RUready

I just picked up a R500 for the wife, and shes already asking about rims for it... got to love her, how did you guys lower your R class, and what size wheels did you put on it.


thank you for your time,

R

Benz-O-Rama

If you have the airmatic suspension, check out http://www.adjustableairride.com

If you have the regular suspension check out http://www.hrsprings.com/

RUready

Yes I have airmatic, thank you very much benz-o-rama!

Do you think that the lower modules are overrated?

Benz-O-Rama

Unless you're somebody that is going to be constantly changing your ride height, I would save the cash and get the lowering links.

Also, if you're doing something like turning it into a show car and want to be able to slam it for aesthetic purposes, I would say the lowering module is the way to go. For most people, who actually drive their cars, the lowering links will be more than adequate. You can adjust them too, if you wish. It's just a little bit more effort than with a module.

RUready

Benz-O-Rama,

thank you for the great advise, the R will be driven by the wife, and by no means will it become any time of show car. so the lowering links will do, I just ordered them from that site you gave me earlier.

once again, thank you very much!

R

Benz-O-Rama

That's what these forums are all about my friend.

larryp

I have a 320CDI without Airmatic. Will the H&R springs work for my application as well or will they be too soft (or hard)? What happens when the car is lowered (aside from it being lower, of course)? Does handling improve (does it wallow less)? Does the ride suffer?

The H&R site (see http://www.tinyurl.com/2o558y) says, for chassis "W251, not ADSII". What does "ADSII" mean? Also, for "Notes" it says "w/ self-lvl only". Isn't self level the same as Airmatic?

Thanks, Larry

larryp

Well, I guess the H&Rs are for Airmatic also. But I found Carlssons here:
http://www.gmpperformance.com/index....ail&PID=160475

Benz-O-Rama

The H&R's springs are not for the airmatic. Take a look inside the wheel well of an airmatic equipped MB. You will not find a coilover spring setup. You'll find an air bladder at each wheel instead. The only way to lower these cars is with links, a lowering module or you can use the "washer method"

The non-airmatic cars have springs, and the H&R's are a good lowering solution for these cars.

The self leveling feature noted in that website is not the airmatic system. It's a secondary system that keeps the rear of the vehicle level when loaded. I didn't even know the W251's had this. I know the W211 wagons do, though.

larryp

I wonder if self leveling was an option or is standard. I didn't pay for it and so assume it was an option. (Else, why would H&R say it is required?)

So I purchased the Carlssons. I have not been able to locate a post where a nonairmatic car was lowered and figured this was the likelier choice to work.

silverspecial

That kind of goes off of an earlier post of mine...I have a nonairmatic R but at the spot the rear springs should be there appears to be an air bladder. Is that the self leveling suspension you all are talking about?

larryp

Did the rear suspension change between '06 and '07?

Benz-O-Rama

Hmmmmm,

If you have a non-airmatic R-Class but see air bladders at the rear only, one would have to assume that's the self leveling feature. This is how the W211 wagons are set up, so it's feasible that MB did this with the R as well.

This is different from the airmatic. On the airmatic cars, like mine, you can adjust the ride height as well as the stiffness of the suspension. Both my E and my R have this feature.

So, I wonder how you lower a non-airmatic equipped R-Class with a self leveling rear? You can do springs for the front, but what to do with the rear?

f-rod

Links on mine, with airmatic. Came down 1.25" front and 3" in the rear. No noticeable difference in ride quality.

larryp

I wouldn't expect the ride quality to change with Airmatic since your spring rate doesn't change. I was really inquiring of the non-Airmatic cars. I wonder if anyone has lowered one; I may be the first.

F-rod, did you notice the car wallow a bit less? I am not looking for anything dramatic but jeez, this thing is a behemoth. So any improvement would be nice.

Curiously, why did you lower it 2X as much in the rear?

f-rod

Just the way it came down, it looks even now since the rear is higher than the front from factory. There is a slight improvement in handling imo.

Carrerax

Does anyone have a picture of an airmatic R with the lowering links?

supernsx

Has anyone try the "washer method" for the R-class? I heard the front is pretty easy but not sure about the rear.

Carrerax

Does anyone have pictures of the adjustable links? I have airmatic and would like to see what the links look like that cost $300. What is the washe option? Thanks all!!!