I've been looking at lowering kits for my E420 and eibach sells a few different kits for W210 body. Besides the obvious differnces like the 4matic,wagon and self leveling is there really a diffence in the springs for the years from 96-97 and 98-02? It seems like the only thing different is the height of the drop. 96-97 is 1.4 in the front and 1.6 in the rear. 98-02 is 1.2 front and back. I would like to get springs as close to an inch drop aspossible, so the ones for 96-97 with 1.6 in the rear is way too much. My car already squats in the *** and with those springs it will look like there's two fat chicks in the back seat. So is it just the height or can I use springs for a newer W210 body?

 

Have you thought of cutting your springs?

 

Yea, but if I cut the springs won't the car not be as stiff as the the correct lowering springs? I like to take corners pretty fast and don't wana sacrifice handling for looks.

 

i see, cut springs will not take corners like aftermarket springs, i had mine cut and it corners a bit better but remains the soft ride. i dont think a cut spring sacrifice handling, does it?

i was thinking maybe cut springs with hd shocks or sport shocks to firm things up a bit, but if you definitely want the stiff springs, then after market is the way to go.

 

I don't know if cut springs will make the car handle worse, I'm just guessing. But you say your car handles better w/cut springs then stock. Did you put hd shocks after they where cut?

 

no just the standard shocks that came with the car. i believe i read somewhere someone saying the HD shocks are 30% stiffer than the originals, plus mine are kinda worn so i suppose replacing them with HDs would firm things up a bit.

just a note, i cut my springs 95% of it is for looks and the rest i didn't really care if it handles better or worse, but it did handle better.

 

I've read the same about the hd shocks. How much of your spring did you cut? I was thinking of only lowering the front so maybe cutting might be the way to go

 

i cut 1 coil front and rear.
#3 pads for front and #1 pads rear.

it doesn't cost anything to do this, all you need is just a spring compressor, plus the ride is way more comfy than any aftermarket springs. if you dont like the ride after cutting you can always try the ebiach or h&r.

One of the best mods i did to my car. plus one of my springs was broken anyways so it saved me from having to replace it.

 

being that I don't want to send alot money on a 13 year old car I'll cut the springs and like you said if I don't like I buy new spring. Part of the reason for the original post was that a friend bought eibach lowering springs for a 01 e320 and never installed them so they 4sale for $180. I'm surprised no one had any info if they would work, but thanks for the info mbnz320.

 

i've used Bilstein HD, Sport...and Koni adj/yellow tubes on the 210. Koni was
firmer than OEM shocks by enough to notice.. HD and Sport were firmer but
not as extreme as the 30%....but more like 15%. dampening was same for
both...their difference being OAL

 

raymond knows these things better than i do. hes the expert. before i had the knowledge/courage to cut my own springs, i read numerous post by him and others.

now with my cut springs, which should i use the HD or the sport shocks. i know the sport is just shorter and the same dampening so maybe i should go with sport. but i thought the sport was for aftermarket springs like ebach or h&r.

 

i would say if your cut resulted in a net drop of 1.25" then you should go w/Sport.

if you run with lowered springs and use original length shocks, right off the bat,
at rest, you've already robbed the shock of 1.5"+ travel. so better to go with
the Sport which is an inch lower.

thought i took a pic with both shocks side-by-side but am not finding it.

 

It will be somewhat stiffer in ride since you have removed some of the coil that would aid in ride comfort.

 

If you lower the ride you need to change the front shocks to shorter pistons as in the Bilstein Sport Shock. There is no shock option for the rear in a self leveling suspension and standard rear you want the sport shocks. this applies if you are lowering one inch or more. I am on the Bilstein Sports with number #2 pads all around

 

Springs are cut, rides definately stiffer, and dont trust cornoring as much as i used to,
though the tyres i have on my car currently are complete rubbish so that probably doesnt help either :\

 

ok so I cut one coil from my front spring and left my stock pads for now. They are #3 pads. I don't know whats in the rear haven't checked yet. I might go to #1 all around in the future but for now the ride height is good. Thanks to all for the advice! btw the ride and handling feels the same to me. Here are some before and after pix.

 

looks great, the height is the same as mine. i have #3 pads front also.