503C43 ////AMG

SICK LOOK.... so you have the vogtland kit (springs, shocks, struts) and #2 pad in front and #4 pad in rear???? is this correct????

Vicious_c43

#4 pad all corners

siideways

Sorry, but newb here (well, actually more like soon-to-be newb), but what are these "pads" you're all referring to? You talking about those rubber spring pads that wrap around the springs to prevent squeaking?

Also, another silly q, but what is the difference really between the stock 17" C36/43 AMG wheels and the 18" E55 AMG monoblocks besides the size? I can barely tell them apart!

503C43 ////AMG

pads = spring pads (rubber/polymer pieces)

i believe there are 18" mono's with a deeper lip than the 17"

siideways

Thanks, but how do these pads raise a vehicle? Like I said before, I thought those were designed to prevent squeaking?

So the 18" AMG monos are the exact same wheel design (face) as the stock 17"s but with a bigger lip?

Velociabstract

How about a photo?

Les

503C43 ////AMG

pads are different thicknesses, they are like a spacer

DRBC43AMG

They fit between the top of the spring and chassis mount. Playing with the different thickness available thru MB, you can raise or lower the chassis without touching the springs. Good way for fine tuning the suspension.

503C43 ////AMG

CORRECT!!

503C43 ////AMG

So I have decided to go with the VOGTLAND kit as I have heard nothing but good things about it. Has anyone installed one of these kits on their car? What kit did you use, they make a JR kit and a regular kit for the C43. You could also just buy their springs and get your own shocks/struts. I am trying to figure out what is the best way to do this. I emailed them to find out what bilsteins they use in their kits. I will post the email as soon as I get it as I asked them to send me ALL the information they have on ALL the parts they have for the C43 . Hopefully it will bring some insight into the VOGTLAND/ HR/ EIBACH debate. I will say this, I have heard that both the EIBACH's and HR's sag over time, I have yet to hear someone say that about the VOGTLAND's.

503C43 ////AMG

I may of spoke too soon...... I just found a kit from a company called KW. Does anyone have any experience with these kits?? They have several ranging from track kits to comfort sport kits. THESE KITS ARE EXPEN$IVE $$$$$ $1500-$3000 but look like they might be exactly what I'm looking for. I want excellent handling but with a comfortable ride, I don't need track handling but I would like a step up from what I have now in handling with a smoother ride. Granted I am riding on a completely stock suspension with 109K on it and I'm sure a set of new shocks and struts would smooth out the ride but I'm looking to increase my handling AND comfort. Please enlighten us if you have ANY experience with a KW suspension kit for the C43.

Saaboteur

In general, I'd say that KW is very good kit. I would like to try a set of the comfort oriented ones if I could afford them for my AMG, but I think it may be a bit overkill for my purposes, ie. I think I'm going to be happy with springs and just new shocks. I know a lot of the slightly more serious S2k track guys swear by the Variant 3s. The ultra serious are into Motons, JRZs or Penskes or the really high end JDM stuff.

I thought I saw that money-one has a set of KWs on his car?

jayrasheed

kw are the best u can get for performance but if u have bumpy roads i bet the chassis wil be geting a pounding and eventually the rear subframe and front shock seats and even chassis will crack on a 15 yr old merc, but thats if u have roads like we have here which i rally really doubt.
I still fight the impulse to just drop 2000usd on the kw var2 and every time im a bit weaker.

Saaboteur

You can't fight it, just do it!

503C43 ////AMG

For sure!!!! I am of the mindset that you only live once and if it will make you happy and won't affect anyone else negatively you should DO IT!!! I can't see how an UNREAL SUSPENSION SYSTEM would negatively affect anyone except the guy I SMOKED in the corners..... and I could live with that .

nd4spd13

I just ordered my 36 a pair of the vogtland sport springs, just the springs. Shocks will have to come later. 503 did you ever get the vogtlands??
also to all you guys, what did you do with alignment after installing the new suspension stuff? I acknowledge that if I new a thing about alignments i would be answering this question my self, but sadly I don't. Did you just put it to mb standards afterwards or did you have to adjust the camber to compensate the drop. How much?

Also with the spring pads, is there are marking on the actual pad of what number they are? I have whatever the car came with I think... I just want to know so I can adjust after if I need to. Where are they exactly and how can you change them without touching the springs?


Thanks guys

503C43 ////AMG

Haven't ordered them yet but I am going with the vogtland's..... I am still deciding if I am going with the vogtland kit or just the springs but I am leaning towards the vogtland springs with bilstein shocks.

cthirtysizzle

I have that kit on my car. No complaints at all.

503C43 ////AMG

so you have the full vogtland kit?? what shocks does it come with??

cthirtysizzle

bilstein

503C43 ////AMG

So vogtland kit = vogtland springs + bilstein shocks..... how much did you get the kit for?? I believe I found it for $636.47 USD

nd4spd13

So I couldn't find shocks for the c43 on tirerack, but I know that for any of us C36 looking at this thread to do this, if you oder the springs and shocks separately it sheds about $50+ unless that kit comes with something extra.

appatula

Noticed lack of input from the eibach side. I've got eibachs and am REALLY happy with the flatness of the car along with the lack of compromise regarding comfort. I had Intrax springs on my 300E and my girlfriend could not stand the jolts on the pothole riddled roads of New England. After installing the eibachs on my C36 (I allready had billy sports installed) we went for a ride, she had a nice grin on her face as soon as we hit the first dip and said "wow, not much different compared to stock". It was up to par with everything my buddies 2002' 328Ci could throw at me on the corners. At 100mph+ its PLANTED, cornering at lower speeds produces little to no body roll. Like I said before this is without very much compromise to comfort. The rear wheels dont seem to light up the ASR light turning out from stop signs anymore either. Perfect for even a daily driver or weekend warrior in my opinion. They look sick. Thats all I got.

503C43 ////AMG

Thanks for the input, I have had eibach's matched with the KYB self adjust struts and shocks before but not on my C43. I will agree that I LOVED mine and they worked GREAT in corners without sacrificing the ride, if anything the comfort improved but that was on an 84 Z28 (1984 suspension technology vs the eibachs + KYB's I had bought in 2000.... no contest). It was between eibach's and vogtland's for me and I have decided to go with the Vogtland's but I do appreciate your 2 cents. I am definitely going with the bilstein sports though

503C43 ////AMG

Contacted a USA authorized vogtland dealer and this is what he told me:

There are 2 kits available for the C43.... The Regular vogtland kit and the junior kit. The difference between the 2 are the dampers. The regular kit will give you about a 1.4" drop with vogtland springs and KONI dampers the junior kit ( the lesser of the 2) is 1.6" drop with vogtland springs and tokico dampers. I was under the impression the kits came with the bilstein dampers. The dealer said they could probably substitute them but it would cost extra $$$. Has anyone ordered one of these kits, if you have where did you get it, what dampers did it come with and how much did you pay????

I looked up bilstein and the dampers they are selling for the C43 are $140 A PIECE!! that's $560 WITHOUT the springs!!!!! The vogtland springs by them selves are about $200 so we are looking @ $760 + shipping. The vogtland kit with the KONIS is $662 + $30 for shipping = $692. We are talking about a $70-100 difference w/ shipping which isn't enough for me to care about, all I want is the best. So Should I go with the bilstein's or the KONI's?? I am leaning towards the bilstein's..... if they are good enough for AMG they are good enough for me but I also don't have ANY experience with the KONIS. I am looking for a smoother ride but I really don't want to sacrifice performance. Can anyone answer these questions???