SL-Class (R231) 2013 on: Discussion on the SL550

SL/R231: What spacers have you used on a 2016 SL400/450

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Old Sep 28, 2016 | 04:39 PM
  #1  
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What spacers have you used on a 2016 SL400/450

Hey guys

The wheels dont look that great on our UK SL400

The fronts dont look too bad - maybe do with 8 or 10mm

But the backs look hidden in the wheel arches........... maybe need a good 20mm out.............

What have YOU used???

Max
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Old Sep 28, 2016 | 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by ibanezking
Hey guys

The wheels dont look that great on our UK SL400

The fronts dont look too bad - maybe do with 8 or 10mm

But the backs look hidden in the wheel arches........... maybe need a good 20mm out.............

What have YOU used???

Max
10mm front/20mm rear
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Old Sep 28, 2016 | 08:56 PM
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With stock 8.5" front and 9.5" rear wheels, 15mm front (for ET20) & 20mm rear (for ET28).
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Old Sep 28, 2016 | 11:05 PM
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Anyone care to share photos of with and without spacers on stock 5 spoke rims?
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Old Sep 29, 2016 | 03:01 AM
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how many posts do i have to make til i can post a picture??
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Old Sep 29, 2016 | 10:00 AM
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Not sure how many posts you need but if you can e-mail them to me, I will post for you.

Slafara@charter.net
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Old Sep 29, 2016 | 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by SteveL1
Not sure how many posts you need but if you can e-mail them to me, I will post for you.

Slafara@charter.net
Thank you

i have just mailed you a pic of my Wifes new SL

Max
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Old Sep 29, 2016 | 06:33 PM
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Here is how the 10mm front/20mm rear look.

These are forged AMG wheels which are 1/2" wider than the standard AMG rims for the 400/450/500/550.

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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 02:45 AM
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that looks LOADS better with the spacers.............
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 07:35 AM
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I personally don't see the need to move the wheels out further, but I sure wish they fit the wheel openings better. The cars look better when lowered but I hate to give up the ground clearance. I guess I'll just leave it alone. I do love those 10 spoke wheels though.
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by gkgeiger
I personally don't see the need to move the wheels out further, but I sure wish they fit the wheel openings better. The cars look better when lowered but I hate to give up the ground clearance. I guess I'll just leave it alone. I do love those 10 spoke wheels though.
MB widened the body of the R231 over 2" in comparison with the R230. Having (especially the rear) wheels inset so far just makes the body appear oversized.

Widening the stance and lowering the car takes care of that. Lowering isn't really needed in Europe but for some unknown reason the US models stand much taller (by a good inch). Some of it has to do with the Euro models having a lowered sport suspension (10mm) as part of the AMG package. Not so in the US.

I personally don't worry about ground clearance the car doesn't need and wasn't really designed for.
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 09:42 AM
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Posting pictures for Max.




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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 10:08 AM
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Thanks Steve

The 2 pics above are Sue's new SL.............

Loving it apart from the wheels looking lost under the arches

i'm going to order a set of 10mm and 20mm spacers.........

I did similar on my M3 and the wheels look so much better
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
MB widened the body of the R231 over 2" in comparison with the R230. Having (especially the rear) wheels inset so far just makes the body appear oversized.

Widening the stance and lowering the car takes care of that. Lowering isn't really needed in Europe but for some unknown reason the US models stand much taller (by a good inch). Some of it has to do with the Euro models having a lowered sport suspension (10mm) as part of the AMG package. Not so in the US.

I personally don't worry about ground clearance the car doesn't need and wasn't really designed for.
yes, ours is obviously a European(UK) model and i'm happy with the ride height - just want the spacers

I lowered the BM 335d i had before my M3 and wished i hadnt

My M3 is standard height and spacered out and looks and drives great
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Wolfman

I personally don't worry about ground clearance the car doesn't need and wasn't really designed for.
As much as I respect your MB knowledge I wasn't referring to ground clearance as in "lets go off roading". My main concern is approach and departure angles. My last car, a C7 Vette used to drag the front valance going in and out of driveways. I don't want my SL to do that. By the way, how do you make up for the .78 in. of lost wheel bolt threads? Do the spacers come with longer bolts?
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by gkgeiger
As much as I respect your MB knowledge I wasn't referring to ground clearance as in "lets go off roading". My main concern is approach and departure angles. My last car, a C7 Vette used to drag the front valance going in and out of driveways. I don't want my SL to do that. By the way, how do you make up for the .78 in. of lost wheel bolt threads? Do the spacers come with longer bolts?
yes, 20mm spacers come with 20mm longer bolts............
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by ibanezking
yes, 20mm spacers come with 20mm longer bolts............
If you use H&R spacers, they will actually use the standard MB bolts as the spacer uses it's own bolts. On the 10mm, you will need longer bolts
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 12:33 PM
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Originally Posted by ibanezking
yes, 20mm spacers come with 20mm longer bolts............
Well, yes and no. 20mm H&R DR spacers, P/N 4055665 do not include longer bolts - they must be purchased separately. However, the proper 20mm H&R wheel spacers that should be used on the rear are the DRA, P/N 40556654, which include special bolts to attach spacers to car's hubs, then the wheels are attached to spacers using stock bolts.
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by gkgeiger
As much as I respect your MB knowledge I wasn't referring to ground clearance as in "lets go off roading". My main concern is approach and departure angles. My last car, a C7 Vette used to drag the front valance going in and out of driveways. I don't want my SL to do that. By the way, how do you make up for the .78 in. of lost wheel bolt threads? Do the spacers come with longer bolts?
I understood what you meant. My point was that the car was designed to be lower (see pics from Euro SL's) without damaging the bumpers.
Unless you have a steep driveway, it normally shouldn't be an issue. If the car is lowered, this is obviously a concern.

Unfortunately, MB decided to be cheap and started charging $4k for ABC on the R231, thus making this a rare seen option.
With ABC, you can simply press a button and raise the car which avoids the issue even on very steep driveways.
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ibanezking
yes, 20mm spacers come with 20mm longer bolts............
Just looked at the pricing and this is a killer deal! Was the car used? VAT included?

Even if not, with the low Pound the new price is very cheap. I drove the same car as a rental a couple weeks back and that car had a 110k Euro sticker...
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
Just looked at the pricing and this is a killer deal! Was the car used? VAT included?

Even if not, with the low Pound the new price is very cheap. I drove the same car as a rental a couple weeks back and that car had a 110k Euro sticker...
no - brand new - not even registered

We went to the dealers on a Saturday morning 3 weeks ago for a touch up pen for her SLK(that she'd had 10 days)

got the pen and then went into the showroom for a nosy around as they had the promo day on........

She saw the SL and fell in love

We paid £53700 total + £210 road tax

If it had been at the full list price of £75k.......... she would have had to of been happy with her SLK

Last edited by ibanezking; Sep 30, 2016 at 02:13 PM.
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ibanezking
no - brand new - not even registered

We went to the dealers on a Saturday morning 3 weeks ago for a touch up pen for her SLK(that she'd had 10 days)

got the pen and then went into the showroom for a nosy around as they had the promo day on........

She saw the SL and fell in love

We paid £53700 total + £210 road tax

If it had been at the full list price of £75k.......... she would have had to of been happy with her SLK
Wow. Are UK dealers desperate to sell at such discounts? That model was just introduced this year. That's almost $30k off

Great car, great deal! This car looks really good in blue. Have fun while the weather lasts
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Old Sep 30, 2016 | 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
Wow. Are UK dealers desperate to sell at such discounts? That model was just introduced this year. That's almost $30k off

Great car, great deal! This car looks really good in blue. Have fun while the weather lasts
They just told us that although they are great cars........... they arent that popular as not so many people have £75k to spend on a 2 seater........... as opposed to more practical cars

We also have an 18 month old Viano and my M3.......... so we dont have to rely on it for family duties etc.......... its Sue's toy!
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Old Oct 1, 2016 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
the car was designed to be lower (see pics from Euro SL's) without damaging the bumpers.
any idea what the difference is in stock ride height between usa and euro spec?
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Old Oct 1, 2016 | 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by SPIKES
any idea what the difference is in stock ride height between usa and euro spec?
I'd say a good inch. If find the ride height of US SL's all over the place. On some cars it is equally too tall, on others just the rear or just the front.

If you look at pics of Iridium's SL you will see the standard stock height of the sport suspension. That one is 10mm below the non-AMG springs
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