Shanta, early 500E's had 500SL brakes (300mm ) and your late E500 has 600SL brakes (320mm). The upgrade for you is to add 600SL *rear* brakes, which will bump you from 278x24, I think, to 300x20.

ItalianBenz, you're right, bigger IS better - but you have to figure out... at what cost is it worth it? Is it worth (for example) $4k to go a half inch larger? I doubt it. Less weight is always good though. Why don't you check out the Brembo kit from Bekkers, they have the lightweight calipers you want, with the same 13.6in rotor size as the C32? I believe that kit fits W124's, why not give them a call & find out.

Omegabenz, I'm with you - what is the size of the 2000-up SL500 brakes, and is that front only or front & rear?

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I have early model 300SL brakes which are the same as 500SL brakes R129 we are talking about. I just tell everyone I have 500SL brakes. I have SL600 brakes in the rear though.

Id like to know about the R129 late model brakes though

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

as if I didn't already know that

thanks for the information anyway:p

He was giving you the dimentions you requested.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

I requested the dimensions of the rotors & calipers, in respect to the C32 brake upgrade, more specifically the calipers, because the rotors didn't matter for what I needed information on. I did not ask what type of brakes do I have on my car, nor did I ask what the upgrade for my car was.

If you check my post, all of them were in reference to the differences between my stock system and the C32, more specifically requesting "exact" information on the C32 brakes, because slightly larger or slighty smaller is not an "exact" spec, and not good enough when you get wheels custom made and need to make sure you have a certain amount of clearance on the inside of the wheel.

Thanks for your input also.

Sorry Shanta, but the information you desire will probably not come from this board. Most people get the brakes that want, bolt them to the car, then stick the wheel on & see if it clears. If not, they put on a bigger/different wheel. You are the first person I have ever come across who wanted caliper (not rotor) measurements, and also who has custom-fabricated wheels for MB's. Good luck with your project.

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Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

GSXR,

Thank you for all of your time and input. I already have the information I need, because Guido has stated that this will not work, so with that said, that issue is dead.

I am suprised that you have never ran across anyone who has custom-fabricated wheels for MB's, because there are numerous people that own MB's that have HRE wheels. HRE custom makes wheels to your specific request with custom offsets.

Though I tend to believe I am not like most people, I do have the brakes that I want on my car and my wheels are being made based off of this information.

When I saw this thread, I thought to myself, humm, maybe I can get C32 brakes, though when I ordered my wheels, I had already specified my current brake setup. This is why I wanted to know the specs, specifically of the caliper, because the wheel company requested this information, because we know the rotor is not a problem, but the caliper depending on the size "might" pose a problem.

Once again, I apreciate all of your time and effort in helping me getting the information I wanted.

BTW: Maybe most people don't have custom-fabricated wheels because they don't want to wait 2 1/2+ months to get their wheels.

Always,
Shanta

shanta, post a picture of your wheel set up. You can shave the wheels to get them to clear calipers. It has been done before on this forum by another 500E member.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Yes, I think it may have been Guido that shave his wheels. Not sure if I want to go that route but, it is always an option

For sure.

my 500SL R129 set up clears CLK 16" wheels, but not my 17" AMG aero I wheels, kinda funny how those offset things work. I would have thought they would clear. See shanta, sometimes you cant tell how the wheel rotates in relation to the caliper until you have it up against it. I made a mistake with mine.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Well the early 129 chasis's 500SL's. Had the ATE calipers which were steel very heavy. Starting `1999/2000 bremo came aboard provided bigger calipers that werr lighter for unsprung weight. If you see my wheels. They came from a limited edition.
SL500 2001 Silver arrow SL it was know as. Those calipers are hot and would work on our applicationj since the floor chasis of the 129 is a 124 based chasis.


I am determined to install a sweet set of brakes on my 500

See Ya


Guido

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500E Sold
2006 Mini Cooper S
Modified,pulley,injectors,suspension
2009 E350 Sport AMG package

Another point, which shanta probably already knows. Offset does not mean a certain wheel will or won't fit over your calipers. You can have several different wheels - all with the SAME diameter, width, and offset - and each may or may not fit! It depends on the casting (or forging), and where material is in relation to the hub surface. The only way to know for sure is to try them, or take extremely precise measurements - as clearances in these cases is often very small! Sorry if I'm preaching to the choir here...

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This is exactly why I (and the wheel company) wanted the measurments of the calipers, because if I change something early enough in the game, they can alot for this change, and I don't have to do the clothes thing with my brakes (try it on and see if it fits).

All in all, it really doesn't matter at this point, as I stated before it is a dead issue, since the C32 brakes are a no go.

My brake system is already done on my car, and has been for a while. I was monotiring this thread for future purposes only, as I was not going to go out and change my system, that I just had put in place.

Guido,

Doe the line fitting actually hitting the sterring knuckle..?
While its touching the knuckle, does the hole for the caliper bolt aligned properly..?


What I am thinking is that the position between the knuckle and the caliper will always be the same right..?? Or I might be wrong..I am still trying to pic the system work on my head :p

If the position always fixed then the quick fix probably to grind the edges on that brake line fitting to make it work.. (just and Idea)...



Regardz,

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97 C36 ////AMG

If the mounting hole can align, the fitting is only a small problem. Worse come worse, grind them a little to make it clear. Is the hole able to align without grinding the fitting? How much off is there?

Harry