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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.
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.
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
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?
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............
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.
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.
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...
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; 09-30-2016 at 02:13 PM.
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!
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