently have the 19" wheels. They don't seem to ride any harsher, but when the car is in "sport" suspension mode as opposed to "comfort" it will jar your teeth--we always keep it in comfort.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2016
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2005 Lexus SC430
No ABC - from what I read there's maintenance issues, and frankly I was fine with the ride when I tested it. And I was trying to keep the price down. I'm swapping out the tires for sure. I had Pirello P Zero Nero's on my Lexus and really liked them, though someone on here suggested certain Michelins (I think) for this car).
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 60
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From: Houston, Texas
2017 SL550 Iridium Silver/Bengal Red, 2017 S550 Coupe Obsidian Black/Crystal Grey
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2016
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2005 Lexus SC430
Dealer said today Mercedes expects release at the end of the month.
I actually would be happy to hear there are run-flats on last years cars by default -- it means the ride will be that much better once I put real tires on it.
I actually would be happy to hear there are run-flats on last years cars by default -- it means the ride will be that much better once I put real tires on it.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
WHY do they keep increasing the wheel diameter and using lower profile tires, on luxury cruisers like the SL and all their sedans, when they KNOW that the resultant ride will be less comfortable than the same vehicles on tires with a deeper sidewall? Are the tire companies sending them barrels of their Kool-Aid, because they know they will sell more expensive tires more often? It is becoming ridiculous. A car like the SL would do great on 17" wheels. Give the AMG guys the 18's, because we all know that they NEED to look sporty and racy. But 19's as standard on th SL????? I once joked about tires with ZERO sidewalls, which are mere rubber bands stretched over a solid aluminum wheel. Is that where this madness is heading? Must everything be done to make these cars look racier and more aggressive at the cost of comfort and utility? It would appear so.
Last edited by Streamliner; Jul 21, 2016 at 11:13 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,125
Likes: 4,353
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
You are so right. Out here in CA, we don't think too much about potholes, but in areas where they are commonplace, I just can't imagine the problems with blown tires, bent and destroyed wheels--AND no spare in the trunk! Geez!
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
WHY do they keep increasing the wheel diameter and using lower profile tires, on luxury cruisers like the SL and all their sedans, when they KNOW that the resultant ride will be less comfortable than the same vehicles on tires with a deeper sidewall? Are the tire companies sending them barrels of their Kool-Aid, because they know they will sell more expensive tires more often? It is becoming ridiculous. A car like the SL would do great on 17" wheels. Give the AMG guys the 18's, because we all know that they NEED to look sporty and racy. But 19's as standard on th SL????? I once joked about tires with ZERO sidewalls, which are mere rubber bands stretched over a solid aluminum wheel. Is that where this madness is heading? Must everything be done to make these cars look racier and more aggressive at the cost of comfort and utility? It would appear so.
Back in the day, Mercedes used to have 15" & 16" wheels as well but everything worked overall in the design of the car. But that changed over time with the design of new models which require larger wheels to look "factory".
IMO, the R230 looked "ok" with 17" wheels and "good" with 18" wheels. I also liked 19" wheels on it (which we had) but you couldn't go larger in terms of looks.
The R231 on the other hand was designed with larger wheels in mind and would look absolutely idiotic with 17" wheels and looks just "ok" with 18". 19" looks great as does 20".
There is absolutely NO difference is ride quality between 18" and 19" on the the R230 or R231 SL. With the 19" front, 20" rear AMG forged wheels, ride quality was better than on 19".
The difference is really in the tires. Run flats and cheap crappy tires make a much larger difference in ride quality than the wheel diameter.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 381
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From: FL
Sold 06 CLS500. SL550 09. SL550 2013. Own C6 Corvette heavily customized garage queen 2005.
There is absolutely NO difference is ride quality between 18" and 19" on the the R230 or R231 SL. With the 19" front, 20" rear AMG forged wheels, ride quality was better than on 19".
The difference is really in the tires. Run flats and cheap crappy tires make a much larger difference in ride quality than the wheel diameter.[/QUOTE]
agreed.................................
The difference is really in the tires. Run flats and cheap crappy tires make a much larger difference in ride quality than the wheel diameter.[/QUOTE]
agreed.................................
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 60
Likes: 4
From: Houston, Texas
2017 SL550 Iridium Silver/Bengal Red, 2017 S550 Coupe Obsidian Black/Crystal Grey
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Did you happen to find out if your car will be released from the US port of entry to your dealer when it arrives or if it will be held up over emissions certification? I'm still getting no definitive information from my dealer about when mine will be released from the Brunswick, Georgia port.
Our car was finally built and is on the water for arrival in Brunswick on July 29th. Hope for delivery a week after that.
Will post if there any additional delays...
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 60
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From: Houston, Texas
2017 SL550 Iridium Silver/Bengal Red, 2017 S550 Coupe Obsidian Black/Crystal Grey
Latest from the dealer is that my car is showing a "VPC ready date" of 7/31/16 in the Netstar system so they think that is when it will be released from the Brunswick port.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 60
Likes: 4
From: Houston, Texas
2017 SL550 Iridium Silver/Bengal Red, 2017 S550 Coupe Obsidian Black/Crystal Grey
My dealer got their first truckload of '17 models in today. Unfortunately mine was not on the truck, but it's scheduled to ship out on July 31st so it should be at the dealer mid next week. Fingers crossed.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 381
Likes: 29
From: FL
Sold 06 CLS500. SL550 09. SL550 2013. Own C6 Corvette heavily customized garage queen 2005.
look forward to seeing pics and hearing from you all when your new baby arrives.....exciting................
