New wheels for Mighty Mouse!
 

Well, I did it! I just got off the phone with Tony from AlloyWheelsDirect.com and finalized my purchase of four 19” x 9” AMG forged wheels, as shown in the photo below. I have gone back & forth about which way to go and after much good guidance from Wolfman, along with research form other sources, I decided to take the plunge. These wheels are made by Otto Fuchs of Porsche 911 wheel fame and I think they are just gorgeous. They are coming direct from Germany and I will post photos in a couple of weeks when I get them mounted. Now, to decide about brake pads and tires.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...42ca9d2ad.jpeg

Congrats!
I am curious of how the square, non-staggered setup will look on the car but I am sure it'll be fantastic. Worst case scenario you may need to add some spacers in the front. Supreme Power will be the goto place for that (they are in in Fullerton). Better than H&R and they come with proper bolts.

Below is a pic of that AMG Forged Wheel as shown on the Alloy Wheels Direct Website:

Available in both 19" and 20" diameters, these lovely AMG wheels are usually seen only on the SL65 which unfortunately is no longer in production. Those wheels should certainly help 'Mighty Mouse 'appear' 'mightier' than people assume upon seeing the 'SL450' model designation on the rear deck!...:eek:

Certainly a very nice wheel upgrade, and the 'Mighty Mouse' will now have 'a look' that is consistent with it's given name!...:boink:

Now you just have to find a way to 'make her squeak' instead of 'purr' Stramliner!...:p:


http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/mer...ged_wheel_5751

Yes, and I would like to also thank YOU, Bob, for recommending AlloyWheelsDirect! Much appreciated.

Well, from stock, I am going a half inch wider in the front and a half inch narrower in the back. I can’t imagine it will make much difference, but we’ll see. I’ve been told by TireRack and AlloyWheelsDirect that it should not be a problem, but may require some spacers, as you have said. I will definitely check out Supreme Power, thanks!

Of course I get the joke, but SQUEAKS are exactly what I am afraid of, when thinking of changing brake pads. The brakes work SO great on this new car, I hate to fool with them. But, I want the brake dust to go away, as I want the wheels to glisten all the time. So, maybe RacingBrake or Porterfield pads. Porterfield is about three miles from my home, so I’m going to go over and talk to those folks.

Well a little 'brake squeaking' here and there wouldn't be so bad as long as the engine keeps 'purring' along!

Good Luck with the brake pad project!....:)...

Love the wheels!! A very upscale version of my OEMs:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...0e6fe4dac.jpeg

Love the choice of wheels Streamliner! Cannot wait to see them on MM! Well played.

I ordered the wheels on June 5th, but asked Tony not to ship before the 12th, as I was going to be out of town. So, the wheels arrived yesterday, by UPS. There was $177.00 due for duty & customs fees, which I thought was amazingly low, but pretty much what Tony told me they would be. Here are a few photos. Truly excellent packaging! Now, to figure out the brakes!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...ddde24fc4.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...30cc179b5.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d1efd4080.jpeg

Mighty Mouse will be flying high with those !!! Well Done.

Excellent choice!

Wheel and tire switch for comfort
 

I just converted to "custom" 18" SF03 Stance wheels from the OEM 19's and removed the Conti runflats for Pilot Sport AS3+..... and you would not believe the ride difference! I contemplated going to the PS4's , but Tirerack swore that the AS3's had a little softer sidewall. Stance set the offset so that the fronts were approx 10mm further out and the rears were approx 15mm further out. (rears almost even with the fender). 9.5" Rears and 8.5's on the front. I thought the gunmetal titanium finish was too dark for a white pearl finish , so I opted for a diamond silver...slightly lighter. Too little offset on the fronts can cause some steering issues, so I let Stance figure all that out. The SF03's are form flowed and should at least be as strong as the factory AMG 19's. I'm keeping the factory wheels for a locally available spare (in the garage) . I'd like to give a shout out to Ted at Stance and Jason at "Get Your Wheels" - one of their distributors. Most websites only listed 19's and 20's for R231's, but Stance listened to my requests, The process took over 2 months for their production and they offer various painted schemes. The front calipers clear the inside of the rim by only 3/8", so 17's are out of the question - besides looking too small. I know that many prefer the 19" to 20 " look, but I'm closer to the ride that my 2009 SL550 with ABC had with 19" wheels. The older I get, the more I want the "Streamliner ABC Ride" , so this is my present best option. The wheel color closely resembles the front caliper color..... but I would have been fine with a more silver color in the paint. On a positive note, the brake dust barely shows on these. I'm including photos so you can see the color and offsets. The wheels with paint are approx $450.00 ea. Costco installed them and charged a $5.00 per TPMS install for a new seal between each sensor and the wheel. I reused the sensors as the batteries typically last about 10 years. I'll replace them at my next tire-change with hopefully the to be released Michelin self-sealing tires that will begin as an option on the 2020 Explorer. Google it and get excited if they ultimately offer it in SL sizes...
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...680ad953d2.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...dc1dcc0033.jpg
The rear is about even with the fender
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...a7e7b9d648.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...dbe0b6b18d.jpg
Notice color similar to the caliper.....
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b97afd8ef1.jpg
View with top up...I know..the 18's are a little small for many of you..but the ride is so much better losing the run-flats and going back to 18's

Rockinrob - Great Results - nicely done. Thanks for sharing. Now get out and enjoy the ride.

Appreciate the response.Iridium18!! ..see the link below :smash: for Stance flow-forming below...pretty cool!!

https://www.carid.com/stance-wheels/...logy.html#8445

Very nice! Thanks for the detailed explanation of what you did. Enjoy!

Great 'conversion'! Love the look. Enjoy the ride.

Those look really great! Not too small at all. JMO, but 20s just look useless on this car...why not just go with 24s and skip the tires altogether? Thanks for addressing the 17" question as well. I was wondering about that. When you said you only had 3/8" clearance, were you referring to clearance to the rim or to the spokes?

Clearance
 

Doc:
I was referring to the distance between the outermost part of the caliper and the part of the wheel that the stick on weights would attach to. ..I'll try to take a close-up photo tomorrow in the daylight to illustrate.
You should have more clearance if you don't have the larger AMG brake (Sport) package I would think...but mine does - so it is close...and 17's would definitely not even fit over the calipers by coming in 1/2" more for the radius change.

When are you gonna put those new wheels on the car Streamliner?

I've never understood offsets but isn't 8.5" front/9.5" rear the OEM widths? Is 3/8" clearance enough for the balancing weights? My goals have less to do with "ride quality" - I don't mind the level of road feel on my OEM 19's with RFTs - I need protection from wheel damage due to potholes and other road abnormalities. Chris from Alloy Wheels Direct (Tony's boss) recommended that I stay with RFTs (on 18's) for the added protection the tougher sidewall provides....

I’ve been waiting to get the brake dust issue settled. Yesterday, I purchased a set of pads that will hopefully do the trick. I hope to get those installed this coming week. If all goes well with the new pads, I’ll put the new wheels on shortly thereafter.

eddieo45, here is a link to an article on Tire Rack that gives a good overview of wheel offset. Link: https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech...heel%20+offset

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...76d75256be.jpg
The angle isn't perfect, but I don't have a lot of clearance....
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...ad7f614469.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b54d088af5.jpg
The tirewell inflator works well- it has two alligator clips to fit on the 2 jump terminals under the hood - and the cigarette lighter connector as well. It pulls 15 amps and should rest after 12 minutes, but it hopefully wouldn't need to run that long.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...3f855535df.jpg
Eddio45:
Some of the stick on weights were outside of the calipers and some were inside of the caliper plane.(I hope that makes sense) They are about 1/4 " high, and would clear, but it is getting close in there...
I am monitoring the weights to see if the heat will affect their adhesive capability - as the calipers get pretty friggin hot! So far, so good.. Removing the runflats is always a liability,,especially if you venture into the boonies..
I have a great 12volt compressor, a can of fix a flat, and a plug kit in the trunk. The all fit under the floor panel in the trunk. see photos.. Remember to google the Michelin self sealing tires coming out next year that might make life easier!!

Did you decide to go with the Porterfields?

I did. I picked them up on Friday and they will be installed tomorrow. The Porterfield guy said they do not require bedding. He actually said to try and use them very gently for the first 50 miles or so. I’ll report my experience.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b95720641.jpeg

I too am interested in the Porterfield pads but, confused.

The Porterfield site lists the AP1670 for the following: FRONT for MERCEDES-BENZ: 13-16 SL550 (EXC SPORTS PKG) 2016 SL400/SL550 BLACK EDITION and the AP1689 also does not specify OK for my 2018 or your 2019.

Assume you have been told OK for your 2019 SL450 but, do you know if they are OK for my 2018 SL550 ?

Sure interested in your findings Re brake dust AND have you been told that rotor wear will be no worse than using MB OEM pads?

I had the pads installed a couple of days ago. As per the folks at Porterfield, I did not “bed” them. They told me to try and brake “gently” for the first 50 miles or so, which I did. So far, no noise, no squeaks and much less dust. The feel of the brakes, to me, is in no way different than the way the car came from the factory. With about 100 miles on the new pads, I am very happy with them. The part numbers shown in my previous photo are correct, I believe, for all R231 models with the “Sports Package.” We don’t hear much of anything about the Sports Pkg, but I believe that all R231 SL 400’s, 450’s And 550’s that came to the USA, have it by default, but I am not positive.

Great to hear, few more questions:

Did you use MB for the install or another installer and can you advise installation cost?

So....Although the Porterfield web site does NOT list my 2018 SL550 or your 2019 SL450 they told you that pads fit and will work with both of our cars?

Did you compare the removed pads with the new Porterfield pads and in fact do the dimensions match?

Since Porterfield is just a few miles from my home, I drove over there and spoke directly with them. They never looked at my car, I just told them what year & model and they said the pads would be ready in a day or two, as they had to be shipped from their factory in Arizona. When I asked them “what if they don’t fit,” they said “bring ‘em back.”

I asked my dealer if they would install aftermarket pads and they refused, saying it was against policy. So, I had a local, independent MB shop do the swap. It only took 30 minutes. I did not compare the pads. The installer looked at the new pads, then eyeballed the calipers—before even removing the wheels—and promptly said they were the right pads. This place does tons of brake jobs and I guess there are fewer pad sizes than we all might think.

Anyway, as previously noted, after 100+ miles, the brakes appear to work properly, with no noise and a feeling exactly the same as with the original pads, but with much less dust. That said, the real test will be when I have the all silver wheels installed next week.

Eager to get your evaluation

THANKS!

Stream - same here re your evaluation over the next few months ... my CPO 17SL63 is my first SL and the MB pad brake dust is a constant battle ... thanks in advance Steve

Jerry at ForMyMercedes.com asked me if my car has "the AMG sports package" and I told him it's not on the window sticker or datasheet, and he responded "I'd think that if you have the AMG sports package it would have been included on your data sheet." $299.90 for front and rear Porterfield R4S which includes shipping from CA to MA, and an anti-squeal kit. I'll confirm he's quoting the same pads you got....when are you putting the new wheels on?

Eddio45:
On the 2013-2016 SL550's I believe that the easiest way to identify the AMG Sports Package is to look for drilled rear calipers. If they are smooth, then you don't have it.
I'm hoping that someone will chime in if the same is true for the SL400. :y

Rob, I believe you are 100% correct. A look at the 2015 SL brochure seems to indicate there is no such option as the "AMG Sports Package," and that the option that would impact brake parts is actually called "Sport Wheel Package" and includes not only the drilled rear rotors you cite, but other items that are easy to spot, like painted front rotors stenciled "Mercedes Benz", silver paddle shifters and the AMG 5-spoke wheels:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c66a7167de.png


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...0471b531a0.png

Painted rotors? :smash:

I painted mine red.....:zoom:

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic but you painted your CALIPERS red.

I'm gonna file this one with the time I pointed at the swordfish and, annoyed at the seafood counter clerk who stupidly was not understanding me, raised my voice a bit and said, "no, I said I want the SALMON."
I guess this is proof I should "copy/paste" more, and type less.....(I'll leave it uncorrected to remind myself to stay humble....)

hey, not tring to hijack the thread but so many wheel experts are subscribed I wanted to ask: will the wheels I take off my R231 also fit an R230? Will they fit other models, like the CLS550, which provided the space-saver spare I bought that fits mt R231?

R231 wheels will fit C218 CLS550 without any issues - both use (almost) identical offsets. R230, however, is a different story: while fronts should (or will) fit as is, rears will require (at least) 10mm spacers.

Hmm. On the rears it’s actually the opposite. R230 wheels will have a wider stance due to the lower offset.

As you know, OEM R231 19" wheels are ~ET35 front and ET48 rear. OEM R230 wheels are ET30 front and ET33 rear. Both have same widths. Your statement is correct if one is trying to fit R230 wheels on R231. Question I replied to, however, enquires the opposite.

does that mean they'll also fit W212 E Class that the C218 shares a chassis with?

Even though CLS and E use different offsets (CLS' are lower), they do fit W212 like a glove (I had both and used CLS/SL wheels on E). Note: front fitment on E is fender flush.

You are right! Misread the question altogether :rolleyes:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7454254352.jpg
Set of new 20s that were OEM on S65. The gray in the wheels is a perfect match.

Very nice. Hope you enjoy them!

Stream,

I have 10,000 miles on my 2117 SL-550. It recently developed a minor but aggravating rear tire vibration at 67mph + that I'm guessing may be related to the OEM run-flats. I want to replace all four tires with Michelin Pilot Super Sports - live in Florida and never travel out of state. No need for all-season tires. I saw some posts (not any of yours) that suggested replacing run-flats with traditional tires might void the CPO warranty? Any opinion or experience you could offer on voiding the CPO would be sincerely appreciated.

I have taken it to the dealer to troubleshoot. They rebalanced the tires and tell me the vibration is better but still present. The dealer is very reluctant to even temporarily put normal tires on the rear to see if it resolves the problem. I'm concerned they will try to find a mechanical solution to the vibration, possibly causing a new problem that might not even exist. Of course, I could be totally incorrect. Could put on the four new Michelin's and the vibration remains.

You can replace the tires at your convenience and there is no impact on warranty. Never hears of such a thing!
Some tire shops may be reluctant to swap RFT's with conventional tires but that is typically lack of knowledge or they recall restrictions from other manufacturers. We have our MB dealer do these swaps as they typically match or get close to Tirerack pricing. Stay with the same sizes/load ratings and you will be fine. We have had Michelin Super Sports and PS4s tires on our SL's forever (well, 6 years on three R231's)...

They only issue I can see is if you would swap to inconsistent tire sizes/widths (that would result in large difference in wheel circumferences between from and rear wheels, but doing so would make little sense. Consistent up or down sizing won't cause any issues as well.

Tire Rack is showing Michelin Pilot Super Sports Front 255/35ZR19 and Rear 285/30ZR19 available and the proper replacements for a 2017 SL550. I just need to get the MB dealer to cooperate by putting 2 test tires on the rear to confirm the vibration is sorted. Would it be OK to use 2 19" tires that are close to the proper size for the test? I realize the exact sizing would be ideal, but the dealer tells me that is going to be a problem.

I just took delivery of a new S560 sedan and as part of the deal, the dealer swapped out the RFT for my choice of conventional tires.