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Question for those that use spacers,
What manufacturer is recommended and do the studs need to be changed for longer ones? I'm thinking about 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers or 15 all around. Is the spacer bolted to the hub and the lugs come off the spacer or do the lugs have to be removed from the hub and new ones installed and if so, is this a difficult job or a do it yourselfer? I think I will do this first and then decide if I want to lower the car after. I did see that Bilstein makes a B16 Suspension Kit which includes adjustable coilovers and damptronic shocks but it is pricey. Anyone have any experience with this setup? I would imagine that it will give a much better ride than just lowering it on lowering springs.
Thanks for your anticipated input......
H&R 15mm spacers, p/n 3055665 (or black color p/n 3055665sw), requires 43mm or 45mm extended R14 seat M14x1.5 bolts, H&R p/n 1454302 former and 1454502 later.
H&R 20mm:
option 1: p/n 4055665 (or black color p/n 4055665sw), requires 50mm extended R14 seat M14x1.5 bolts, H&R p/n 1455002;
option 2: p/n 40556654 (or black color p/n 40556654sw); this setup does not require any extra bolts because spacers are attached to hub/rotor with included special bolts, then wheels are attached to spacers with stock bolts (need to make sure original bolts do not protrude through the original wheels by more than 20mm, even a fraction over 20mm is not good and original bolts need to be "shortened" by 1mm to guarantee 100% secure attachment).
I've done above personally a number of times on many, many MB cars. Zero issues if all is done correctly and as I've tried to describe above. Usually I buy everything from ecstuning.com. Also otisincla.com currently has excellent pricing on quality RAD bolts (I prefer RAD bolts to H&R's).
Hey Spin,
I went with the company below. I put on 20 MM on all four. I did also put a larger tire on the rear, from a 285/35/19 to a 295/35/19. Yes they will provide the longer bolts. The center spacer you have to use a special lubricant as instructed. This is a photo of the finished product of my SL. I think between the spacers, the lowering kit and the 295 on the rear, I got what I was looking for. Of course, it's all a matter of personal preference. Many will look at my SL and say WTF did he do? LOL!
I may be getting old. This is yet another trend I don't understand...like wagon wheels. I look at my spacer-less SL and it looks just fine to me...almost as though the engineers actually knew what they were doing when they specified the factory offsets. TEHO, I guess...
OP stated this thread is for those WITH spacers and is looking for possible guidance from those who've done it. Obviously OP (and many, many more others here) is not satisfied with "spacer-less" look. Hence those who are "spacer-less" need not reply, IMHO.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Dr. Manhattan
I may be getting old. This is yet another trend I don't understand...like wagon wheels. I look at my spacer-less SL and it looks just fine to me...almost as though the engineers actually knew what they were doing when they specified the factory offsets. TEHO, I guess...
I could not agree more! This business of “filling the wheel well” is completely lost on me. I was prepared to use spacers, to get the proper fit of the wheels I wanted, but as it turned out, they fit just fine without them. Anyway, to each his own. If someone wants their car to look this way or that, they should go for it. Personally, I like a bit of space between the tires and the fenders, pretty much like the factory engineers designed the car.
I could not agree more! This business of “filling the wheel well” is completely lost on me. I was prepared to use spacers, to get the proper fit of the wheels I wanted, but as it turned out, they fit just fine without them. Anyway, to each his own. If someone wants their car to look this way or that, they should go for it. Personally, I like a bit of space between the tires and the fenders, pretty much like the factory engineers designed the car.
That is because your forged AMG wheels are wider with different offsets and you are using front wheels for the rears. Turns out that the package looks great as-is
OP stated this thread is for those WITH spacers and is looking for possible guidance from those who've done it. Obviously OP (and many, many more others here) is not satisfied with "spacer-less" look. Hence those who are "spacer-less" need not reply, IMHO.
You're correct, of course. I was just kind of hoping someone could explain to me what I'm missing by not increasing the stress on my ball joints, wheel bearings, hubs, etc., and not messing with my suspension geometry (scrub radius). I guess these concerns probably should take a back seat to pure cosmetics. Feel free to carry on...
To each their own.... I've been modifying my Corvettes for the past 30 years with lowering them, putting on wider tires and rims, long tube headers, custom tuning, etc... To me, I think the SL needs some help when it comes to filling up the wheel wells. The gap between the wheel well and tire looks like an SUV. I may just go up one size on the rear tire. I haven't made up my mind yet but you do have to admit, the lowered SL's with wider tires look great.
You're correct, of course. I was just kind of hoping someone could explain to me what I'm missing by not increasing the stress on my ball joints, wheel bearings, hubs, etc., and not messing with my suspension geometry (scrub radius). I guess these concerns probably should take a back seat to pure cosmetics. Feel free to carry on...
Yes, it does. Except if one is concerned for extreme longevity of suspensions components, which I am not - I sold my SL yesterday (I guess I am no longer qualified to post/give my experience/opinion on SL after 17years of ownership of both R230 and R231) after 6 years of use effectively running 20mm spacers (was running aftermarket wheels with much lower offsets) - zero issue and car tracked great, no ABC. It is far from pure cosmetics. By widening the track, you are in fact improve handling, especially in the corners. Porsche for one is offering spacers (not as extreme as 20MM) as factory OPTION on all their cars.
To each their own.... I've been modifying my Corvettes for the past 30 years with lowering them, putting on wider tires and rims, long tube headers, custom tuning, etc... To me, I think the SL needs some help when it comes to filling up the wheel wells. The gap between the wheel well and tire looks like an SUV. I may just go up one size on the rear tire. I haven't made up my mind yet but you do have to admit, the lowered SL's with wider tires look great.
Wider tires almost always look better...provided that they fit properly under the car. When the outside of the tread is flush (or worse) with the outside of the fender, it smacks of desperation/over-reaching (JMO, I know). When I see a lowered SL, I can't help but think "I bet that car no longer looks unscathed underneath". It's the ****/practical side of me that always takes over. The standard SL already looks plenty low enough...to me.
Originally Posted by threeMBs
Yes, it does. Except if one is concerned for extreme longevity of suspensions components, which I am not - I sold my SL yesterday (I guess I am no longer qualified to post/give my experience/opinion on SL after 17years of ownership of both R230 and R231) after 6 years of use effectively running 20mm spacers (was running aftermarket wheels with much lower offsets) - zero issue and car tracked great, no ABC. It is far from pure cosmetics. By widening the track, you are in fact improve handling, especially in the corners. Porsche for one is offering spacers (not as extreme as 20MM) as factory OPTION on all their cars.
I was being serious when I said you were correct about my post being unproductive. I was seeking elucidation, but I had nothing to offer and so probably should have refrained from posting. And, in view of your extensive experience with these cars, perhaps my wear-and-tear concerns are unfounded as there appears to be enough "beef" in the design to deal with the added loads after all. I do still wonder, though, why M-B didn't spec less offset in the wheels, or move their mounting surfaces farther outboard, if there was a handling "free lunch" to be gained by doing so?
Sorry to hear your SL is gone, but you should certainly feel free to continue dropping in here anyway, if just to help us all stay on the golden path. Stay safe...
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; Dec 3, 2020 at 01:32 PM.
Wider tires almost always look better...provided that they fit properly under the car. When the outside of the tread is flush (or worse) with the outside of the fender, it smacks of desperation/over-reaching (JMO, I know). When I see a lowered SL, I can't help but think "I bet that car no longer looks unscathed underneath". It's the ****/practical side of me that always takes over. The standard SL already looks plenty low enough...to me.
I was being serious when I said you were correct about my post being unproductive. I was seeking elucidation, but I had nothing to offer and so probably should have refrained from posting. And, in view of your extensive experience with these cars, perhaps my wear-and-tear concerns are unfounded as there appears to be enough "beef" in the design to deal with the added loads after all. I do still wonder, though, why M-B didn't spec less offset in the wheels, or move their mounting surfaces farther outboard, if there was a handling "free lunch" to be gained by doing so?
Sorry to hear your SL is gone, but you should certainly feel free to continue dropping in here anyway, if just to help us all stay on the golden path. Stay safe...
Just FYI. We lower our cars so that they are about stock height of the German versions. The US versions, especially on SL's are too high and higher than R231 SL's in Germany. All SL's with AMG sport (appearance) package are also lowered from the factory. This likely has to do with conforming to US DOT standards (bumper height)
Yes, it does. Except if one is concerned for extreme longevity of suspensions components, which I am not - I sold my SL yesterday (I guess I am no longer qualified to post/give my experience/opinion on SL after 17years of ownership of both R230 and R231) after 6 years of use effectively running 20mm spacers (was running aftermarket wheels with much lower offsets) - zero issue and car tracked great, no ABC. It is far from pure cosmetics. By widening the track, you are in fact improve handling, especially in the corners. Porsche for one is offering spacers (not as extreme as 20MM) as factory OPTION on all their cars.
Just FYI. We lower our cars so that they are about stock height of the German versions. The US versions, especially on SL's are too high and higher than R231 SL's in Germany. All SL's with AMG sport (appearance) package are also lowered from the factory. This likely has to do with conforming to US DOT standards (bumper height)
I didn't know they did that on my SL...when I was at the museum in Stuttgart last year, I stopped in to the new car showroom/delivery area. There were a couple of SLs there and they didn't look any different, as far as "stance", compared to my car. Has anyone just used the stock German springs to lower their SL here? That's the only way I'd go if I wasn't happy with the way mine looked...which thankfully I am, as the entry to my driveway has one of those obnoxious rounded curbs as the entry. I drive the SL in and out at a very slow diagonal and have so far not scraped anything. Also, there's a fair amount of junk out on the roads/freeways here in the south, and I've been forced to drive over some things at the last second that ended up spraining my sphincter...again, nothing has hit so far. If the car was any lower, I probably wouldn't be able to make that claim.
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; Dec 23, 2020 at 01:31 AM.
I didn't know they did that...sometimes they do it for headlight height as well as bumper height. Has anyone just used the stock German springs to lower their SL here? That's the only way I'd go if I wasn't happy with the way mine looked...which thankfully I am, as the entry to my driveway has one of those obnoxious rounded curbs at the entry. I drive the SL in and out at a very slow diagonal and have so far not scraped anything.
The drop from swapping out the USDM springs for the EUDM ones would be too small to be worth it. You'd save more money and end up with better stance if you get a set of springs from a reputable manufacturer with the correct height and rate.
Actually I did not buy anything (maybe for the first time ever). I just sold it to them. I think their buy out offer was fair. They got an unbelievable and uniquely equipped SL550 with only 4K miles. Good for them. I know they will ask $10K more, but do not know if they can certify it since car turned 6 years old last month (I think 6 years is the limit). Whoever will buy it, will be very happy. I did all maintenance myself: yearly oil changes, the "old" oil I was extracting was almost as clear as the new one I was pouring in, hand wash, never in rain, drove it usually in traffic free conditions mostly on highways - 550 was getting from 80 to 120 literally in a blink of an eye (no 450 can do it...here it goes). Was an incredibly fun to drive and to be seen in car.
Edit:
Looks like the car is gone from their website. Two days! Boom!
Update 2, if anyone cares:
Just found out, they never retailed the car. It was too rare and like new (literally like new), and cars in the condition and rarity (only 400, official numbers) almost never get "traded-in". Short story, the GM "bought" the car and he "traded-in" his R230 2011 Black Edition (even rarer at only 100 cars run) for it. Actually am glad someone who appreciates cars got it.
Last edited by threeMBs; Dec 10, 2020 at 11:57 AM.
Reason: Update 2.
While I do miss the immediate torque of the SL550, I can say that the E450 cabriolet that replaced it is just so much fun to drive; same powertrain as the SL450, and will do all you want in the speed limited world that we live in. Just returned from a 1600 mile jaunt to Florida, and can say that the E450 is a more comfortable car over the distances. But OMG I do miss the instant torque of the SL550; that was just such an enjoyable part of the driving experience with that car especially on the interstate to eliminate the left lane road blocks that are all too common these days. Tears for torque at the moment. Drive well!
Hey Spin,
I responded to this below.
No need to replace the shocks. My ride is more rigid, however, not that noticeable. Tires do not rub (even though I did place a larger tire on the rear). I would go 20 MM all around, worked well for me. Sort of having it in the Sport Mode when you are in the Comfort Mode. The link of the company I used for the spacers is above, they do provide the longer bolts. I also included an image of the lubricant.
Actually I did not buy anything (maybe for the first time ever). I just sold it to them. I think their buy out offer was fair. They got an unbelievable and uniquely equipped SL550 with only 4K miles. Good for them. I know they will ask $10K more, but do not know if they can certify it since car turned 6 years old last month (I think 6 years is the limit). Whoever will buy it, will be very happy. I did all maintenance myself: yearly oil changes, the "old" oil I was extracting was almost as clear as the new one I was pouring in, hand wash, never in rain, drove it usually in traffic free conditions mostly on highways - 550 was getting from 80 to 120 literally in a blink of an eye (no 450 can do it...here it goes). Was an incredibly fun to drive and to be seen in car.
Edit:
Looks like the car is gone from their website. Two days! Boom!
Well, some lucky buyer got a great car!
If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you drive the car more? They are such fun to drive and taking it out for only 4k miles in 6 years seems odd...
Well, some lucky buyer got a great car!
If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you drive the car more? They are such fun to drive and taking it out for only 4k miles in 6 years seems odd...
It was my "third" car at the time I bought it, a toy really (not means of transportation at all) that was planned to be kept forever. I did enjoy greatly whenever I drove SL and it absolutely felt as if I was driving a new car each time I did, maybe that was one of the reasons. At the same time, it was my "race" car, hence was selecting mostly sunny Sundays when traffic is light (I mean lighter since freeways got busier), often at triple digit speeds.
My previous R230 SL500 (also a "toy" car), which I traded for this R231 SL550, I had for 11 years since new and put only coincidently identical about 4K miles. So by comparison, R231 was driven a lot.
Unfortunately, one can not plan life, it does what it does and sometimes it is better to swim with the flow than to fight the current. I am also 17 years older, look at life differently and felt it was time (my much better looking and much more practical half also played a major role in the decision).
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
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