Alloys SL (r129) compatability with new SL

[Simon J]

I'm interested in some AMG alloys from a new sl. I have a 96 sl500. Sacrilege I know but I feel the standard AMG wheels from the period for the sl make the car look heavy. (And why are the old style AMG alloys more expensive?)

Question is will alloys designed for new model sl fit the 129? I'm fairly certain the bolt PCD is equivalent but what about the offset? AMG's for the period sl129 had ET31 front and ET35 rear. The set I've seen has ET30 front and ET33 rear. Will they fit? Will I need new bolts? MB were not very helpful when contacted.

At the moment I'm running on the standard MB 16" 8 hole alloys. If I put on 18" will the ride be noticably more uncomfortable?

Simon

 

[television]

New SL wheels on a 129

Simon dear boy, I have today just fitted new SL Hoffman wheels on to my 129. I am putting up a picture this evening. I will only be using them as winter wheels sinse I prefer the standard wheels that have just been refurbished.

The off sets are OK you will have to buy new bolts, what you need is 20 off 12mm x 28mm with a 14mm radius on the taper, sinse the new SL uses 14mm bolts. Mine cost me £20 from a wheel merchant.
I am running 17" on both sets, they of coarse are 245x45 if you go to 18" then the height of the tyre goes down to 40 or 35, that is 40 or 35 percent of the width.
you will find the ride harder, as from 2000 the 129 was sold with 18" anyway.

Malcolm

 

[television]

These are my Hoffman New SL winter wheels, sorry about no Xmas lights on the Gate house,I ran out doing the main house.

Malcolm

 

[davidsl500]

Hi Simon and compliments of the season !


Question is will alloys designed for new model sl fit the 129? I'm fairly certain the bolt PCD is equivalent but what about the offset? AMG's for the period sl129 had ET31 front and ET35 rear. The set I've seen has ET30 front and ET33 rear. Will they fit? Will I need new bolts? MB were not very helpful when contacted.

Dont forget the Wheel Rim width ! If for instance, the new wheels were 1" wider then this would reduce the ET by another 12mm or so and they would probably foul. What is the width of the old wheels compared to the new?


At the moment I'm running on the standard MB 16" 8 hole alloys. If I put on 18" will the ride be noticably more uncomfortable?

The ride will be taughter as there is less rubber/air to cushion against road variations - but on the upside the handling improves as there is less tyre roll. Get some Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's on it !

 

[television]

MB wheels are hub centric controled,18" wheels of the size that you are thinking of were offered as a sports package by MB on the 129 without any mod to the car, and 18" wheels were standard in the last year of production. Most 129's in the USA use these wheels with no problems. There is plenty of clearence at the rear, the tyre size is only increasing by 10 mm, that is from 245 to 255 front, that is 5mm each side. some firms use spacers on the front if there was any rubbing issue on the inside. Looking at over 50 threads on this no one has had any problems.

I forgot to say that with 28mm long bolts, you must grind 2mm off the end of the bolt for the rear wheels.

Malcolm

 

[Simon J]

Thanks for the responses. I've been on holiday and couldn't access until today. Malcolm, I like the Hoffman alloys. They do work well.
Simon