So I have come across a set of "take-off" SL55 wheels for a very low price and I am torn on what to do. To test the set-up I took the wheels off my SL55 and put them on my E55 for a few days of testing.

My thoughts are mixed on the SL55 wheels. The larger tires are far heavier than the PS2's I have on the E55 right now and the car rides much more harshly than before. The grip is really not all that much greater even though the tires are much wider and I chalk this up the fact that a Rosso is not equal to a PS2 on any level. The wheels themselves are only 2 lb heavier of the SL55 but a Rosso is about 5-7 pounds heavier per tire and that is weight I noticed right away.

The car seems to hook a bit better with 285's in the back but no enough to really get all excited about. The car felt a tad slower with the added unsprung weight really.

So I also have the option of selling off the new Rosso tires and putting my 245/265 Michelin PS2's on the new wheels. That could be fine and when the Michelins wear out I would go for 255/275 tires and be happy.

With 285 tires and a rear ET of 33, the tire comes very close to hitting the edge of the bumper and it ever so slightly rubs on the very top of the fender lip. I never heard a sound at all but when I took the wheels back off of the E and put the stockers back on, I saw some very slight marks on the fender lip. I just don’t feel safe doing high speed driving knowing a tire is hitting the body and could cut a tire in a bad situation. I could fix this with the worlds smallest fender roll and some work with a grinder but do i really want to do that??? I don’t know....

So anyhow the big question is what do you all think of the look? Is it worth going for it? I just like the 5 spoke AMG look better than the split spoke OEM wheel. Also, The .5 inch wider wheel fills the fenders up a bit more than a stock wheel.

Thanks for looking!

 

That style of wheel has been around for a while.
I dont think they add anything, visually, to a W211 E55.
My 2c worth.

 

I couldn't agree more with OzE55..

I think you're actually doing more harm than good to your car..

Don't get me wrong, those are awesome wheels but I think this particular AMG design has been around for AGES!

It's like you have a supermodel girlfriend wearing 1950's big panties.. They USED to be hot back then, but she'd look sick with a g-string (a.k.a AMG style IV 19", see attached images):

 

Some things dont look bad with age!!

You should understand that I am not a fan of flashy wheels. I go for understated cars and tend to make them have more of a sleeper look than a go fast look. No badges, low key wheels if not stock, normally more neutral colors etc.... SL had to be black though... that was a given.

19 inch 65 wheels are heavy as stones and will make the car ride like a lumber wagon I think. The 55 wheels with heavier tires ride quite a bit worse than the stock wheels and adding another 6 more pounds of unspring weight with 19 inch cast wheels will just make it worse. You can feel the car working harder to keep the wheel under control on bumpy surfaces.

But yes I love the 2 piece wheel also and would take them for the right price. The 55 wheels are basically free while 65 wheels will cost a minimum of 3500 for used wheels and 6k for new versions! I used to like the idea of buying expensive wheels but after a few sets I realized I was just throwing money away on a car that was falling in value faster than a brick from a tree.

Who knows I guess I have odd tastes in cars and wheels. I cant disagree though that there are better looking wheels on the market... thats a given!

 

IMHO stock 18's wheels look better then the ones you wear now....

 

If you're going for the sleeper look, those rims are going to do very well coz they're the same style as the AMG package rims offered with E320, 350, and 500.

Actually, I like the look, but I think the front rims are sticking out too far

 

the AMG style IV 19 in the pictures, are they OEM amg or replica amg?

 

CLS55 rims..

you will need 275's instead of the 285 OEM...

they look hot on the E55

 

Drop it. And, your done.

 

I didn't like them on my SL55... like them even less on the E55.

~ Ian

 

Off course many other 19's aftermarket wheel would look better but PRICE makes a difference...

 

I'm pretty much sure they're OEM..
NO replicas ever have the ///AMG engraving on them (as far as I know)

 

They look ok but remind me of the E500 Sport. If you want to stick with AMG wheeels I would go with the CLS Wheels or the SL65 set up.

I have those wheels on my C280 which is pretty low and it looks great but not so hot on the E.

 

Like Ian said...I'd rather have other wheels on the SL and definitely on the E too!~!

 

simple, clean, and nice. i like it, but that doesnt mean that others wouldnt look better.

 

stock e55 looks better than those.

 

AMG Fanatic...those IV wheels kick *** !!! They look stunning with your color combo !!

 

Thanks but you should give the owners of these amazing cars full credit not me!!

hehehe I just used these photos of other members to illustrate my point..

I'm actually getting them on my white car which should look something like this (photoshoped off another member's photo)

 

The wheels look great.
The white centre caps..................ooooh.

 

If he drops it, those 285/35/18 tires on 9.5" ET33 rims will get cut to pieces by the rear bumper edge... been there, done that.
Put on 275/35/18 PS2 and they look good, and work better still.