threeMBs

Of course you must have meant 295/35-19 (not 20).

Keon

Looks great! I'm looking to cut those mufflers out from my SL550 as well. Could you provide a sound clip or explain how the sound changed? Thanks!

FIGHT BOSS

I do not have a sound clip, however, I can best describe the sound as louder. (More so on acceleration). However, not really the sound I was looking for as in a more custom exhaust sound. Maybe I was seeking that throaty deep roar of the high end cars (I previously owned a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, still own a Bentley GTS) So the sound of those cars were/are different from this.
That being said, this was an inexpensive way to get "more" sound and slightly more power for a fraction of the cost.
I paid the guy to remove, custom make the pipes and install for $200.00 which was a great deal.
If I do decide to alter this current exhaust system, I will add some high end mufflers at the very rear of the vehicle (or try removing them and test the sound).

So after it's all said and done? Yes I am satisfied.

spinalator

Hey Papa,
What size spacers did you use up front? Did this modification effect the ride quality? What brand spacers did you use? Any scraping with the car lowered?
Thanks

spinalator

Another question... Are the springs any different for a 450 vs 550? I'd think so being that the 550 has more weight in the front end. Anyone know???

toi

its always been the case for other cars i’ve owned before, i’d think it’d be different springs in v6 vs v8 in mb as well

PAPA PA

I used 10mm up front, 15mm in back and lowered using the Brabus springs. I really loved the ride and stance (pic below) and never scraped, although I did learn in my lowered Corvette years ago the value of slow entries and approach angles, so I always go slow and easy over speed bumps and on steep drive ways. But the nose was still quite acceptable.





Full disclosure, after about 2500 miles, the springs did develop a couple of annoying pings from the front perches in comfort mode. But only when transferring from a near stop into a turn while accelerating. My installer team and I chased and chased the sound and found that the springs seem to shift in the perch under that situation, and while we could mostly eliminate the sound with lubrication, it would come back on hot days. Never happened in sport or sport plus, and never below 75 degrees outside.

Now having the SL63 with its sport tuned ABC, I would say that the lowering springs and spacers were a great option and gave the car an amazing look. But it pales in comparison to the AMG with ABC. The springs increased the firmness in every mode and flattened things nicely. But the combo does have a few cons and you need to be prepared that it MAY be a compromise you are unwilling to deal with. So choose wisely.

spinalator

I too owned modded and lowered Vettes for the past 30 years so I'm not that worried about the minor sacrifice in ride quality. I'm sure it will be more than acceptable. I love the look of your car. I have the same color and wheels. Unfortunately, mine is a 450 and finding lowering springs is proving to be difficult. I am now looking into coilovers... Wish me luck...

PAPA PA

I got the Brabus springs (which are a little softer than H&R, a little more OEM like, and made by Eibach) from 3W distributing, who ordered directly from Germany. About $600 shipped, and I know they have SL450 springs.

3wdistributing.com

As for coil overs - there are only a couple of viable options, with Billstein having the only units that also integrates with adjustable dampers of the SL. And everything I’ve read on the BMW and Audi forums about the. B16 Damptronic kit is that it is ridiculously firm. Think driving a flatbed. Since the SL is a very firm platform, with stiff aluminum frame, I wasn’t sure it would make sense. FYI Those kits are in the $3500 range.

Good luck!

spinalator

Thank you Papa. You know your 💩 I contacted 3Wdistributing and they can get Brabus springs for a SL450. They did warn me about suspension noise and didn't recommend them. That being said, they didn't have any other suggestions either. I have a local shop looking into coilovers but at least I know that I can get the Brabus springs for a SL450. Thank you for this most valuable information

PAPA PA

if you are handy - you might consider swapping out the stock shocks for a higher end shock/strut unit like B6 Damptronic dampers (much nicer unit than stock, with a much more progressive response rate and can become rIdiculously firm) and go with plus sized tires. I know one of the other members here went the plus sized route (ThreeMB, I think) and in retrospect that might have been a better choice.

I had some experience with the the B6 Damptronic units on my S4, and the improvement was substantial. That combo would be what I would likely build if I had to do it all over again. But knowing there are so few options, and the install coat is high, just be prepared to spend more than you want getting it “just right!”

FIGHT BOSS

3M Distributing did state that there may be a metal on metal knocking noise on my vehicle as well, did not happen.

spinalator

That is very encouraging. Thank you for your feedback. This is most probably the way that I'm going to go after both your and Papa's experience.

spinalator

I'm also looking into BC Racing BR series Coilovers. This may be a better option.

spinalator

Hey Papa,
I looked up the Bilstein shocks. I only see the Bilstein B6 Performance (Damptronic) shocks available for the SL450. Would you use these along with the Brabus springs? Your feedback would be most appreciated...

PAPA PA

B6 is correct - I misspoke and will fix it. As I said above, if I did it all over again, I think I would avoid the lowering springs and just do plus size tires to fill the gap, spacers, and then the B6 units. My second choice would probably be the b6 units and Brabus springs, again with spacers.

the BR coil overs are new bargain basement coil overs units on the market. I haven’t read anything terribly positive on those and I would not recommend.

Good luck!

spinalator

OK, I appreciate your knowledge and your experience. That's why I'm picking your brain...
So, to reiterate, You'd forget the Brabus springs, go with spacers, B6 shocks and plus 1 tires, correct? On the tires, are we talking 295/35/19 on the rears and what would be the plus 1 for the fronts?

PAPA PA

Yup! It’s a lot of effort and money to “trial” springs.

I would suggest starting with tires and spacers, and then drive a couple of months and then revisit things.

I used to track my C5 Corvette a number of years back, and what I learned the hard way is that big changes in suspension often cause more big changes as you constantly over correct for each prior change. Make small changes and let the car settle, then make more small changes. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and hassle (and rework and money) and end up in the same place!

Know too that there are a ton of folks on this forum with just as much or more experience than I have, and certainly much more experience with the SL. I am only one voice, and my opinions and choices may differ from others. Pick their brains, ride with others if you can, and make slow patient changes!

Feel free to PM if you have other questions!

threeMBs

"Plus 1" for fronts is 255/40-19, but it may not fit because it is 27" diameter. The tallest safe fit would be 245/40-19 (26.7"-26.8" depending on tire brand). 255/40-19 may or may not fit upfront. Both 245/40-19 front and 295/35-19 rear (to a naked eye) will have identical hight sidewall. 255/35-19 front has 1/2" less sidewall than 295/35-19 rear and it is easily visible.

spinalator

How much would the plus 1 tires fill up the wheel well gap? Currently I have about 4 fingers which is SUV like.... Also, this one is for Papa, would the Bilstein shocks drop the car at all?

threeMBs

Enough not to need lowering IMHO. I run 245/35-20 front with 285/30-20 rear (both identical 26.8" diameter). In 19" diameter (assuming with OEM wheels), the equivalent is 245/40-19 front and 285/35-19 rear (yes 285, not 295). You will also need 15-20mm spacers for both front and rear because OEM offsets are too high and wheels look way too much "in". Correspondingly longer (43-50mm) 14x1.5 R14 bolts will be required. When above is done, you may not need lowering (with stock's 26"/25.8" tires, lowering is a must).

spinalator

Thank you for that information. How much larger profile are on those tires over stock?

threeMBs

Sorry, I do not follow the question. So I will assume: stock front 255/35-19 is 26" diameter with 3.5" sidewall, stock rear 285/30-19 is 25.8" diameter with 3.4" sidewall (stock has much larger wheel gap on rear than on front). Taller 19" tires to IMO avoid lowering - 245/40-19 is 26.75" diameter with just under 3.9" sidewall and 285/35-19 is 26.8" diameter with just over 3.9" sidewall. Front you are gaining .8" diameter which will cut front wheel gap by about 10mm, in the rear you are gaining a full 1" in diameter which will cut rear wheel gap by about 15mm. Spacers will further aid in appearance. Please note, I did not try taller tires with stock offsets. While we know that 1" taller rear is non-issue since it is on SL63/65, however I do not know if 245/40-19 will fit front with stock's 8.5" et35 wheel (it fits with room with et15 or et20).

Wolfman

I recommend looking at the individual cars. When you look at a variety of R231SL's on springs you will see significant differences in the ride height between individual cars. Some seem lower in the front and overly high in the rear while others are high all the way around, yet others almost appear OK as-is.
Four finger wheel gap (3"+) can't be bridged by bumping up the tire size....

threeMBs

That is true for most MB models with springs. My understanding is that MB, for what ever reason, is arbitrarily using different hight spring pads on same model line resulting in different heights for same model line.

Having said that, I've never seen SL with 3" gap. On my specific '15 SL, 1" taller than stock diameter tires did the job. The subject was discussed a number of times. I've posted pictures in a bit older thread dealing with lowering via taller tires.