SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Firm ride with 19" wheels
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 164
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From: Los Angeles
2011 Porsche Carrera GTS, 2009 BMW 750Li, 2011 Ferrari 458, 2011 SLS AMG, 2012 C63 AMG BS
Firm ride with 19" wheels
I just got my 19" AMG wheels installed as well as havng it lowered with factory adjustable links. Front is 26" from ground to fender lip, and rear is 26.25". The ride seems quite firm, much more so than another SL55 I drove with the same lowering but with 18" wheels. I wonder if anybody else has this experience. It almost seems less complaint and "bouncier" than my 996TT with H&R springs.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 15
From: Los Angeles
SL55
Terrence,
What are factory adjustable links? Can you just go to the service department and ask them to do this? I thought the best way to lower it was to use a lowering module (through computer) that is available through Brabus. Maybe the lowering module might give a more compliant ride.
Curious, but what wheels are you running? And how wide?
How much drop did you see? I know you measured from the ground to the lip. Is that equivalent to 1"?
James
What are factory adjustable links? Can you just go to the service department and ask them to do this? I thought the best way to lower it was to use a lowering module (through computer) that is available through Brabus. Maybe the lowering module might give a more compliant ride.
Curious, but what wheels are you running? And how wide?
How much drop did you see? I know you measured from the ground to the lip. Is that equivalent to 1"?
James
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 894
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Lowering abc/airmatic cars will NOT affect the ride.
It is completely dependent on the tire profile, softness, etc
I have no idea what factory adjustable links are. I know dealerships will bend/modify the abc/airmatic links to lower the car.
The SL55 is suppose to have "AMG tuned suspension". That might be the reason for a firmer ride in the SL55 compared to a SL500.
You can't compare a SL roadster to a porsche sports car.
It is completely dependent on the tire profile, softness, etc
I have no idea what factory adjustable links are. I know dealerships will bend/modify the abc/airmatic links to lower the car.
The SL55 is suppose to have "AMG tuned suspension". That might be the reason for a firmer ride in the SL55 compared to a SL500.
You can't compare a SL roadster to a porsche sports car.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 164
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From: Los Angeles
2011 Porsche Carrera GTS, 2009 BMW 750Li, 2011 Ferrari 458, 2011 SLS AMG, 2012 C63 AMG BS
SL lowering and ride quality
The drop is probably 1" in the rear and 3/4" in the front. By Design did the lowering, and they showed me these little metal links factory-sealed in Mercedes plastic bag with Mercedes part numbers. The front links are adjustable and slide longer or shorter with a little nut for tightening, while the rear ones are fixed and just mount at different points at the suspension for desired height. The car's height is still controlled by the computer, and I can still raise it with the button on the center console. The previous SL 55 I lowered with the same parts but with factory 18" wheels. It felt firmer, but not like now. I guess the difference is that this car I have the lowered suspension combined with 19" lower profile tires.
I am going to try altering the tire pressure a bit. Any advice on tire pressure for the 19" tires?
Thanks.
I am going to try altering the tire pressure a bit. Any advice on tire pressure for the 19" tires?
Thanks.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
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From: FL
2000 S500 Brilliant Silver, 1990 BMW 735iL, 1971 Pontiac Trans Am 455 HO, 1976 Pontiac Formula 400
Tire pressures can make a big difference.
I put 18's on my S500 and ride was alot stiffer. I checked the pressures, which were set to almost 40 lbs. Backed them down to 32 front, 34 rear and its mellower and still handles very well.
MB recommends 28/29 for this wheel tire combo. If I set pressures to that, ride is very smooth.
I put 18's on my S500 and ride was alot stiffer. I checked the pressures, which were set to almost 40 lbs. Backed them down to 32 front, 34 rear and its mellower and still handles very well.
MB recommends 28/29 for this wheel tire combo. If I set pressures to that, ride is very smooth.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 15
From: Los Angeles
SL55
Terrance,
I know I am not professional enough to offer my 2 cents as advice. But in curiosity, I wonder if the ride might be different
had you used the Brabus Lowering Module. I am surprised to hear about the Mercedes Link parts. Could you have gone to the service department and had them install it? I would imagine this way the warranty would not be void.
So it seems like you do not like the way the 19's ride. Am I right in assuming that? Why don't you throw the 18's back on to see if it's a matter of wheels. (I think it may be). Matter of fact on one of my Porsches, I went from a factory 18" to an aftermarket 18 that was wider at the rear. The ride was very uncomfortable compared to the narrower factory rear wheels. I suppose the wider tires soaked up more road feel and hence the more discomfort over uneven road. Strangely enough, it also made the car feel "floaty", disconnected from the road.
Curious, but how much did By Design charge for the parts and install job? And are the 19" AMG wheels you got, the ones that are shown on the CL65 (2pc 5-twin spoke)? How much did those cost and where did you get those?
By the way, could you have lowered the car more with those links if you wanted? As far as the air pressure, I would use whatever is recommended by MB/AMG since it's OEM product.
Thanks
I know I am not professional enough to offer my 2 cents as advice. But in curiosity, I wonder if the ride might be different
had you used the Brabus Lowering Module. I am surprised to hear about the Mercedes Link parts. Could you have gone to the service department and had them install it? I would imagine this way the warranty would not be void.
So it seems like you do not like the way the 19's ride. Am I right in assuming that? Why don't you throw the 18's back on to see if it's a matter of wheels. (I think it may be). Matter of fact on one of my Porsches, I went from a factory 18" to an aftermarket 18 that was wider at the rear. The ride was very uncomfortable compared to the narrower factory rear wheels. I suppose the wider tires soaked up more road feel and hence the more discomfort over uneven road. Strangely enough, it also made the car feel "floaty", disconnected from the road.
Curious, but how much did By Design charge for the parts and install job? And are the 19" AMG wheels you got, the ones that are shown on the CL65 (2pc 5-twin spoke)? How much did those cost and where did you get those?
By the way, could you have lowered the car more with those links if you wanted? As far as the air pressure, I would use whatever is recommended by MB/AMG since it's OEM product.
Thanks
Last edited by reminder99; Apr 24, 2003 at 03:37 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 164
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From: Los Angeles
2011 Porsche Carrera GTS, 2009 BMW 750Li, 2011 Ferrari 458, 2011 SLS AMG, 2012 C63 AMG BS
The car could have been lowered more or less depending on the setting on these links (in the front) that were purchased and depending on the mounting points of the fixed links in the rear. I chiosae this height for my own taste. There is about a one finger gap front and rear.
By Design charged $800 for the lowering (parts and labor). The wheels and tires are the same design as the CL65's.
I had another previous SL 55 lowered only without changing the wheels and tires. It was still firmer, but the car does not "hop" as much. Suprisingly, the lowering seemed to affect the ride less than the 19" wheels. Maybe as you said, the extra width makes a big difference too.
By Design charged $800 for the lowering (parts and labor). The wheels and tires are the same design as the CL65's.
I had another previous SL 55 lowered only without changing the wheels and tires. It was still firmer, but the car does not "hop" as much. Suprisingly, the lowering seemed to affect the ride less than the 19" wheels. Maybe as you said, the extra width makes a big difference too.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 15
From: Los Angeles
SL55
Terrance,
I forgot to ask, but does the car handle differently after you lowered it? I am sure aesthetically it looks better, but I am curious if it takes turns better? How is the car when you drive on the hwy? Is it bumpy or uncomfortable?
Also, does using the link defeat the ABC in anyway?
Thanks
I forgot to ask, but does the car handle differently after you lowered it? I am sure aesthetically it looks better, but I am curious if it takes turns better? How is the car when you drive on the hwy? Is it bumpy or uncomfortable?
Also, does using the link defeat the ABC in anyway?
Thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 15
From: Los Angeles
SL55
Terrance,
I forgot to ask, but does the car handle differently after you lowered it? I am sure aesthetically it looks better, but I am curious if it takes turns better? How is the car when you drive on the hwy? Is it bumpy or uncomfortable?
Also, does using the link defeat the ABC in anyway?
Thanks
I forgot to ask, but does the car handle differently after you lowered it? I am sure aesthetically it looks better, but I am curious if it takes turns better? How is the car when you drive on the hwy? Is it bumpy or uncomfortable?
Also, does using the link defeat the ABC in anyway?
Thanks
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 164
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From: Los Angeles
2011 Porsche Carrera GTS, 2009 BMW 750Li, 2011 Ferrari 458, 2011 SLS AMG, 2012 C63 AMG BS
The car does handle better. I do not hardly use "ABC Sport" button anymore. I can turn without much leaning at all. This morning I raised the rear suspension about 1/4" and it rides much better now. I think I am happy with this particular height and ride/handling set-up.
